"Reading Is Magic!

Thank you Girls Horse Club for making Gentle Carousel the organization you adopted this year!

"Magic and Gentle Carousel,

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

 Chris Soentpiet - Acclaimed children's book author and illustrator

Magic and Moonbeam behaving like pros for a television interview at the Ronald McDonald House.

"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

Winning photo of Therapy Horse Circus and the Grady House Dalmatians.

 Look for Therapy Horse Circus in Spring 2009 EquuSSource Magazine

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

  Look for Therapy Horse Stardust in Horse Illustrated magazine.

Contest winning photo of Therapy Horse Circus.

Feature article about Gentle Carousel in Miniature Horse World magazine.

 AARP Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine with over 25,000,000 subscribers.

Photos from the Ocala Star-Banner. 

While a reporter was taking photos of a therapy horse visit, a woman who had not spoken since she arrived at the assisted care facility three years earlier began talking to therapy horse Magic. "Isn't she beautiful" were her first words.  "It's a horse".  The activities director began to cry and told the woman she loved her. "I love you too," the woman answered...her first full sentence to another person.  Before Magic left the woman asked, "Will she come back again?" Six months after Magic's first visit the woman is still talking!

Activities director Linda McSorley responds to hearing Kathleen Loper speak to Magic after not speaking to anyone for the three years she had lived in the Hampton Manor assisted living facility.

  A photo shoot for Woman's World Magazine. Gentle Carousel will be in a two page feature article on stands April 17, 2010.

Gentle Carousel was selected as a charity partner in Disney's 2010 volunteer program "Give a Day. Get a Day."

 "Holiday With Horses 2010" at Canterbury Showplace will benefit Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses!  We are honored to be selected.

This wonderful family event will be held on December 18, 2010.  Save The Date!

23100 W. Newberry Rd.     Newberry, Florida

Rainbow at Holiday With Horses 2009.

 Look for Rainbow in a upcoming series of children's books. 

See:  Rainbow's Page

We are thrilled that Rainbow's first book will be photographed by award winning photographers and documentary filmmakers Mark J. and Jackie Barrett.

Some of Mr. Barrett's current books and videos.

2010 Barrett wall calendars

Thank you so much for donating your 2010 Miniature Horse Calendars to Gentle Carousel.

See Mark Barrett's work at:    http://www.storyline.net        http://www.markjbarrett.com

Gentle Carousel was busy bringing smiles to new friends over the holiday season. 

Some of our wonderful volunteers at work (Ocala Magazine).

We are so happy that "Flame" is now part of our Reading Is Magic program.

Flame was 2008 Eastern Grand Champion 28" and under Sr. Stallion

 2008 AMHA Top Ten Honor Roll (#3)  for 28" & under

READING IS MAGIC

 Early Steps Fall Festival at Metcalfe Elementary School, Gainesville.

One of our new Reading Is Magic posters... and yes Magic really was standing with the elephant!

Author Jessica Burkhart and Therapy Horse Magic.

   Jessica's new Canterwood Crest book Take The Reins is on our Reading Is Magic booklist.

To The Volunteers of Gentle Carousel,

Always follow your dreams.  Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something.  Stay positive and stay strong.  You have the ability to make amazing things happen!

Love,

Jessica Burkhart

"Cookies With Santa" was the first of many upcoming events partnering Gentle Carousel with the University of Florida's Healthy Families program.  "Moonbeam" enjoyed some special time with Santa... our therapy horses made Santa's "Nice List" this year.

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses gave some love to over 150 foster and homeless children as part of "Christmas For The Community".

Gentle Carousel delivered a sleigh full of stuffed toy horses to the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville but the real horses got most of the attention.

Magic with Ronald McDonald House house director Theresa Drews. 

Professional baseball player Jon Townsend joined Gentle Carousel and signed autographs for children and families staying at the  Ronald McDonald House.

Gentle Carousel is proud to be a member of Alachua County Children's Alliance.

Thank you Sheriff Darnell for your support.

Magic helping pass out gifts during a Sharing Party at the  High Springs Daycare Center a non-profit preschool.

Gentle Carousel Board Member Sally Anfinsen volunteering at the Sidney Lanier School. Sidney Lanier is a public school in the Alachua County School District that serves students with severe developmental or multiple disabilities, ages 3 to 22.  Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses enjoy their visits with these special children.

Magic making new friends at the  Woodland Care Center.

Magic greeting her new friends at the grand opening of  THE OAKS OF LAKE CITY Equestrian Center.

Magic enjoyed all of the attention and love from her human friends...

...and also enjoyed meeting some new equine friends. 

These Gypsy Vanners were taking part in the equestrian demonstrations planned for the event.

Even Magic had a few minutes in the spotlight, just like the big horses!

 Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses are now making regular visits to  Al'z Place.   Al'z Place provides care for people with Alzheimer's disease or severe memory impairment and is part of Shands Hospital Eldercare.

 Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses are now making regular visits to the Sterling House of Gainesville.

Photo of Magic from Our Town Publications.

Gentle Carousel was asked to join Fantastic Friday in High Springs.  We enjoyed meeting everyone and Magic made many new friends!  Look for our special horses at upcoming Fantastic Fridays.

Our Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses were at the 3rd Annual Picnic in the Park and Fireworks. It takes special horses to handle this much attention!

Therapy Horse "Circus" with the Grady House Dalmatians.

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 1672

High Springs, FL  32655

Phone: 352-226-9009

E-mail: MiniHorseTherapy@att.net