The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse has recently formed a partnership with The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation in the hopes of inspiring children to read. In the spring of 2010, first and fourth graders in the Kentucky counties of Fayette, Bourbon, Madison, Clark, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine will be able to participate in the project. This widely acclaimed program was featured on ABC Nightly News as the best motivational reading program for school-aged children.
As part of the program, first graders will be given two hard copy books to keep, both by Walter Farley, "Little Black" and "Little Black Goes to the Circus." The first grade program also includes a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park for a hands-on experience with the park’s horses.
Fourth graders will be given a hard copy of Walter Farley's classic, "The Black Stallion," a pop-up display, and a copy of the Academy Award-winning Francis Ford Coppola movie, "The Black Stallion." The fourth grade program will conclude with a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park's new indoor arena for a presentation of the Florida-based Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction production featuring the Black Stallion. Tickets will also be available for the public.
The best part about the program is that the books will be delivered to area schools by a live black pony from the Kentucky Horse Park. At the end of the program, in addition to their hands-on experiences with horses at the park, the children will also be able to tour the new Arabian Horse Galleries which features "The Black Stallion Experience Exhibit."
The Black Stallion Literacy Project was actually conceived in 1999 by Farley's son, Tim, and the owner of the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Florida, Mark Miller. The foundation began serving children in 2000, and since then, more than 450,000 children in the United States have participated in the program.
John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park said, "As the father of two young boys, I personally know the importance of engaging children in reading. As a horseman, I understand the almost-mystical, always beneficial effect that horses have on children, so I am particularly pleased that the Kentucky Horse Park will be involved in bringing children and horses together in a project that will have a life-long, positive impact."
If you would like more information on The Black Stallion Literacy Project, you can contact Mollie Jameson at 859-509-1915 or e-mail her at molliejam@gmail.com or www.bslf-online.org. You can also visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at ww.KyHorsePark.com.
