Special Education School Program

Established in 2007, NCEFT’s Special Education School Program provides field-study learning for children in special-education classes.

The program offers an educational outdoor experience to children who might otherwise never be exposed to a barn environment. For many children in Special Education classes, this is their first visit to a barn and their first time interacting with horses.

Students rotate through activities, such as a horseback ride that utilizes principles of adaptive riding, an arts and crafts project, and a carriage ride drawn by our miniature horse. This program is held throughout the school year, and each school attends for four weeks, two hours per week.

The program is structured so that children of all abilities receive an experience that is meaningful, educational, and fun. Additionally, the continuity of four weeks of exposure to the same people and horses allows the children to form memorable connections. They develop confidence and social skills that are appropriate to a new environment, and they learn that respect is the basis for forming a relationship with both horses and humans.

Students are able to revel in a natural setting as they have a snack, get excited about the ritual of selecting and fitting their riding helmets, delight in feeling a horse’s soft coat and prickly whiskers, enjoy the interaction with staff and volunteers, and smile with pride when overcoming any apprehension about climbing onto a horse’s back!

If you are a teacher or school district administrator and want to learn more about our special education school programs, please email us at info@nceft.org for more information!