Unique Calgary fundraiser teaches the joy of reading by having children read to horses

Wael Jones reads to a wild mustang at Pages and Ponies north of Calgary, an event to raise funds for literacy.

A fundraising event held Saturday north of Calgary combined horses and literacy to raise funds for those who struggle to read.

Gabruela Maodus is reading to Mr. Foxy Brown and Mrs. Blue. She enjoys how the ponies just listen and don’t provide feedback.

“The horses didn’t talk me as much,” Maodus said. “(Saying) ‘you got this word wrong’ -- like my mom does all the time.”

For Maodus, reading is a skill she has struggled with. On Saturday, her family came out to the Sage Mustang North which partnered with Raising Readers for a fundraiser they called Pages and Ponies.

“It’s pretty awesome for our kiddo who has struggled with reading to see that she’s not alone,” said Amanda Maodus, Gabruela’s mom.

The fundraising event included an art station, book giveaways and even a storyteller.

According to organizers, one in five children experience significant difficulty learning to read, which is why the Sage Mustang is happy to help with a little horse-powered reading.

“They (horses) don’t judge,” said Sage Mustang operator Sandra Graham. “But they do constantly assess and they speak to us at all times through their bodies, and so through working with the ponies, whether they turn their head toward us, that tells us they’re feeling comfortable.”

Families paid $25, which goes to Raising Readers, a program designed to help every struggling reader learn to read.

“We are trying to make structured literacy accessible for families in need,” said Alaine Mallari, the founder of Raising Readers.

It made for a fun reading activity for the families.

“I liked reading to the horses,” said Wael Younes, “because it felt like they were liking it. And I love horses.”

The organization hopes to raise enough money for 10 literacy kits to be donated to deserving families.

The Sage Mustang partners with previously untouched wild mustangs to provide “an unparallel horse/human experience.”

For more information about Raising Readers, go here.

For more information about Sage Mustang, go here.

With files from CTV News’ Tyler Barrow.