Home

  Magic named by TIME /CNN one of History's Ten Most Heroic Animals

Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

  Gentle Carousel Needs Your Support

  Links To Our Sponsors

Upcoming Events

Gentle Carousel Awards and Good News

   AARP's Most Heroic Pet In America

Gentle Carousel in Magazines

On Television, Film and Radio

Gentle Carousel in Newspapers

  Meet Our Therapy Horse Team

Horse Costumes

  Movie Star Benji Teams Up With Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

  Gentle Carousel and Martha Stewart    

               A Visit From National Geographic

Prancing With The Stars

Magic on NEWSWEEK/DAILY BEAST  Ten Most Heroic Animals

READING IS MAGIC at Schools

READING IS MAGIC Horses

READING IS MAGIC at Libraries

READING IS MAGIC Authors

  READING IS MAGIC Bringing Books To Life at Literacy Festivals

  Smallest Horses In The World

Becoming a Therapy Horse

Home Sweet Home

  Magic is a Power Of One  AMERICANTOWNS HERO

Princess Tea Parties

 Magic of Horses

 Sundance Star of Jason and Elihu

Elephants, Zebras and Gentle Carousel

Our Rescues and Therapy Friends

              Tiny Horses of Distant Thunder Ranch 

Magical Moments Fashion Show

Magic Horses Poem

Lake City Journal | Lake City, FL Therapy Dog Henry's Newspaper Column

  Holiday Memories

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 Miniature Therapy Horses

P.O. Box 358844

Gainesville, FL  32635

Phone: 352-226-9009

MiniHorseTherapy@att.net

  Rainbow in a huddle with two time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Phil Simms.

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

Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith after winning the Kentucky Derby. 

Thank you to Mike Smith for including Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses in your supported charities for the 2011 holidays!

Cloudburst wins Martha Stewart's Annual Halloween Photo Contest!  In 2011 Martha talked about Gentle Carousel on her website and Twitter.  In 2012 Peanut was featured on The Martha Stewart Show. Thank you Martha!

Cloudburst on People Magazine website.

"...Gentle Carousel, you are wonderful, gentle, caring people! "

Marlo Thomas,Actress, producer, best selling author, four-time Emmy winner and activist for children's causes

A photo of Peanut and Aladdin was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and her website home page. Who doesn't love Ellen!

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.

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."

As Seen in:

TeaTime Magazine

"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."

 William J. Bennett, Former Secretary of Education

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

"Gentle Carousel...  Thank you for all of your hard work!"

Joan Lundon, journalist, author and television host

 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.

 

"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, #1 New York Times Bestselling author and NASA engineer  

"What you have to get across is that these are highly trained horses. They go into an environment, a situation, circumstances where only a trained horse such as this can navigate himself... They seem to have an innate sense of how to go to the person they are there to comfort."

 Ilene Silverman, Executive producer and host of the The Ilene Silverman Show.

"...I think that the use of horses is wonderful for children with self-regulation and attachment issues (the classic problems with so many children in the CPS system as you are aware)...Keep up your work. With  Respect"

Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.Senior Fellow
The Child Trauma Academy 

"...I just wanted to take the opportunity to write you a letter expressing my amazement with your miracle miniature horse "Magic". As I read about all the miraculous things that have happened in her presence, I was absolutely stunned. It is amazing that despite the modern marvels of medicine and how much that field has advanced in my lifetime, that sometimes there remains an unexplained element to health and recovery that is covered by miraculous creatures like your horse..."

Senator Steve Oelrich

"Magic and Gentle Carousel, Inspiring children to read is magical. You are making a difference!"

 Chris Soentpiet, Acclaimed children's book author and illustrator (Thank you for the beautiful artwork you donated to help Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic!)

 "My own daughter, who has Down Syndrome has been touched by Magic. I have been able to see first hand what these animals can do just with my own child...This program benefits so many different population bases. They can reach the elderly, the terminally ill, children with developmental disabilities, children with needs in reading...there are just so many opportunities to reach so many people in need..."

Lance Block, Chairman for the Governor's Commission on Disabilities

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

Carl Joseph, author and Hall of Fame athlete

 

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

Shelley Fraser Mickle, Award winning author and National Public Radio commentator  

 

Sundance smiles for a fan then kisses one of his photos in the novel JASON AND ELIHU as an autograph.

 "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, Bestselling author and Newbery Medal Winner

 

 

READING IS MAGIC

 Bringing Books to Life at Book Fairs and Literacy Festivals

LIBRARY PROGRAMS        SCHOOL PROGRAMS

READING IS MAGIC HORSES  

SUPPORT FROM AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS

                                      O'Leno State Park hosts Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses
O'Leno State Park hosts Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses

             Masquerade and Hamlet, who appear as characters in children's books, wait quietly in the back as children at O'Leno Literacy Day listen to a story. (Gentle Carousel photo)

 

History in miniature at O'Leno State Park Literacy Day
History in miniature at O'Leno State Park Literacy Day
Aladdin (left) and Peanut, in full literary costume, visit with children at O'Leno State Park Literacy Day.

 

Miniature horses and history and Native American traditions featured at Literacy Day at O'Leno State Park
 
Wakanda, a one-year-old pinto, shows off the designs painted by children at Literacy day. (Gentle Carousel photo)
Wakanda, a one-year-old pinto, shows off the designs painted by children at Literacy day.
A special book about a painted pony inspired a boy to read at Literacy Day. (Gentle Carousel photo)
A special book about a painted pony inspired a boy to read at Literacy Day.

 

Five tiny horses brought a special program to O'Leno State Park Literacy Day, featuring children's books written and illustrated by Native Americans

“We did two hours of programs with five horses, including our new Gift Horse/Native Americans and Horses program that included painting on Pintos,” said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea of Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses.

“The children had fun painting the traditional symbols on the horses -- who washed up very well after the program,” she said.

Our new therapy horse in training, Cloudburst, made his first public appearance as one of the pintos and was a park ranger favorite!

Families could enter the park on Literacy Day free if they donated a new or lightly used book.

All of the children's books donated were given to Gentle Carousel to give to children at Happy House in Lake City. Gentle Carousel will visit Happy House on a regular schedule.

Gentle Carousel began as a therapy-horse program, visiting children’s hospitals, Hospice and nursing homes. The tiny horses bring joy to patients and take their attention away from their medical challenges.

A reading program followed, matching horses with those in books. Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea have acquired a variety of miniature horses that look just like the literary characters in books, such as “Run with the Wind,” “Black Beauty” and “Year of the Black Pony.”

To see all of the animals and learn more about Gentle Carousel, visit www.Horse-Therapy.org


 

  

W_-_Oleno_Literacy_Fest_100_2432_copyHIGH SPRINGS – Celebrate the 5th Annual Literacy Day event on Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at O’Leno State Park. Have fun with Magic and the Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses.

Listen to stories read by local authors and guest readers, and talk with book illustrators. Stretch your legs and take a “Where Tales Meet Trails” adventure walk, and then sign up for a library card. There will also be an arts and crafts area, live animals and refreshments. Learn about adult literacy programs and rreceive a free state park day pass.

Admission to the park is free with the donation of a new or gently used family oriented book. To learn more about Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses, visit www.horse-therapy.org. To learn more about the park, visit www.floridastateparks.org/oleno. O’Leno State Park is located located 6 miles north of High Springs on U.S. Highway 441.

 

 

Painting on horses part of fun at Literacy Day

     <p>This may be the final issue of The North Florida Herald, the one
that is in the stands now.</p>
      test4Literacy Day      test4Literacy Day

Posted: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 9:19 pm | Updated: 9:20 pm, Wed Nov 2, 2011.

The Fourth Annual Literacy Day was held at O'Leno State Park in High Springs recently, featuring a variety of events.  Families could enter the park and Literacy Day free if they donated a new or lightly used book. All of the children's books donated were given to Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses to give to local at-risk children during school year programs.

 

Kids also got to meet miniature horses and even paint on them with washable paint. To learn more about Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses, visit http://www.horse-therapy.org.

 

 

 

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic event in the news.

A visit from "The Black Stallion" at the Branford Literacy Festival.

       

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

Magic in front of a television camera before a Reading Is Magic event.

 

Reading Is Magic at the Family Literacy Festival, Main Branch of the Alachua Library District.

 

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.

Since Sundance cannot sign his book, he kisses one of his photos in the book as an autograph.

 

 

 

Sundance autographs his book with a kiss.

 

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 358844

Gainesville, FL  32635

Phone: 352-226-9009

E-mail: MiniHorseTherapy@att.net

Home Page

© 2005-2013 Gentle Carousel Therapy Miniature Horses  All rights reserved.