Horse impressionist moves from hooves to brush technique

MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release Contacts: Jan Williams, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228, willi320@umn.edu Jenna Langer, Academic Health Center, 612-626-4784, lang0712@umn.edu          Unlikely artist helps fund new U of M Equine Center Horse impressionist moves from hooves to brush technique WHAT YOU’LL SEE Hercules, a palomino draft horse, learning to paint with a brush in the “Moneigh" technique, dubbed after famed impressionist Monet. To date, Hercules has been creating hoof-print paintings, or Maneighs, as gifts for donors to the new University of Minnesota Equine Center. WHEN 11 a.m., Monday, August 20, 2007 WHERE University of Minnesota Equine Center 1530 Fairview Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108

Mary Simons of ReRun, Inc., encourages Hercules to paint with a brush as Sue Loly, large animal technician supervisor, and Dr. Stephanie Valberg, director of the Equine Center, look on.

BACKGROUND
In preparation for showcasing his artwork at the Equine Center's grand opening on October 15, Hercules is learning a new artistic technique: learning to paint with a brush instead of his hooves. Hercules will be taught the “Moneigh" technique by Mary Simons of ReRun, Inc., a racehorse adoption agency in Kentucky. Mary, who has Minnesota roots, has worked with many famous horses, including Kentucky Derby winners Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, to develop their painting talents. Bids on previous “Moneighs" have been as high as $6,000 to benefit ReRun, Inc. Hercules’ brushwork paintings will be auctioned at the Equine Center’s grand opening.

EQUINE CENTER
The Equine Center’s grand opening will be at 2 p.m. on October 15. Custom-designed by architects who specialize in creating equine buildings throughout the world, the University of Minnesota Equine Center is a testimony to the University’s commitment to uncompromising excellence in veterinarian and client education, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment capabilities, rehabilitation services, reproduction services, and leading-edge research. Horses can be evaluated and rehabilitated using high-speed treadmills, underwater treadmills, high-powered MRI, and computerized high-speed image analysis systems to detect even subtle abnormalities in their athletic capability. The center will also serve as the hub for the horse community in Minnesota, providing a spacious 100- by 200-foot indoor arena and conference hall for horse groups. The Equine Center will also house the University of Minnesota Mounted Patrol horses and the We Can Ride program, one of the most established therapeutic horseback riding and cart-driving programs in support of disabled children and adults.

For more information and photographs of Hercules and his artwork, visit the News and Events page of the University of Minnesota Equine Center Web site at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/news/home.html.

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