Horse Farm Field Trip for First Grade

Every year in Alachua county first graders from every school are given free books about the horse Little Black.  The University of Florida has a horse farm and they bring a pony out to the school so the kids can meet it and then they are given their first book Little Black.  The kids practice for weeks and then they take a trip out to the horse farm where they are taught a bunch of different things about horses and meet some of the horse characters from the book.  When they leave they get a second book Little Black Goes to the Circus which they all enjoy reading on the way home.  Here are some pictures of Nathan's trip to the horse farms with Mrs. Jackson's class.

Nathan hanging out with Hassan and William, friends from his class, while waiting to see the different stations at the horse farm.

Nathan taking his turn practicing sitting on a Western style saddle.  Nice lean...

Here is Nathan practicing brushing a horse they thought was Big Red from the book.  I have to admit I was a little nervous with him being so close to the horse's back end, but we made it through.

Here is Nathan getting to pet the Pony Little Black at the end of the trip.  The trip was really quick, but I guess it had to be when you are getting all of the first graders from 25 different elementary schools through the horse farm.  Either way it was tons of fun!

The drive home was such a blessing.  To hear a bus full of first grade students reading their books was really exciting!  Not just because it was quiet, but because even the students who don't always enjoy reading did after this day.