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We are always looking for energetic people to help us with feeding, grooming, etc.
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Practice Reading with the Word Herd

Advisory Committee: Christina Reid, M.Ed., John Gange, B.A., Autism Specialist, Robin Bradley, M.Ed.


Giovanni, Anastasia (volunteer) and Ortega. Photo by Nancy Koren.
Would you, or someone you know, like to improve reading and writing skills? Wishing you could feel comfortable reading aloud? Want to add words to your vocabulary or write your thoughts a little more clearly? Do you just love to read?

Join the Word Herd! Come to Heaven Can Wait every Thursday, or every other Saturday, and practice reading aloud to our horses and donkeys.

Horses and donkeys like the sound of the human voice. They find calmly spoken words to be very soothing. In return for being read to, they offer non-judgmental companionship while you practice your reading, writing, or even your public speaking skills.

The Word Herd is a FREE program designed to help everyone of any age improve reading and writing skills. All of our horses and donkeys have been rescued from neglect and abuse. Some of them have been saved from life-threatening starvation and injuries. They are now safe at Heaven Can Wait, living out their lives in comfort and safety. Helping people practice reading and writing skills is one way they are paying back the community that has helped save them.

Why Read to Horses?
All over the United States, people are reading to dogs in programs very similar to The Word Herd. There are even a couple of other reading programs using horses.

People who read at Heaven Can Wait
improve their reading skills!

A 2010 study by researchers at the University of California, Davis confirmed that students who read out loud to dogs improved their reading skills by 30% over the course of a 10-week program. Children in the same program who didn't read to dogs showed no improvement.

Scroll down to read more Literacy statistics for San Luis Obispo County

How does it work?

  • Call 805-368-5702 and make your appointment.
  • Bring a book, or read from one of ours.
  • When you arrive, you'll spend a little time meeting the horse or donkey, meeting the staff, and discussing what you would like to achieve from your reading session.
  • A trained assistant is nearby to help with the horse and to help you if you ask. We only help when you ask.
  • Make a commitment to come every week for 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or longer.

Other ways the Word Herd works:

  • Bring your own book. Mark the words you have trouble with. Your assistant will help you pronounce and remember those words.
  • If you don't know what a word means, your assistant will help you remember the meaning.
  • Take some time at the end of your session to write a few sentences or draw or paint a picture about your experience. We provide the writing and art supplies.

Why the Word Herd?

Illiteracy has been, and remains, a huge social issue that affects the quality of life for a large percentage of the national and local population. The number of entry-level college students who lack rudimentary reading and comprehension skills has climbed over the past several years. A common complaint among employers is the inability of young employees to read simple instructions, write coherently, and think critically.

The state of the economy in the past several years has resulted in too many cuts to basic education, which has only contributed to the downward literacy spiral.

Cuts in classroom budgets and larger class sizes are making it more and more difficult for teachers to focus on the basic three R's. Remedial programs are being cut, and the economy has made it next to impossible for parents to afford private tutoring to make sure their children have the basics.

The Word Herd, guided by our advisory committee offers an alternative to the classroom for improving reading skills. The Word Herd Advisory Committee is made up of educational professionals with a wide range of credentials and classroom experience that includes Special Needs, English as a Second Language, and Early Childhood Education.

Literacy statistics for San Luis Obispo County

  • Only 54% of SLO County 3rd graders score proficient or above in the English-Language Arts area of the California Standards Test, which means that 46% are NOT proficient
  • Fourteen percent (14%) of county residents five years old and over speak only Spanish at home, creating more challenges for children to be English literate.
  • According to the San Luis Obispo Council on Literacy, there are an estimated 25,000 illiterate adults in the county.
  • San Luis Obispo county lost 900 education positions in June and July of 2010-a substantially negative impact on the classrooms.
According to the National Institute for Literacy
  • Seventy-five percent (75%) of prisoners in state and federal systems are classified as illiterate.
  • Eight-five percent (85%) of all juvenile offenders rate as functionally or marginally illiterate.
  • Forty-three percent (43%) of those whose literacy skills are lowest live in poverty.

Contact us today to set up a date and time for a 25 minute reading session with a horse for your child. One child, one horse, one caring volunteer, one love of reading.

» Read more about Heaven Can Wait

» Learn how to Get Involved

Horses are beautiful and noble creatures, much beloved of many children. We extend an invitation to parents to take advantage of a uniquely effective reading improvement program. So simple, yet such great results.