Horses become part of ‘amazing’ learning opportunity for some Fayette Co. students

The first day of school in Fayette County today also signals the beginning of a new program for students in grade 7-12 who struggle in traditional school settings. It’s called The STABLES, and in addition to social studies, math and other core subjects, it incorporates horses into the curriculum.
 

CKRH's facility at Kentucky Horse Park (From FCPS)

Located at the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope facility at the Kentucky Horse Park, The STABLES enables students to participate in a work program, recover credits and take ownership of their education – all in a more individualized setting.
 

“The goal is to help the students successfully transition to employment, postsecondary education or back into their home high school,” CKRH Executive Director Pat Kline said. “This program represents an exciting challenge for us, and we are confident these students will benefit from an environment that will enable them to work with horses.”
 

“The STABLES will provide an amazing learning opportunity for our students, and we could not be more excited to launch this new venture with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope,” said Fayette County Schools Superintendent Tom Shelton. “This is an example of the kind of partnerships our school district hopes to build as we seek to meet the individual needs of every single student we serve.”
 

The program, which will use classrooms and designated common areas at CKRH, will offer an academic setting while addressing students’ mental health and behavioral barriers to learning. The academic focus will remain social studies, math, English and science; however, the application aspect at CKRH will involve job responsibilities, mentorships, job shadowing and exposing students to real work.
 

Students will have a daily equine component that includes learning about the care and management of CKRH’s herd of therapy horses, the CKRH facility and the equine industry. Opportunities for students will include animal care, showmanship, construction, culinary programming, administrative assistance, service industry, filming and task analysis of problems.
 

The STABLES replaces the FCPS’ Rebound and AIM alternative education programs. CKRH, which has accommodated small groups of AIM and Rebound Students for the past two years, has written the curriculum and syllabus for all daily equine-related programming in The STABLES. The FCPS staff from those programs will relocate to CKRH, and CKRH will provide necessary staff support.
 

“Fayette County Board of Education has embraced forward thinking in encouraging our partnership,” said Rachel Baker, director of The STABLES program. “My staff is so excited to be able to encourage and educate students with such a fresh new perspective. We know we are part of a true community partnership which allows our students, and in the future many schools in Fayette County, the opportunity to really experience education beyond the classroom while investing in the heart of their community.”
 

For more information about the program, click here.
 

For more information about Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, which has offered equine-assisted activities and therapies since 1981, click here.
 

From CKRH
 

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