Leg Up To Literacy Equine-Assisted Learning LLC

Hi there! My name is Gabby, and I am a middle school teacher, horse owner, and dressage rider living in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine! 

I grew up in Dover-Foxcroft and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in December 2021 with my B.S. in Secondary/Middle Education with a concentration in English/Language Arts and a minor in Teaching English Language Learners. I am a Maine state-certified teacher with endorsements for grades 7-12 English Language Arts and K-12 Multilingual Learners/Teaching English as a Second Language. I currently teach Grade 8 ELA at SeDoMoCha Middle School in Dover-Foxcroft while pursuing my Masters in Education in Educational Leadership with a focus in Nature-Based Education.

In the spring of 2021, I completed my Horse Powered Reading® facilitator training with the program’s founder, Dr. Michele Pickel. Shortly after, I established Leg Up To Literacy Equine-Assisted Learning, LLC, a program with a vision to help struggling readers in the central Maine area become confident, empowered, and motivated using the research-based HPR® curriculum. Apart from HPR® sessions, I’ve also branched this program out to offer Pony Tales Book Clubs, Horse Powered Math, and ”traditional” 1:1 and small group tutoring in K-12 in all subjects and for MLLs/ESL. 

I currently offer my Horse Powered Reading/Math sessions and Book Clubs at my family farm, Crow Hop Farm, in Dover-Foxcroft. I also offer ”traditional” tutoring in ELA and other subject areas remotely or in person. I am working towards additional formal certifications in The HERD Institute®’s model of equine-assisted learning as well as Stable Moments® equine-assisted therapy.