Humane Education at Equine Advocates
Children are the future guardians of humanity, animals, and our environment
Educating the public, especially younger generations, on important equine issues is integral to our mission to protect equines and end equine abuse and slaughter. We offer classes and sanctuary tours for local schools, youth groups, Scout troops, and other organizations. You can schedule a student or youth visit by emailing Michele Jacobs at humaneeducation@equineadvocates.org. We also offer virtual classes and meet & greets!
Equine Advocates’ Humane Education Program teaches children to develop empathy, compassion, and a sense of responsibility towards all living things. We provide kids with an understanding of the need to advocate and make necessary changes in our world by getting involved, raising their voices, and making a difference.
Click here to view our Humane Education brochure!
Students will gain an understanding of the work our organization does to identify animal abuse and the importance of advocating to make and change laws to protect equines. Allowing students to think critically about the information they learn and develop opinions, attitudes, and solutions to the plight of horses in our world gives them a sense of responsibility toward improving our society.
This is an excellent opportunity to educate children about the importance of caring for each other, animals, and our planet. Click below to fill out our School Field Trip Request Form to email over to us! Please feel free to contact us for more information, a hard copy of our brochure, and to arrange field trips for your group/school at humaneeducation@equineadvocates.org
Meet Our Humane Educator
My name is Michele Jacobs, Humane Educator for Equine Advocates Rescue and Sanctuary in Chatham, NY. I would describe myself as a compassionate and critical thinker who enjoys sharing her lifelong passion for horses with others. After teaching in early education for the past fifteen years, it has been an easy transition into the field of humane education. My goal is to ignite a love and respect for equines, to educate on ethical issues, and to inspire all learners to be lifelong advocates, who are critical thinkers and compassionate to all. I enjoy teaching and I now have the opportunity to teach what I love.
About me: I am a wife and mother of three amazing boys, Caleb, Matthew, and Benjamin. I love caring for my horse, “Lacey Girl,” and my dog, named Darby, completes our family. I love spending time with my husband and children, and I also enjoy music. I value spending time with those I love, compassion, empathy, and enjoying the little things in life.
My educational background consists of an associate degree in Health Sciences as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Why do I love horses? Perhaps these following two quotes will sum things up better than I can put into words myself.
“You see a horse with your eyes, but you feel a horse with your soul.”
Being with horses feeds my soul and grounds who I am. I feel strong and peaceful, and have more clarity when I am with a horse. They help me to put everything aside and focus only on the moment.
“The horse is not here to reward your ego, to compete with you, to punish you, or to control you. The horse responds to who you are, how you feel, what you think, and what you do. The horse is here to enable you to learn how to be a better you and that is a blessing.”
My motto for classes: Inspire a new love of equines, become worldwide critical thinkers, and know that I am a responsible, compassionate world changer.
My objective: When students leave, they will know what they can do if they see animal abuse, they will be inspired to advocate in all areas of life, they will gain a sense of awareness, and their passion for horses will be ignited!
My end goal: To transfer my love and passion for horses to those I teach.
Curriculum and Testimonials
The Humane Education lessons offered at Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary help fulfill the requirements of the New York State Humane Education Law (Article 17, Section 809).
The curriculum is developed to include fun, relevant, and age-appropriate lessons for pre-kindergarten through high school and special education programs. At the sanctuary, students will meet our horses and hear stories of how and why they were rescued, as well as understand the need to advocate for and protect all animals. The program encourages critical thinking and problem-solving to help students question, make informed decisions, and take compassionate action.
Our program is written to align with the NYS Learning Standards incorporating Social Studies, Language Arts, Vocabulary, Civics, and Science. Students will learn the history and evolution of equines and their contributions to society past and present. Additionally, they learn what both wild and domestic equines need to survive and society’s responsibility to protect and rescue animals.
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