BELLEVIEW, FL (352today.com) – Don’t let their small stature fool you.
Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses has been making a big difference and the award-winning nonprofit charity has celebrated 27 years of service.
Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses co-founder, was the featured speaker at the Belleview Chamber and Economic Partnership‘s “Belleview on the Rise” breakfast at Belleview High School on Sept. 24, 2024.
Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses have been called in to comfort survivors and first responders of the tragedies including:
- Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT
- Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC
- Pulse Night Club in Orlando
- Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland
They also have the distinction of being the first miniature horse charity in the world.
The horses’ presence has helped children suffering from traumatic experiences like:
- Those who were trapped in schools by a massive tornado in Moore, OK
- Victims of the fire in Gatlinburg, TN
- Families in the aftermath of multiple hurricanes
- Families and first responders after the condo collapse in Surfside
“A lot of the stories are just one-on-one memories with the family,” says Garcia-Bengochea. “The thing that you realize is we may be with someone for a couple of hours but that becomes the family legacy, the story.”
The impact of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses on the community is significant. They provide love, warmth, and understanding to children and adults in hospitals, hospice programs, assisted living facilities, and to families, veterans, and first responders who have faced traumatic experiences.
One of the horses, Magic, is one of the most famous therapy animals in the world with distinctions including: was selected by Magic also had other honors bestowed upon her including:
- One of History’s 10 Most Courageous Animals – Time Magazine
- Heroic Animal of the Year – Newsweek
- Most Heroic Pet in America – AARP
- Animal Hero of the Year 2024 – Florida Bar Association
The mini mare also has a plaque in downtown Ocala, thanks to the Ocala Metro CEP.
A member of the U.S. Equestrian Hall of Fame as a humanitarian inductee, Magic also has also been celebrated with her own Breyer Horse model. She has visited the United States House of Representatives, the 9/11 Memorial, and she has been asked to lead a parade through Arlington National Cemetary because of her work with veterans and Gold Star families.
Magic also holds the distinction of being a sworn officer with the Ocala Police Department. She been to Police Week in Washington D.C. to be with children who lost parents in the line of duty. She was with them in the daytime during the services and then at night, she would ride on the elevator and do good night tuck-ins.
“Sometimes you just can’t fix things, but you can give someone a happy day,” says Garcia-Bengochea. “There are so many little miracles that happen all the time.”
Bengochea-Garcia shared a story about a boy facing the loss of his eyesight. She says that the last thing he wanted to see was Magic because as he said, “it is as if she sees into my soul.'”
Magic and the other horses have 500,000 social media followers.
This month celebrates 25 years of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses reading with horses.
“We are very excited about this one-of-a-kind literacy program.” says Garcia-Bengochea, who is a former school principal. “In partnership with the Ocala Metro CEP and Marion County Public School Board, we have a memorandum of understanding that we are able to bring these horses into schools all over Marion County. When the horses arrive at a school, we’ve been very fortunate because we’ve had a lot of different authors and publishers, that have done books about our horses and have written and published books. So, when children read a book, the actual character from the story is able to walk into the classroom.”
For more information about Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, visit their website or call 352.226.9009.