A heroic pet is one that "has significantly improved or saved a life".  Ten finalists were selected from across the country by AARP Magazine as the "ten most heroic, original and inspiring" pets in America.  Magic was chosen from the finalists as the winner and Most Heroic Pet in America.

AARP Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine with over 25,000,000 subscribers. Look for Magic in the May/June 2010  issue.

Photos from the Ocala Star-Banner. 

While a reporter was taking photos of a therapy horse visit, a woman who had not spoken since she arrived at the assisted care facility three years earlier began talking to therapy horse Magic. "Isn't she beautiful" were her first words.  "It's a horse".  The activities director began to cry and told the woman she loved her. "I love you too," the woman answered...her first full sentence to another person.  Before Magic left the woman asked, "Will she come back again?" Six months after Magic's first visit the woman is still talking!

Activities director Linda McSorley responds to hearing Kathleen Loper speak to Magic after not speaking to anyone for the three years she had lived in the Hampton Manor assisted living facility.

 Ann Marie Malave

Regional Activity Coordinator and Community Liaison, Hampton Manor  

 "There’s not a word to even describe it. It’s more of a feeling when you see them interact. It just can bring tears to your eyes.

  We had a resident who did not speak. And the horses came in and for the first time she spoke words. Everybody cried. It was just the most touching, heartfelt experience I ever had. You can’t even put a word on it. When you see something like that happen, somebody who has not spoken in years, and this horse, this beautiful creature comes in, and the residents petting and holding and hugging and then speaks words. Everybody cried. It was wonderful.

They’re the bridge. They connect our residents with maybe a memory, a feeling, something that they’ve done in their life. It’s just such an experience. There’s no words to describe it.

 That was a miracle...

  They donate their time, their expense, their volunteers to come and share with us and change the lives of the residents that live here.

They spread a little bit of Magic in everyone’s lives when they come and it’s donated."

The Fantastic Top 10 Finalists

Pet's Name: Hayley Heroic Act: A beagle/rottweiler mix discovers a bound kidnap victim behind a Dumpster.     Pet's Name: Smokie Heroic Act: A German shepherd nudges her family to the door, where a neighbor lies unconscious in the snow.   Pet's Name: Hallie Heroic Act: A German shepherd fights armed burglars and is shot at point-blank range.   Pet's Name: Stinky Heroic Act: A Nome mix battles a charging grizzly bear to protect his  owner.   Pet's Name: Hootie Heroic Act: An English setter saves a woman from a moose attack. Pet's Name: Annie Heroic Act: A Golden retriever leads a deaf man to his wife, whose fall has left her with broken ankles.   Pet's Name: Silver Heroic Act: A Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog barks and scratches at a door to alert her owner to a fire.   Pet's Name: Magic Heroic Act: A miniature horse's visit sparks a patient to talk after three years of silence.   Pet's Name: Cookie Heroic Act: A cat meows until her owner, groggy from smoke inhalation, wakes up.   Pet's Name: Max Heroic Act: A Jack Russell terrier protects his owner from a rabid fox.

Everyone at Gentle Carousel is celebrating Magic's wonderful news.

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

P.O. Box 1672
High Springs, Florida 32655-1672

Phone: 352-226-9009

E-mail: MiniHorseTherapy@att.net

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Your donations are tax deductible.

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." ~Winston Churchill

Gentle Carousel Inc.

P.O. Box 1672

High Springs, FL  32655

Phone: 352-226-9009

E-mail: MiniHorseTherapy@att.net