EquiTales Literacy Project
Fostering literacy and social-emotional growth through the transformative power of horses
EquiTales Literacy Project
Fostering literacy and social-emotional growth through the transformative power of horses
About Us
Founded by Drs. Judith Dunkerly-Boulanger, Ph.D., and Philip Boulanger, MD, EquiTales is grounded in our belief in literacy as a human right and the truly transformative power of horses as teachers. Inspired by her "heart horse," Cloud Dancer, who taught her to ride, Judith envisions EquiTales as a way of continuing Cloud's legacy. Many of the horses in the project were rescued from the slaughter pipeline and are now our valued project partners!
With over four decades of combined experience in literacy education and trauma-informed medicine, we are dedicated to improving the educational and social-emotional outcomes for underserved children. By combining literacy instruction with equine connection, we strive to nurture confidence, empathy, and a love of learning in a trauma-informed, equity-centered environment.
Our approach uses research-based literacy practice and experiential learning to make reading and writing relevant and engaging. We are fortunate to partner with a local natural horsemanship instructor, providing learners with hands-on experiences as they develop as readers and writers.
Located in Fluvanna County, Virginia, and conveniently situated between Richmond and Charlottesville, we are thrilled to offer our historic 1777 farm as the location for the EquiTales Literacy Project.
As a non-profit organization, we utilize a sliding scale for enrollment. No child will ever be turned away. We look forward to engaging with community partners to bring the love of horses and learning to every child.
School Visits, Workshops, & Summer Camp
School & Community Visits
We look forward to supporting school family events/literacy nights, brightening the day of senior citizens, and bringing smiles to those in hospitals or rehabilitation centers. Our trained ponies and knowledgeable handlers are ready to share the EquiTales experience with your community.
Literacy Workshop
Research-based single or multi-day equine/experiential literacy workshops for elementary schools and summer programs at your site are also available. For more information and to book your spot in our calendar, please click the button below.
The EquiTales Summer Camp
The cornerstone of EquiTales is our 4-week summer program designed to improve students' reading, writing, and motivation to read from Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. Using research-based practice rooted in experiential learning, your child will develop the skills and strategies to succeed in the classroom and build a lifelong love of reading and writing. Class sizes are limited to 5-10 children, and enrollment is first-come, first-served. Fees are based on a sliding scale so that every child, regardless of household income, can participate. Private lessons are also available. Contact us for further information.
Join Us!
EquiTales is actively recruiting volunteers and community partners. Fill out the contact information below and make a difference in the lives of children and horses.