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 Testimonials

William J. Bennett

" Gentle Carousel 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."

My best to you all

- Bill Bennett

Theresa Drews

House Operations Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville

 "When 8-year-old Melissa Santana was staying at the Ronald McDonald House over the Christmas holidays, there was one thing she always looked forward to.

 On the days that Magic came to visit, Melissa's cheeks would hurt at the end of the day from smiling, said Theresa Drews, house operations director of the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville.  Those also were the days scheduled for her chemotherapy treatments for Leukemia at Shands."

-Gainesville Sun

Dorothy Mitchell, parent at the Ronald McDonald House

 I was very surprised when my kids were even looking at the animals. To see them actually pet it and walk as close as they did. It was like oh, wow!

 I’m speechless but yes. Josiah, yes, even kissing. Wake me up! Pinch me or something!  I don’t know if it was the atmosphere or what. This has been a very hard time but this made it, I would say, peaceful."

Lance Block
Chairman for the Governor's Commission on Disabilities

  I chair the Governor’s Commission On Disabilities and we’re very interested in Gentle Carousel. We’ll be studying the program this year and my guess is there will be some recommendations to the governor and the legislature about at least beginning a pilot program to enable this program to perhaps move on state wide.

My own daughter, who has Down Syndrome, has been touched by Magic. I’ve 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.

The doctors of 6-year-old Job let him leave the hospital for a few short hours so he could meet Magic.  He had not been out of the hospital for weeks and has been in the hospital 22 different times. What special young man.

 "No one has ever done such a great thing for our family. The doctors let him out of the hospital just to see Magic."

Nancy McBride, mother of Job

Ester Tibbs

District III Administrator, Department of Children and Families

  When they  came up here, they made it known to me that they were interested in reforming the foster care system, which our circuit is working on. We were pleased to welcome them to become part of our steering committee for the foster care re-design.

And then as I learned more about the wonderful things that they were doing in the community, every opportunity I get to tell somebody about the horses and what they do in terms of improving the lives of children and families, I do.

  We’re excited to have a partnership with them.

The second thing that excites me about what they are doing is just the whole focus on getting children excited about reading. The ability to read is such a wonderful gift and skill in terms of opening up new vistas to people. I’m an avid reader and to the degree that Gentle Carousel and the horses can get that joy of reading and learning, that excites me.

  They are everywhere.

 The horses themselves are such a draw. Kids get excited about the horses. Adults get excited about the horses. Before you know it, you’re kind of drawn in to the whole Gentle Carousel program. It’s a very easy, non-threatening way to engage our community around just worthy causes.

  I think it’s Magic. Most definitely Magic. You see the horse. When that horse walked in as old as I am, it was like ohhhh!

  We opened up a neighborhood resource center recently. I said, we have to get the horses there. That will draw the entire community to come out and see the horses but also learn about the new program that we’re bringing to the community. So of course, they were a big hit. All the kids in the family want to see the horses and then we told them what else we had to offer them.

   As long as we can keep them going through our donations they touch so many other programs in our community. They make a significant difference in the lives of the people in this community with their work. And not just this community, everywhere that they go they have a big impact.

 Ann Marie Malave

Regional Activity Coordinator and Community Liaison, Hampton Manor  

"There’s not a word to even describe it. It’s more of a feeling when you see them interact. It just can bring tears to your eyes.

  We had a resident who did not speak. And the horses came in and for the first time she spoke words. Everybody cried. It was just the most touching, heartfelt experience I ever had. You can’t even put a word on it. When you see something like that happen, somebody who has not spoken in years, and this horse, this beautiful creature comes in, and the residents petting and holding and hugging and then speaks words. Everybody cried. It was wonderful.

They’re the bridge. They connect our residents with maybe a memory, a feeling, something that they’ve done in their life. It’s just such an experience. There’s no words to describe it.

 That was a miracle...

They donate their time, their expense, their volunteers to come and share with us and change the lives of the residents that live here.

They spread a little bit of Magic in everyone’s lives when they come and it’s donated."

"...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

"Thank you for making my mother's last wish come true.  You came quickly and were there when we needed you.  Your beautiful horse was more than we could have hoped for."

-- T.D.

 "What a wonderful experience.  This meant so much to my daughter and to our entire family.  We will never forget what you did for us."

-- Pam A.

"The photos are wonderful.  We are so happy that you are going to be a regular part of our program.  Thank you for coming early for Mr. L.  We loved the look on his face when he saw your horses."

--Mrs. B.

 "I wish you the best in everything that you do in the future with Gentle Carousel.  There should be more people in the world like you.  Hugs to your  wonderful horses."

-- Emily S.

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

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