Research is an important part of the Rearing2Read story. Our lead teacher, Ali LaTorre, has pursued graduate studies at Elon University and Vanderbilt University, using her academic work to study and strengthen Rearing2Read’s programming. Her research has explored the impact of equine-assisted literacy experiences on children’s reading confidence and anxiety, and this work has been presented and published internationally, helping share the Rearing2Read approach with educators and researchers beyond our local community.
Sharing Our Studies
The purpose of this study was to investigate learners' engagement in and willingness to read across the course of a six-week after-school equine-assisted reading program.
Analyzing Changes in Learner Confidence and Motivation to Read With Equine-Assisted Learning
FROM ANXIOUS TO ABLE: SUPPORTING CONFIDENT READERS THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING
Our research explores how reading to horses in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment can reduce reading anxiety, build students’ confidence, and help transfer those skills to traditional reading settings.