2016 Miniature Horse WORLD Issues December 2016 Volume 32, Number 6 | Page 22

mini scoop

L

iz Delfs, founder of My Little Horse
Listener, has created a clever way
to incorporate literacy, positive
reinforcement and Miniature horses into a
successful program that helps children with
reading difficulties. This program utilizes
Miniature horses as ‘listeners’ for children
who are not comfortable and confident
when reading aloud in the presence of
others whom they perceive to be judging
their reading skills. It is indisputable that
reading aloud creates stronger readers and
is an important step in a child’s literacy
development. Increased fluency and
comprehension, grammar, focused attention
– all of these skills and more can result from
reading aloud.

A Read-aloud
Literacy
Program
for Children and
Mini Horses

Miniature horses seem especially intuitive
when children open a book, and start
reading to a new friend. The horses seem
to be very much ‘in the moment’ and
listen intently. The two horses that are used
in this program were carefully selected
for their small size, gentle spirit and
intelligence. There is no charge for their
services, but Little Horse Listener does
accept donations for The Horse Shelter,
a rescue facility in Santa Fe for abused,
abandoned and neglected horses. For more
information about this program, visit: www.
mylittlehorselistener.com.

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20 Miniature Horse World

WORKS

D E C E M B E R 2 0 16

www.FoxdenEquine.com

Apple the
Movie Horse
Amy Smart, Burt Reynolds and Jack Griffo
will star in the inspirational family drama
“And Then There Was Light,” The story
centers on a young girl who loses her
eyesight after a traumatic accident. Her
parents seek out various options to help
her adjust, including enrolling her in a
program for seeing-eye dogs, but she is
unable to connect until the head trainer of
Southeastern Guide Dogs trains a Miniature
horse to be her companion. Smart will play
the mother of the girl and Reynolds will
portray the trainer.
“It’s a really beautiful story about the bonds
between family and overcoming adversity
as a unit,” Smart said. “I felt a strong
emotional connection to this project and
I’m so excited to be participating.”
Although the concept of using Miniature
horses as guide animals is not condoned
by many Miniature horse owners or the
AMHA, the movie release should spark
a renewed interest in minis, allowing an
opportunity to educate and expose the
public to their gentle demeanors and willing
personalities.
“And Then There Was Light” does not
yet have a release date. You can visit
Apple’s facebook page at: Facebook.com/
AppletheMovieHorse