OCALA, FL (352today.com) – If your kids love animals or dream of working with horses someday, there’s a free, family-friendly event coming to Ocala that could spark a lifelong passion – and boost their reading skills, too.
The Ocala Horse Alliance, a local nonprofit, is hosting its inaugural community event on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Company. Designed especially for children and families, the event aims to introduce young minds to the world of horses while encouraging literacy and learning.
“We’re very excited to be able to have the event, our inaugural event promoting excitement and reading through horses,” said Lynn Boutte, Ocala Horse Alliance board member. “It’s totally a volunteer group, all of us are volunteers, and we hope to excite the community to become more involved.”
Children will have the chance to interact with horses, try on jockey silks, and experience what it’s like to be in a starting gate, thanks to a special setup provided by OBS.
“85% of the kids in Marion County we have found, have never touched a horse,” said Boutte, who owns Eagle’s View Farm in Flemington with her husband, Chris. “A lot of kids in today’s world feel shut out from the horse farms. The gates are closed, and they don’t feel like they can come in. We need to change that… get them excited about reading and horses.”
Local equine professionals, including veterinarian Dr. Eric Evans of Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, farrier Brian Tucker, and horse nursery owners Beverly and Steve Tortora, will be on hand to share their knowledge. Brook Ledge Horse Transportation will also demonstrate how horses are loaded onto transport vans.
“Hopefully, we’ll open doors to people within the community, their minds, that they’ll open their doors, and help grow our kids,” Boutte said.
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell donated jockey silks, another jockey sent up a box of goggles, and OBS President Tom Ventura offered full use of the facility for the event.
“We’re going to have a touch and feel area, where we are going to have some jockey silks,” said Boutte. “And then there will be horses that they can pet… hopefully we’ll inspire some children to find where they want to go in life.”