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

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  Gentle Carousel Needs Your Support

  Links To Our Sponsors

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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 Inc.

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

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.

"...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 were 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

 

Smallest Horses In The World

 

  Some of the smallest miniature horses in the world work with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses including Rainbow (above at five months old).

  

 Many of our therapy horses are only 23-26 inches tall but some are even smaller.  It is easier for small miniature horses to walk up and down stairs, move around hospital equipment and ride in elevators.

Gentle Carousel's Peanut was only 13.5 inches tall at birth.  She is now 20 inches tall at over 2 years old.

 

 

  Gentle Carousel's Rainbow was only 14 inches tall at birth. 

     Rainbow, Aladdin and Peanut are very small but are healthy and normal in every way.  Veterinarians and miniature horse breeders have seen them up close and do not find dwarf characteristics. 

 

"Thumbelina"

      The current record holder for the world's smallest horse is a horse affected by dwarfism.  World record holder Thumbelina stands 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds .

          Dwarfism is a concern within the miniature horse world.  Dwarf horses, while often setting world records for size, are not considered to have desirable traits, generally have incorrect conformation, and may have significant health and soundness issues.

 The life expectancy of a dwarf horse is usually much shorter than a normal miniature horse depending on the severity of the horse’s dwarf characteristics.

 

  While all horses deserve love and the best life possible, our therapy horses need to be able to walk up and down stairs, move on different floor surfaces and easily work around hospital equipment. 

 

 

"Einstein"

     In 2010 a miniature horse foal named Einstein received international press coverage and challenged Thumbelina for the title of the World's Smallest Horse based upon the idea that there should be a separate world record category for the smallest non-dwarf horse. 

 

 Rainbow at 3 years old.

 

  

 

"Bella"

    Standing at 21 inches tall and weighing 56 pounds at five months old,  a foal living in North Dakota named Bella has also been called the smallest horse in the world.

 

Rainbow weighed 50 pounds at 2 years old..

 

  So who is really the smallest horse in the world?

              

      LakeCityJournal.com photo

 Should the category for non-dwarf horses be created, Rainbow and friends would be a very strong competitors to measure for the title of Smallest Horse In The World! 

 

   The Guinness Book of World Records guidelines for a world record require that a horse be four calendar years old to be measured.  A foal cannot be considered for the title even if the rules change.

 

   A one year old miniature horse should have reached about 90 percent of their final height.

  Rainbow might be able to break records... but the most important thing is that he is healthy, happy and brings smiles to adults and children in hospitals, hospice programs and assisted living programs.

  Rainbow greeting some fans after a Gentle Carousel Reading Is Magic event.  You can compare his size next to a 30 inch tall miniature horse and a miniature donkey.

 

    Rainbow's friend Peanut may be his biggest (smallest!) challenger for the world record.

"Peanut" with barn buddy Luke.

Peanut is a tiny horse and has become a wonderful therapy horse.

Fans meeting Peanut and Aladdin at a children's literacy event.

Rainbow meets Peanut for the first time "backstage" after appearing at the AARP International Convention with Magic. 

It was love at first sight for Rainbow.

 

People are always amazed at see how tiny Peanut is in person.

 

 Peanut's "boyfriend" Aladdin is also a little guy.

 Peanut and Aladdin arrive for a Halloween therapy visit.  They love working together...can you say Smallest Equine Couple in the World!

Aladdin at the Ronald McDonald House

 

 Aladdin (front) and Peanut go for a run with friends Shadow, Banner and Comet.  They may look like little toys but when they are not working they are normal horses in every way.  They require a place to run, equine friends and the same health care as a large horse.

 

Baby Photos of Rainbow, Peanut and Aladdin

"Rainbow"

 Photos taken at Strebor Mini Horse Horse Ranch before Rainbow joined Gentle Carousel.

  Rainbow comes from a long line of small miniature horses including a very small mother. His grandfather is multiple World Champion Halter Stallion Sids Terminator.

Rainbow's color changed!

 

 

"Peanut"

 Photos are of Peanut at 12 hours old taken at Cool Ridge Farm by JLW Photography.

 Both of Peanut's parents are small miniature horses and her grandfather is the 26.5 inch 1988 and 1990 National Champion Senior Stallion Yoga Light Vant Huttenest.

Peanut growing up (at little!). 

Peanut and mom.

 

"Aladdin"

Aladdin and mom before they both joined Gentle Carousel.  Aladdin's mother also comes from a long line of small miniature horses.

Aladdin is the grandson of Magic Man of LTD's, 19 Times National and Reserve National Champion and National Grand Champion Producer.

Aladdin's father is National Top Ten Stallion and Reserve National Champion Magic Man's Incognito.

Aladdin was a tiny but healthy, happy normal little foal.

 

 

And to finish up... how about little Shadow at almost four years old! 

Little Horses, Big Hearts!

 

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." J.M. Barrie

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

 

Phone: 352-226-9009

E-mail: MiniHorseTherapy@att.net

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