Mini unicorn trots by Plumb Library for storytime

Aug 6, 2020

ROCHESTER — Children in Rochester got to see (and pet) a miniature horse dressed as a unicorn at a Plumb Library story time. 

The library hosted 4H club member Elsie Woodland and her mini therapy horse, Blanka. 

Woodland started her talk by telling her audience of kids and parents, “I started where you are,” at Plumb Library story times.  

She got Blanka four years ago, after the 10 year old mini horse had served as a guide horse. Since the white horse really likes to help people, it easily led to a job as a therapy horse.

Woodland shared two stories about Blanka that she wrote with her young attendees. One was about Blanka and her friend Daffy the lamb. 

“Blanka can talk, but only to those who believe in the magic,” Woodland told her young audience.  

In another story, Blanka comes to terms with the fact that she is just a horse, while all of her friends are unicorns. 

The children who attended also had a variety of questions about Blanka. One asked about the sparkle boots that the small horse wore. 

Woodland answered that they were to protect her feet and give her more traction. Also, they are sponsored. 

Several children noticed that Blanka has letters on her side and a heart on her head. Woodland explained that the horse grows out a winter coat that gets shaved for summer, but they were able to make designs out of some of the longer coat. 

One attendee asked why Blanka’s mane was a rainbow. Woodland explained that “some people have a favorite color. She decided she liked all of them.”  

The children put on their masks and sanitized their hands, then got the chance to pet the small “unicorn,” ask more questions, and take a bookmark with Blanka on it. Some children even came back for second pets. 

The story time was not the library’s first in-person event, as it held a book club outside in June. 

Librarian Lisa Fuller said it went well, and she plans to hold another one on Aug. 21