{From the 2023 Christmas Newsprint Magazine}
Written by WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | Photos COURTESY OF GENTLE CAROUSEL AND PEGGY FREZON
If you’re searching for a great read for all the animal-lovers on your holiday gift list, check out Mini Horse, Mighty Hope: How a Herd of Miniature Horses Provides Comfort and Healing. Written by Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and Rexford author Peggy Frezon, the book tells the true story of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, a Florida-based herd of tiny horses that travels near and far, wherever and whenever needed, bringing comfort and love to people in need.
Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses was founded in 1999 by Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and her husband, Jorge Bengochea, to ease human suffering by bringing the special love of mini horses to people in need of physical or emotional encouragement and hope. Since its inception, this award-winning, all volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity has helped over 25,000 struggling adults and children each year cope with illness, trauma, tragedy, violence, and the ravages of natural disasters. Gentle Carousel has also established a ‘Reading is Magic’ literacy program, designed to inspire young readers by bringing therapy horses into libraries, schools, at-risk youth programs, and literary events.
Gentle Carousel receives no government funding, and all services are provided free of charge. Teams of highly-trained horses and volunteers visit hospitals, oncology wards, and hospice programs. The horses’ presence at physical and occupational therapy sessions inspires and motivates patients to keep working. These tiny, big-hearted creatures bring solace to overwhelmed first responders and their families, tornado and hurricane survivors, and communities traumatized by senseless mass shootings. They’ve even provided a desperately needed reprieve for the overwhelmed staff at a medical examiner’s office. Wherever they go, their soft, warm necks are embraced with snuggles, hugs, and grateful tears.
Miniature horses are well-suited for therapy work. Gentle and friendly by nature, they seem to possess an innate ability to sense a person’s pain and respond in a comforting manner. Perhaps all the hands-on cuddling bestowed upon these little horses when young by their human caregivers contributes to their uncanny ability to bond with people later in life, even people they are meeting for the very first time in far less than ideal situations.
Smaller than the smallest pony, and standing no taller than 34 inches (measured to top of shoulder where the mane ends), miniature horses are proportionate to full-sized horses in every way—just tinier! Gentle Carousel therapy horses undergo at least two years of basic training. They must become familiar and comfortable with indoor challenges like slippery floors, staircases, elevators, loud buzzers and alarms, harried humans, and bustling hallways. It takes months of experiential training for horses to feel safe and secure working with their handlers in such diverse, often alien locations.
Over the past 20+ years, Gentle Carousel’s horses have successfully calmed anxiety, restored peace, and brought healing to countless individuals and communities. But Debbie Garcia-Bengochea is quick to point out that each horse only works a few days each week. Just like their larger counterparts, miniatures horses benefit from plenty of time to rest and relax, graze, romp, and interact with other members of their herd. Achieving an effective work/play balance is as essential to their health and happiness as it is to the people they serve.
When asked how her mini horse book project came about, freelance writer and Guidepost publications editor Peggy Frezon explained that she actually got the inspiration while working on another project.
“While researching stories for The Dog in the Dentist Chair, my book about the many ways different animals help children, I came across the story of Magic, a miniature therapy horse from Gentle Carousel. After calling and speaking with Debbie about the amazing work Magic did, I felt there was a lot more to their story. When I asked Debbie if she’d be willing to let me write a book about her organization, she was thrilled. Afterwards, in order to get all the necessary information, we talked on the phone for 2-3 hours once a week for over a year.”
At one point, Peggy traveled to Florida to meet with Magic and the Gentle Carousel co-founders. “Meeting Debbie and Jorge in person, I found them to be every bit as compassionate and detail-oriented as they were on the phone. They are kind, giving, intelligent people who take impeccable care of their horses. And after meeting Magic,” she adds, “I sensed that she intuitively knows she’s doing something important. She’s not just doing what she’s told. She makes a genuine, palpable connection with everyone she meets.”
Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses is recognized and respected as one of the largest equine therapy groups in existence. And wherever they go, these miracle-working teams of mini horses and their handlers are welcomed with open arms. No matter the hardship, they do what they can to help. As Jorge Bengochea wisely advises volunteers, “You can’t change everything, but you can change something.”
Debbie and Peggy’s collaborative book includes heartwarming tales of the incredible connections forged between Gentle Carousel miniature horses and the people they so lovingly serve. Mini Horse, Mighty Hope: How a Herd of Miniature Horses Provides Comfort and Healing is one of those priceless books that rounds out life’s rough edges, nourishes the soul, and rekindles a belief in miracles.
To learn more, visit www.gentlecarouseltherapyhorses.com and www.peggyfrezon.com
