Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses?

 Gentle Carousel Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non profit public charity.   There are no paid staff positions.  An amazing team of volunteers assist during therapy horse visits, education programs and help train and care for these special horses. From the board of directors to photography to website work to fundraising, Gentle Carousel is an all volunteer program.

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses visited over 4000 adults and children in 2009 thanks to the work of so many caring volunteers.

 We receive requests daily for individual hospital and hospice visits for both children and adults.  Gentle Carousel depends on private and corporate donations to help pay for horse therapy visits and programs. 

Learn more: How To Help Gentle Carousel

What Happens On A Gentle Carousel Visit?

 Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses work inside hospitals, assisted care programs, programs for Alzheimer patients, group homes and with patients in hospice care.  They also work with adults and children with disabilities and at risk and abused children.

Our very tiny, show quality miniature horses bring their special love where it is needed most and make memories everyday.  Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses grant wishes, inspire laughter and bring a little magic into the world.

Each visit is different.  We adjust the time and activities to the individual needs of the  participants.  From a tea party for a child with a life ending illness to a home visit with an autistic child, the goal of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses is to provide a magical experience.

 When a loving blue eyed Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse arrives it has been bathed, groomed and has shiny polished feet and "fairy dust" sparkles.  Often, just before the horses enter a room, a poem called "Magic Horses" is read.  It is about horses with blue eyes and fairy dust who make memories that last forever.

We like to leave  a stuffed toy horse that looks like the real one on each bed and if Gentle Carousel participants would like photographs taken with our horses, we make sure there is a photographer available.   

See: Magic Horses Poem

See: 2010 Pony Up!

How are Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses trained?

Learning the skills needed to be a therapy horse takes at least two years and there is always something new to learn.  Our training program is challenging for both horses and handlers.  We never force our horses to do anything.  They are treated with kindness and respect and choose to work with us and have a relationship with us.

Our therapy horses work in private homes as well as in public programs. They must be able to walk up and down stairs, ride in elevators, walk on unusual floor surfaces, not fear other animals and move around hospital equipment.  They have even traveled on airplanes!  Therapy horses must be calm in the most challenging situations and trust their handlers completely when something unexpected happens.

A well trained Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse is walked into City Hall by canine movie star Benji during the filming of a documentary about our therapy program.

 Important note - Just because someone has  a miniature horse does not mean that they have a horse that should come indoors!  Taking a horse indoors that has not been properly trained and insured (even a miniature horse) to visit children or the elderly is irresponsible.

Learn more at:  Becoming a Therapy Horse

Where do you find Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses?

It is very difficult to become a Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse.   Therapy horses are chosen for their beauty, very small size (much smaller than most miniature horses!), exceptional temperament, intelligence and desire to spend time with people.  They also must have flashy patterns and unusual bright blue eyes.  Most start their training at birth or at a very young age.

 Horses selected for Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic program must look exactly like the characters in popular children's books and have the same qualities as a therapy horse (many work in both programs). Finding such horses has taken a nationwide search.  We have searched and purchased horses from one side of the country to the other.  Hollywood and Splash are from California,  Circus is from Texas, Flame is from Georgia, Feather is from Montana...you get the idea.  It is very difficult to find the perfect match for a book and the perfect personality in one horse. 

Each therapy horse or Reading Is Magic horse has their own webpage so you can learn more about the special members of our program.

Visit Our New Reading Is Magic Website:  www.ReadingIsMagic.org

Who is Rainbow?

Rainbow is a very tiny therapy horse.  He was only 14 inches tall at birth.  He has an amazing personality and will be the star of a series of upcoming children's books published by Wild Onion Press. Wild Onion Press publishes books featuring children with various physical differences. Their philosophy is that a physical difference is not a disability, it is merely an outstanding characteristic.

Rainbow's Page      Rainbow Books

Who is Sundance?

  Look for Sundance in the wonderful children's novel JASON AND ELIHU by author Shelley Fraser Mickle.  Sundance will make personal appearances in 2010.

   Several photos of Sundance appear in the book.  Sundance's outgoing personality was captured in the story including his love of peppermints and his talent for smiling.

 A portion of the proceeds of this book is being donated to Florida's foster care system.

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

JASON AND ELIHU

Reading Is Magic Authors

 How small are Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses?