Miniature horses from Florida's Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses are on the road to Connecticut to work with those affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings. The horses will rely on donated transportation and accommodations during their stay in Newtown, where they will visit children, families, and emergency personnel.
Small horses - Big hearts
Miniature horses from Florida's Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses are on the road to Connecticut to work with those affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings.
© 2012 by Gloria Engebretson
“They said they wanted their children to have dreams of minis and not monsters,” said organization founder Debbie Garcia-Bengochea.
Among the group of four tiny helpers is Magic, who has won awards from Time magazine, AARP, and others for the effects her comforting presence has had on the sick and elderly.
Therapy animals have been shown to provide physical and emotional stress relief to those coping with trauma.
Survivors of the Connecticut shootings are hoping a tiny black horse can work her magic again.
Magic is the name of one of several equines from Gainesville’s Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses that will be traveling to Connecticut at the request of organizations there to help soothe the emotional pain and fear that some in Newtown are feeling after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea who, with her husband Jorge, founded and operates Gentle Carousel.
“There are some significant things that we are going to be doing. We know we are going to be working with children, families and first responders,” Garcia said. “We do a lot of work with at-risk children and in schools and reading programs at libraries, so the horses are kind of a match for this situation.”
Gentle Carousel is an all-volunteer nonprofit charity. The teams of horses and volunteers work with more than 18,000 adults and children yearly at hospitals, hospice programs, assisted living programs, schools and libraries primarily in Alachua and Marion counties.