Summer reading for Jack and Jasmine

Published 3:00 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Until now, Reading with Rescue Horses has been an educational program limited to select class groups. But, for one day only, Saturday, July 29, the non-profit Puddin’ Pie’s Place is open to children registered in the Lanier Library Annual Family Program.

Puddin’ Pie, the 85-pound rescued mini-horse, invites children 5 or older to bring a book from the library or home to read aloud to her or Rose, Zoe, Jackson, Marley, or one of the other mini-horses and donkeys at her private farm. Children will also learn about horses, hear the tale of the minis’ rescue, and take a hand at brushing.

Lanier Library provides roundtrip transportation to the local farm. Bus for the morning session leaves at 10 a.m. and arrives back at the library around 12:30 p.m. For the afternoon session, the bus leaves at 1 p.m. and returns around 3:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served upon return from each session.

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The number of horses is limited, so parents or guardians are asked to stop at the library as soon as possible before the outing to register, sign release forms, and reserve bus seats for the family and a horse for their reader.

Once contact with the horses and reading begins, library staff will provide storytime and other activities for family members accompanying the readers. After the reading session, parents or guardians will have the opportunity to take their own photographs with the readers and horses.

Free public admission is made possible with generous support from Kirby Endowment Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation.

The Lanier Library is located at 72 Chestnut Street, Tryon. Call 828-859-9535 or visit  lanierlib.org for more information.

– story and photos by Vincent Verrecchio