Heal with Horses have visited us twice at the MacOdrum Library at Carleton University. We picked the last day of classes before final exams for our visits. Anxiety, uncertainty and worry about coming exams and finishing up final assignments weighs heavily on the students. The library is a space to study and access resources, but also a place to gather. Hundreds of students came to visit Elliot the pig and friends. We watched and listened as they shed their worries for a moment. The joy was infectious. We were able to hand out information and talk to students about how we could assist them through exams and studies while they waited to pet a furry friend. Students chatted with each other, sharing their experiences. The staff were amazing, engaging with the students, answering questions about our farm visitors. The care and attention to the animals while also encouraging students to interact was impressive.
(Visited in Dec. 2023 & Apr 2024 to provide exam relief for students)