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Movie Star Benji Teams Up With Gentle Carousel

Gentle Carousel in Magazines, Newspapers, Television and Radio

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      Meet the Real Sundance      Star of the novel Jason and Elihu

Gentle Carousel In The Movies

What's New At Gentle Carousel

We Need Your Support

Wish List and Volunteer Opportunities

Our Sponsors and Friends

Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC at Schools

Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC Horses

 Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC at Libraries

Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC Authors and Illustrators

LOVE IS... Magic and Rainbow's New Children's Book

Our Mission

Home Sweet Home

Becoming a Therapy Horse

Elephants, Zebras and Gentle Carousel... Oh My

An Enchanted Afternoon Fairy Princess Tea Party

Magic Horses Poem

Photography Contest Winners Featuring Gentle Carousel Horses

Photo Memories

Amazing People

Our Rescues and Therapy Friends

Magical Moments Fashion Show

2009 Magic of Horses

MAGIC

RAINBOW

ANGEL

SUNDANCE

 ALADDIN

ILLUSION

 CHAPS

CIRCUS

PEANUT

ROCKET

FLAME

DURANGO

SPARKLE

TUMBLEWEED

ECLIPSE

STARLIGHT

MILKY WAY

COMET

WHISTLE

FEATHER

BRIGHTY

MOONBEAM

STARDUST

DREAMER

SPLASH

SCOUT

PRINCE

KALLIOPE

BANNER

CONTENDER

RAIN DANCE

SHADOW

SILVER

GERARD

DONKEY OTIE

MAGIC MAN'S ON DEMAND

The Future Of Gentle Carousel Where will the next Rainbow and Magic come from?

Contact Us

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

Your donations are tax deductible. Help us grant wishes, make memories and bring a little magic into the world.

Gentle Carousel Inc.

P.O. Box 1672

High Springs, FL  32655

Phone: 352-226-9009

MiniHorseTherapy@att.net

Magic selected Most Heroic Pet In America. See her in AARP the Magazine.

Gentle Carousel in Woman's World magazine.

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

 

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

 

   What an honor and thrill to have Gentle Carousel's Sundance as a riveting character in JASON AND ELIHU.-Shelley Fraser Mickle

" Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses.

Your Reading Is Magic program and volunteers are heroes every time they walk into a school or library.  Using little miniature horses to inspire young children to read is most creative.  Congratulations on your wonderful charity, spirit and service to your community.

- Bill Bennett " Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett

"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!      

Best, Jon " Jon Provost - Appeared as Timmy Martin on Lassie

Canine movie star Benji working with Magic.

"What they are doing is just so incredible.  They are making a difference. These people are the real deal.  They are down there in the trenches doing it."

 -Joe Camp

  Film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind canine superstar Benji.

"What 'Reading Is Magic' does for kids by going into schools and igniting excitement for reading a story is beyond compare.  Keep the hoofbeats going."

Carl Joseph, Author of SOME CALLED ME SUPERSTAR

 

"Reading Is Magic!

Every child you inspire to read is a life forever changed. Thank you for that and for bringing books to life...It can take you from outer space to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Either way, the journey is magical.

...Wow.  Love those little horses... Great job you're doing.  I'm proud of you." 

-Homer Hickam

Magic appearing on The Ilene Silverman Show.

 

James Gurney

Best-selling author and illustrator of the Dinotopia book series.

 

 Magic with four-time Olympian and ten-time US Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year, Karen O'Connor.

 

Magic with  David O'Connor, president of the United States Equestrian Federation, Olympic gold medalist and Pan American Games and World Equestrian Games medalist.

 

"Magic and Gentle Carousel,

    Inspiring children to read is magical. You are making a difference!"

 Chris Soentpiet - Acclaimed children's book author and illustrator

Professional baseball player Jon Townsend of the Los Angeles Angels visiting children with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses.

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses and University of Florida football players at a camp for children with cancer.

"To Magic and Gentle Carousel-

 You have a wonderful program. Thank you for bringing joy to children... Keep reading! It is magic!"

-Anna Grossnickle Hines, author and illustrator of over 50 children's books.

"...Thank you for all the work you do.

...Reading is Magic!"

- Linda Sue Park

Newbery Medal Winner

 

Gentle Carousel on television.

.

  

 

RAINBOW

Strebor Rainbow Hawk

AMHA/AMHR  Silver Dapple and White Frame Overo with ice blue eyes

 14" at birth   Parentage Qualified

Therapy Horse Rainbow making friends with canine movie star Benji.

BENJI TEAMS WITH GENTLE CAROUSEL

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic received the 2009 Literacy Award from the Alachua County Literacy Network (with Terri Hutchinson, Literacy Coordinator of Alachua County Library District and Gainesville mayor Pegeen Hanrahan) for Outstanding Contribution To Literacy.

Rainbow at Haven Hospice.

 

In Woman's World magazine.

Rainbow at the Early Steps Fall Festival (Gainesville Sun).

Rainbow at the Family Literacy Festival (Gainesville Sun).

Social Petworking

Websites like Facebook aren't just for humans anymore

Published: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:33 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:33 a.m.

Jorge and Debbie Garcia-Bengochea work non-stop with their Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses non-profit organization. Their 30-plus miniature horses visit thousands of children and adults in schools, hospitals and hospice in Alachua, Marion and surrounding counties.

ut once they return to their High Springs home, their work isn't over. They log onto Facebook to post status updates and photos and respond to messages — all on behalf of their horse, Rainbow.

Five months ago, the couple created a profile for Rainbow, their 50-pound, white and gray horse with bright, ice blue eyes. Although Rainbow has an e-mail address, Debbie Garcia-Bengochea said Facebook is a unique way for Rainbow to communicate and keep in touch with his fans and further promote their message of reading and literacy.

"It's a lot of work keeping up with it, but it's easy to speak for him because he has such a personality and the kids love him so much," said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, adding Rainbow will appear at library branches through the Gainesville and Ocala area as part of their Reading is Magic program. "As soon as school gets out, he'll tweet through the summer about all his events and adventures. His account will be ‘My Rainbow Heart.'"

 

Rainbow on television.

 

Rainbow in Ocala Style Magazine

Gainesville Today Magazine

Front page of Lake City Reporter

Rainbow works with Gentle Carousel's  READING IS MAGIC

Award winning documentary filmmakers from The Imagination Company of Utah (near Sundance) came to Florida to film Rainbow and the other Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses. 

Rainbow being filmed at the Ronald McDonald House.

RAINBOW IN THE MOVIES

Rainbow with Sheriff Sadie Darnell.

Rainbow is always busy bringing smiles to new friends. 

 

 

Rainbow at ROCK (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) Camp party with Florida Gator football players. 

Rainbow supporting COPS, an Alachua County Sheriff's Office community outreach program.

Rainbow in Gainesville  Magazine

 

Magic of Horses fundraiser.

Baby photos of Rainbow

 

Pedigree for Rainbow

Sire

 

GALLOPING G MAGIC MANS RED HAWK

2002 31.5"  Sorrel Pinto

Sire

 

SIDS TERMINATOR

1994 30.75.5" Solid Sorrel

Multiple World Champion Halter Stallion

 

Sire

 

DIPPERS DIPSY DOODLE

1987 29.25" Sorrel Sorrel

  

Sire

BOONES LITTLE APACHE

1975 30"  Sorrel Pinto

Sire of multiple World and National iChampions

Dam

STARLIGHTS LITTLE DIPPER

191  29.75"  Solid Chestnut

Daughter of:

Sire of :

1985 National Grand Champion Senior Stallion

 Skip A Star
 
 Reserve National Grand Champion 
Stallion
 
Johnston’s Starlight Ranger 
 
National Grand Champion Junior 
Stallion, 
 
NFCs Sugar Boy
   

 For AMHR, he produced two-time National Grand Champion Stallion

 Gingerbread Farms Rapid Transit.

Granddaughter 2 times of:

GOLD MELODY BOY 

Dam

SIDS GINGER

1990 32.5" Sorrel Sorrel

 

Sire

DIPPERS DIPSY DOODLE

1987 29.25" Sorrel Sorrel

Son of:

ROAN RANGER

Grandson  of:

GOLD MELODY BOY 

Dame

JOHNSONS TINA STAR

1982 32.75"  Red Roang

Daughter of:

Granddaughter  of:

GOLD MELODY BOY 

Dam

REECES LADY HAWK

1997 29.5" Solid Sorrel

National Champion Producer

Sire

4 GS LITTLE ALFALFA PLEASURE

Reserve National Champion Sire of Get

Multiple National Champion Producer

 

1992 33.75" Bay Pinto

Sire

LITTLE KINGS ALFALFA PLEASE

1983 28.5" Solid Black

Multiple National Champion Producer

Son of:

KOMOKOS LITTLE KINGS SUPREME

Son of:

KOMOKOS LITTLE HUSSLER

Dame

WARWICK FARMS SWEET BAY

1986 32.25" Solid Bay

Granddaughter of:

STOUTS BLACK MAGIC

Dame

REECES ELORA DANNON

1989 32" Solid Dun

Sire

BOZO REECE

1983 33.5" Solid Dun

Damem

 REECE GRAVEL GIRTEE

1984 32" Solid Black

Dam

RSF SILVIS LITTLE RASCAL TOO

2001 28.5" AHMA/AMHR Fading Black Sabino Overo

Sire 

MFC SILVERADO

1994 28.5" Solid Chestnut

Sire

HEMLOCK BROOKS GEE WHIZ

1988 30.5" Grey Pinto

 

Sire

 HEMLOCK BROOKS SILVER LEDGEND

1977 27" Dapple Grey

Dam

HEMLOCK BROOKS LADY OF THE ISLES

1977 29.5" Solid Bay

Daughter of:

DELL TERAS LORD OF THE ISLES

DamDam

KOBECKES TABATHA

1988 29.25 Solid BLACK

R

Sire

KOMOKOS DUSTY DEVIL

1978 28" Solid Black

Dam

CARY ANN

1983 33.75" Solid Black

Dam Dam

STRAWBERRYS QT RASCAL

29.75"  Red Roan Appaloosa

Sire

 Unknown

 

Dam

Unknown

 

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

 

© 2005-2010 Gentle Carousel Therapy Miniature  Horses  All rights reserved.