Grainger Engineering Library is home to many things. Good company, good study sessions and good … horses?
In the midst of a busy midterm week, Grainger welcomed the Heartland Mini Hoofs to aid in student stress.
Heartland Mini Hoofs is a mini equine therapy visitation program that connects people all over Illinois with their mini horses. Its mission is to provide enjoyment and distract visitors from their daily worries, one hoof at a time.
This is not the first time the University has welcomed Heartland Mini Hoofs. In 2023, libraries across campus held a “De-Stress Fest” on Reading Day. Studying students had the opportunity to take a break in their work to participate in games, crafts and spend some time with animals, including the mini ponies.
Tables, chairs and studying students were cleared to host two miniature horses in the basement of Grainger. The area was blocked off with velvet stanchion ropes to make space for these fun-sized friends. Between 2-4 p.m., students could wait in line for a chance to get a picture with the two ponies.
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The demand for a photo never seemed to die down. An hour into the event, the line still pushed far past the IDEA lab. Those at the very end had been waiting for 22 minutes.
Aspen Evans, a volunteer at the event and employee of the library, ensured the line was safe and didn’t block any safety exits while people waited for pictures.
When Evans heard about the event, she knew she had to help out.
She explained how setting up for this event was not as intensive as one would think. The area was cleared for the ponies’ arrival at 1:40 p.m., and their big moment happened less than half an hour later.
“The library had something like this during finals week last year,” Evans said. “I think it’s great that they host events like this.”
Evans emphasized how events like these can allow students to step back from their workload and be in the company of their peers and some furry friends.
Although this event was held at Grainger, attendees from all majors were welcome.
Hayden Schuster and Sanaa Caldwell, both freshmen in ACES, heard about the event from the campus general events webpage and Instagram, respectively.
“I wasn’t expecting for something like this to happen in the library,” Schuster said. “But it sounded like fun. If the library held more events like this, I would come here more often.”
Caldwell, on the other hand, had heard of this event before and was excited to be able to experience it.
“Especially during midterms and finals, I think it helps students do something else,” Caldwell said.
As the event pushed closer to its end, the excitement for these horses never faded. Perhaps this was the motivation students needed to ace their exams.
