To sign up - click on the link below and add to basket or email
hannahhurst.efl@gmail.com
Pony Powered Phonics™
“This course is where structured phonics meets the joy of learning with horses and other animals and where movement makes memories.”
Pony Powered Phonics is a unique, Institute of Outdoor Learning, accredited training programme that brings together two powerful approaches to learning - systematic phonics teaching and equine assisted learning - to help practitioners support children who may not thrive in traditional classroom environments.
Developed by Hannah Hurst, this 10 week online course is designed for equine and animal assisted learning practitioners, teachers, early years practitioners, teaching assistants, SEN professionals, alternative provision tutors and parents or anyone who wants to make literacy learning more engaging, embodied and alive.
Across the programme, you will be guided through every phase of phonics -from Phase 1 sound awareness all the way through to Phase 6 spelling rules, fluency and sentence level writing, exploring practical, horse inspired activities, adaptable games and creative literacy ideas for every stage. You will also develop a deep understanding of how movement, emotional regulation, sensory learning and the therapeutic presence of animals can transform the way children engage with reading and writing.
What the course covers:
Phonics Phases 1 - 6 with practical equine and animal assisted activities for each phase
Equine and animal assisted learning principles and how they support engagement, regulation and learning readiness
Trauma informed, multi sensory and movement based approaches to literacy
Planning safe, ethical and purposeful sessions for 1:1 and group settings
Risk assessment, equine welfare and safeguarding in outdoor learning environments
Supporting neurodiverse learners, reluctant readers, EFL learners and those in alternative provision
Creative literacy: storytelling, sentence building and imaginative writing inspired by animals
Reflective practice and evaluating the impact of your sessions
How it works:
The course runs over 10 weeks via live online sessions (approximately 1.5 - 2 hours per week), supported by a comprehensive student workbook, weekly home learning tasks and a final case study and session plan. Participants who meet the completion requirements receive a Certificate of Training.
This course is accredited by the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) at Level 3, recognising it as a high quality professional development programme that meets rigorous standards in outdoor and equine assisted learning.
Whether you are a teacher looking to take phonics outside, an equine assisted learning practitioner wanting to add structured literacy to your sessions, or someone working with children who need a different way in, Pony Powered Phonics will give you the confidence, knowledge and practical tools to make it happen.
About your Teacher
Hi! I'm Hannah, founder of Hannah Hurst Helping Hooves and creator of Pony Powered Phonics™. I'm a passionate practitioner in equine and animal assisted learning, a qualified primary school teacher with over 10 years in the classroom, and a qualified emotional wellbeing coach.
I specialise in working with primary-aged children, helping them build confidence, emotional awareness, and key life skills through meaningful connections with animals and I've spent my time teaching phonics and early literacy to children who needed something a little different to help them find their way in.
With a background in primary education, a specialism in early years and KS1 phonics, and a heart full of love for animals, I've combined both worlds to create something truly special. I believe that children learn best when they feel safe, relaxed, and connected and there's no better classroom than the great outdoors, and no better teachers than horses. Every interaction with a horse is a chance for learning, growth, confidence and discovery.
Pony Powered Phonics™ grew out of my own practice at Helping Hooves, where I was already creating bespoke phonics sessions and resources for my own clients. I quickly realised that other educators and animal assisted learning practitioners were hungry for exactly this kind of training - a course that brings rigorous, structured phonics teaching together with the magic of working alongside animals. So I built it, got it accredited by the Institute for Outdoor Learning, and now I get to teach other people how to teach it too.
I want to ensure we build a community based on kindness, connection, and the magic that happens when animals help humans thrive. I can't wait to share it with you.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Confidently integrate phonics learning into equine assisted or outdoor learning environments.
Design activities that develop reading, spelling, fluency and imaginative writing.
Use relational regulation, grounding and sensory awareness to support learning readiness.
Adapt literacy experiences for older learners, neurodiverse pupils and alternative settings.
Plan sessions that are developmentally appropriate, ethical and emotionally safe.
Build Confidence
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the progression of phonics from Phase 1 - 6, including key concepts such as phoneme - grapheme correspondence, blending, segmenting, and spelling patterns.Explain the principles of equine assisted and animal facilitated learning and their role in supporting engagement, regulation, and learning readiness.Understand how multi-sensory, movement-based and outdoor learning approaches support literacy development, particularly for neurodiverse and reluctant learners.Identify the links between emotional regulation, sensory processing, and effective literacy acquisition.
Practical Skills
Plan and deliver structured literacy sessions that integrate phonics teaching with equine or animal assisted activities.Design and implement practical, engaging phonics activities suitable for both 1:1 and group settings across a range of ages (3 - 11).Adapt phonics teaching strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, including those with additional needs, EFL learners, and those in alternative provision.Facilitate creative literacy opportunities, including sentence building, spelling, and imaginative writing inspired by interaction with horses and animals.Use observation of animal behaviour as a stimulus for language development, communication, and storytelling.
Professional Practice
Apply appropriate safety measures, risk assessments and ethical considerations when working with children and animals in learning environments.Develop and use structured session plans that balance literacy outcomes with equine interaction and learner wellbeing.Use visual supports, routines, and flexible planning to create safe, inclusive, and responsive learning experiences.Reflect critically on your own practice and evaluate the impact of equine assisted approaches on learner engagement, confidence, and literacy development.
Values & Application
Promote an inclusive, child centred approach to literacy that values emotional safety, connection, and individual learning styles.Demonstrate the ability to create meaningful, motivating literacy experiences that support learners in moving from learning to read to reading and writing to learn.
To sign up - click on the link below and add to basket or email
hannahhurst.efl@gmail.com
