(AP) St. Paul – Can’t afford the $250 donation it takes to get an engraved brick at the University of Minnesota’s new Equine Center? Take heart – for only $50, you could have a painting by a horse.

Hercules, that is, the Belgian gelding who serves as the unofficial mascot at the Veterinary Medical Center’s Large Animal Hospital on the university’s St. Paul campus. Hercules created 100 hoofprint paintings — dubbed “Moneighs” — as gifts to donors who give at least $50.

“He’s a ham,” said Sheryl Ferguson, manager of the Veterinary Medical Center. “Any time he can get attention, he lives it up.”

Construction on the Equine Center began last fall. Officials are working to raise about $2 million to reach a $7.3 million goal. The university is covering the rest of the $14 million cost for the center, scheduled to open this fall.

The facility will include a clinic to evaluate performance horses, an arena to host events, a research barn to house the animals and a conference center for university and community horse organizations.

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