Hugh Jackman talks about Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses on stage during his amazing Broadway show.

"Keep up the wonderful work you do.  I often tell people that Lassie was the first therapy dog--the first to be allowed in hospitals more than 50 years ago!"      

Jon Provost, Appeared as Timmy Martin on Lassie

Cloudburst wins Martha Stewart's Annual Halloween Photo Contest!  Martha talked about Gentle Carousel on her website and Twitter.  Thank you Martha!

Cloudburst on People Magazine website.

Rainbow with THE DUKES OF HAZZARD star Tom Wopat.

Sundance reading at a Boys and Girls Club with former NFL and University of Florida  quarterback Doug Johnson for an Associated Press photo and literacy poster.

Gentle Carousel was selected a charity partner in Disney's volunteer program "Give a Day. Get a Day."

Peanut gives her own interview on the news.

 

Reading is Magic brings a modern children's classic, pageantry and the Magic of Gentle Carousel to library programs on Friday

Rainbow, one of the Gentle Carousel miniature horses, is surrounded by adoring fans during a visit to the Columbia County Public Library. Peanut is the smallest horse in the world (non-dwarf) at only 19 inches tall. (Gentle Carousel photo) By Karl Burkhardt There will be Magic at the Libraries on Thursday – wonderful Magic, Magic you can hug and kiss. Magic you can talk to. Magic will step out of the pages of a children’s book, Fritz and the Beautiful Horses. With audience volunteers and costumes, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses will act out the story. The book is a modern classic, with exquisite illustrations by the author, by Jan Brett. Fritz, a pony excluded from the group of beautiful horses within the walled city, becomes a hero when he rescues the children of the city. Fritz was not beautiful. He didn't have a braided mane or a glossy coat. He couldn't prance with long, graceful strides like the elegant horses who carried lords and lovely ladies to the city – a city that allowed only the most beautiful horses within its walls. The citizens laughed at the short-legged pony's attempts to be like their own horses. Combined with the tiny horses from Gentle Carousel, this will be an unforgettable experience for children, not to mention their parents. “We are going to be bringing Peanut and Aladdin,” said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. “Peanut is the smallest horse in the world (non-dwarf) at only 19 inches tall. Aladdin is only 21 inches tall.” Gentle Carousel brings Reading is Magic to the Fort White Community Center on State Road 47, across the street from the Library, on Friday, June 24, at 11 a.m. The Main Branch Library in Lake City hosts Gentle Carousel’s Reading is Magic at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Library is at 308 N. Columbia Street. Both programs are free, sponsored by Friends of the Library. “We will also be reading another book with the help of our little hero horse Magic. Recently, she was selected a Reader's Digest /Americantowns Power of One Hero (the only non-human),” Debbie said. “National Geographic flew in and followed Magic at work for three days (the article should be out in November). We also just did a photo shoot for People magazine.” Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic brings real horses inside schools, at risk youth programs and libraries to inspire young readers and "bring books to life." The tiny horses in the program look like the horse characters in loved children's books. Programs like the ones at the Columbia County Libraries inspire children to read. They infuse the joy of reading for youngsters who may not think of reading as fun. Equally inspiring are the visits to hospitals and nursing homes, where a visit from a miniature horse is a surprise and a delight. One woman, a resident in a nursing home, had not spoken in three years when Magic came to visit. "Isn't she beautiful," were her first words. "It's a horse." That moment changed her life forever. Magic has been named The Most Heroic Pet in America by AARP. And she has been honored by Time/CNN which named her one of 10 of History's Most Courageous Animals. Magic and Gentle Carousel have fans all over the world. Benji, the movie star, came to North Florida, with his owner, Joe Camp, and his wife Kathleen. Camp is a film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind the canine superstar. He is the author of The Soul of a Horse. Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea formed Gentle Carousel as a non-profit corporation, a “public charity dedicated to delivering therapeutic visits to children and adults in hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, group homes or confined at home. To see all of the animals and learn more about Gentle Carousel, visit  www.Horse-Therapy.org

  Peanut in a UF cheerleader costume and Wakanda in a UF football costume with University of Florida Hall Of Fame football player and 12 season NFL player (currently with the Atlanta Falcons) Mike Peterson.  The horses helped at a Peterson Foundation charity event.

 Aladdin (front), Peanut, Shadow, Banner and Comet.

 Photos are of Peanut at 12 hours old.

Peanut and her little mom.

  

 Just like our therapy horse Rocket, Peanut received all the early socialization needed from Susie and Joe Short to become a super therapy horse.  Another cool baby from Cool Ridge Farm.  Thank you Susie and Joe!

Peanut's look-a-like storybook for Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic program.

 

When you are as tiny as Peanut you can ride inside the truck!

Peanut meets Rainbow for the first time.  He was much older but it was love at first sight!

What a tiny, cute couple!

 

Peanut's Pedigree 

 Skip A Star

 Reserve National Grand Champion 

Stallion

Johnston’s Starlight Ranger 

National Grand Champion Junior 

Stallion, 

NFCs Sugar Boy

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