MONROE - On one of the last days of school, a group of special education high school students spent a day outside caring for and riding horses.
Ten students of the Monroe High School's special education class took a trip to the residence of Kathy Shelton, an aide in the Monroe school district's special ed department.
"Horses are very good with this type of student," Shelton said. "It's calming for both the students and the horses."
Shelton, who has kept horses since 2000, introduced students to River and Cody, 8- and 9-year-old males, respectively.
Before riding the horses, the students were given the opportunity to clean the horses' hooves and brush their hair.
Freshman Grant Riese said he hadn't had experience with horses before.
"I wasn't nervous; I was focused," Riese said.
Riese was one of the first students to ride Friday. Shelton led his horse around a paddock, with Riese competing with another student to place beanbags on a target while moving and balancing a ball on a spoon.
Special ed teacher Curt Zastrow said the students' experience with horses would help them in the future if they encounter the animals again.
"It's important for them to do new things in a safe environment," Zastrow said.
The trip is an annual event: Shelton said she has hosted the high school class for five years and had hosted the event for Parkside Elementary School students for 10 years prior.
Junior Sam Miles said he has participated in the trip three times.
"It's fun. We get to hang out. We get the day off," Miles said.
Graduating senior Gage Meyer said he would miss going on the trip with his friends, adding that, while the horses are "cool" he also enjoyed participating in other activities, such as baseball.
Zastrow said the students would play various games and have a picnic throughout the day.
Jeannie Erickson, who has worked as an aide for the Monroe school district for 28 years, said working with animals helps give students the sense of caring for other living things.
"There are lots of places in the state where handicapped people can work with animals," Erickson said. "We're just lucky that we have a person like that right here."
Ten students of the Monroe High School's special education class took a trip to the residence of Kathy Shelton, an aide in the Monroe school district's special ed department.
"Horses are very good with this type of student," Shelton said. "It's calming for both the students and the horses."
Shelton, who has kept horses since 2000, introduced students to River and Cody, 8- and 9-year-old males, respectively.
Before riding the horses, the students were given the opportunity to clean the horses' hooves and brush their hair.
Freshman Grant Riese said he hadn't had experience with horses before.
"I wasn't nervous; I was focused," Riese said.
Riese was one of the first students to ride Friday. Shelton led his horse around a paddock, with Riese competing with another student to place beanbags on a target while moving and balancing a ball on a spoon.
Special ed teacher Curt Zastrow said the students' experience with horses would help them in the future if they encounter the animals again.
"It's important for them to do new things in a safe environment," Zastrow said.
The trip is an annual event: Shelton said she has hosted the high school class for five years and had hosted the event for Parkside Elementary School students for 10 years prior.
Junior Sam Miles said he has participated in the trip three times.
"It's fun. We get to hang out. We get the day off," Miles said.
Graduating senior Gage Meyer said he would miss going on the trip with his friends, adding that, while the horses are "cool" he also enjoyed participating in other activities, such as baseball.
Zastrow said the students would play various games and have a picnic throughout the day.
Jeannie Erickson, who has worked as an aide for the Monroe school district for 28 years, said working with animals helps give students the sense of caring for other living things.
"There are lots of places in the state where handicapped people can work with animals," Erickson said. "We're just lucky that we have a person like that right here."