The Virtual stable is a set of linked IntelliPics Studio® files forming an interactive, photographic environment to explore. Moving background photos, an animated figure, and sound effects add to the realistic feel of the experience. Each student explores the stable in her own way, choosing her path and which activities within the stable she will try. Students benefit from practicing careful reading of directions and clues, from learning to navigate and be observant, and from the fun of exploring.

Simple buttons move the student into the stable. When a student activiates Walk on this page, the animated figure begins walking into the picture. The stable grows larger, so that the student seems to be walking just behind the figure.	Choices at branch points give a student complete control over his exploration. Probably no two trips through the stable will be identical, just like a real environment.

Once inside the stable, the student usually has four direction buttons from which to choose--walk, turn around, left, and right. Walk activates the animation to move along the hall. The other buttons show the view after a turn to the left, right, or facing to the rear.	For example, if a student clicked Turn Around on the previous page, which is just inside the left stable door, the next view would be this one. Now the figure is looking out the door toward the grassy hill.

Turning to the right from the view out the door, the student sees the horse in the side stall. If he chooses to interact with the horse, he will see an animation and hear the horse whinney happily when he gets a treat.	Turning to the other side, the student can look closer at the horse's name and information, by clicking the magnifying button. Or, the student could simply turn back to the hall, or even turn to the door and leave the stable. Exploration is completely open ended.