Smallest Horses In The World

Come Meet Sundance! Books Featuring Our Horses

Frequently Asked Questions

Upcoming Events

Magic Selected Most Heroic Pet In America

READING IS MAGIC in Magazines, Newspapers and on Television

READING IS MAGIC in the Movies

READING IS MAGIC Horses

Canine Movie Star Benji teams up with READING IS MAGIC

READING IS MAGIC at Schools

READING IS MAGIC at Libraries

READING IS MAGIC Authors and Illustrators

Be A READING IS MAGIC Hero How You Can Help

Links To Sponsors and Friends

Mission Statement

Wish List and Volunteer Opportunities

What's New At READING IS MAGIC

Photography Contest Winners featuring READING IS MAGIC Horses

Elephants, Zebras and READING IS MAGIC, Oh My

Magic Horses Poem

Magical Moments Fashion Show

The Magic of Horses 2009 Fundraiser

Buy A Book, Help A Child

Home Sweet Home

What Is So Special About Horses?

Becoming a Therapy Horse or READING IS MAGIC Horse

Introducing CHAPS

MAGIC MAN'S ON DEMAND

Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.

Your donations are tax deductible. Help bring books to life for children.

Gentle Carousel Inc.

P.O. Box 1672

High Springs, FL 32655

Phone: 352-226-9009

ReadingIsMagic1@gmail.com

Magic selected Most Heroic Pet In America. See her in AARP the Magazine.

Gentle Carousel in Woman's World magazine.

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

What an honor and thrill to have Gentle Carousel's Sundance as a riveting character in JASON AND ELIHU.-Shelley Fraser Mickle

"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."

- Bill Bennett " Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett

"Reading Is Magic!

Every child you inspire to read is a life forever changed. Thank you for that and for bringing books to life...

...Reading is magic. It can take you from outer space to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Either way, the journey is magical.

...Wow. Love those little horses... Great job you're doing. I'm proud of you."

-Homer Hickam

"To Magic and Gentle Carousel, Thank you for all of your work. Helping children read is the greatest magic of all,,,"

- James Gurney,

Best-selling author and illustrator of the Dinotopia book series. Thank you for the original artwork you created for Reading Is Magic.

Canine movie star Benji working with Magic.

"What they are doing is just so incredible. They are making a difference. These people are the real deal. They are down there in the trenches doing it."

-Joe Camp

Film writer, producer, director, bestselling author and man behind canine superstar Benji.

"What 'Reading Is Magic' does for kids by going into schools and igniting excitement for reading a story is beyond compare. Keep the hoofbeats going."

Carl Joseph, Author of SOME CALLED ME

"Magic and Gentle Carousel,

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

Chris Soentpiet - Acclaimed children's book author and illustrator

Presenting a library with one of the signed posters donated by Christ Soentpiet to Reading Is Magic.

Reading Is Magic on television.

"...Thank you for all the work you do.

...Reading is Magic!"

- Linda Sue Park, Newbery Award winner

Author Jessica Burkhart and Magic.

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

Author of the Canterwood Crest book series

"Keep up the wonderful work you do...

Best, Jon " Jon Provost - Appeared as Timmy Martin on Lassie

Magic appearing on The Ilene Silverman Show.

"To Gentle Carousel's Reading Is Magic,

You are making magic everyday with each child you help..."

- Dianne Ochiltree

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

Magic with David O'Connor, president of the United States Equestrian Federation, Olympic gold medalist and Pan American Games and World Equestrian Games medalist.

"To Magic and Gentle Carousel-

You have a wonderful program. Thank you for bringing joy to children... Keep reading! It is magic!"

-Anna Grossnickle Hines, author and illustrator of over 50 children's books.

"Reading Is Magic,

Thank you for helping children learn to read...

- Michael Storrings"

"Rainbow"

  Some of the smallest miniature horses in the world work with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses.



"Aladdin"

Many of our therapy horses are only 23-26 inches tall but some like Aladdin are even smaller.

"Peanut"

Gentle Carousel's Peanut was only 13.5 inches tall at birth.

"Rainbow"

Gentle Carousel's Rainbow was only 14 inches tall at birth.

     Rainbow, Aladdin and Nova are very small but healthy and normal in every way. Veterinarians and miniature horse breeders have seen them up close and do not find dwarf characteristics.

"Thumbelina"

      The current record holder for the world's smallest horse is a horse affected by dwarfism. World record holder Thumbelina stands 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds .

          Dwarfism is a concern within the miniature horse world. Dwarf horses, while often setting world records for size, are not considered to have desirable traits, generally have incorrect conformation, and may have significant health and soundness issues.

The life expectancy of a dwarf horse is usually much shorter than a normal miniature horse depending on the severity of the horse’s dwarf characteristics.

"Rainbow"

While all horses deserve love and the best life possible, our therapy horses need to be able to walk up and down stairs, move on different floor surfaces and easily work around hospital equipment.



"Einstein"

     In 2010 a miniature horse foal named Einstein received international press coverage and challenged Thumbelina for the title of the World's Smallest Horse based upon the idea that there should be a separate world record category for the smallest non-dwarf horse.

Einstein was 20 inches tall and weighed nearly 50 pounds at five months old (above).



Rainbow weighed only 50 pounds at 1 and 1/2 years old.

A photo of Rainbow (above) at almost 2 years old.

Rainbow was only 17.5 inches tall at five months old.

"Bella"

    Standing at 21inches tall and weighing 56 pounds at five months old, a foal living in North Dakota named Bella has also been called the smallest horse in the world.

So who is really the smallest horse in the world?



      LakeCityJournal.com photo

Should the category for non-dwarf horses be created, Rainbow will be a very strong competitor to measure for the title of Smallest Horse In The World!

   The Guinness Book of World Records guidelines for a world record require that a horse be four calendar years old to be measured. A foal cannot be considered for the title.

Miniature horses can grow for up to three years.

   At one year old they should reach about 90 percent of their final height.

While Rainbow waits to see how it all works out, the most important thing is that he is healthy, happy and bringing smiles to adults and children in hospitals, hospice programs and assisted living programs.

Rainbow greeting some fans before a Gentle Carousel Reading Is Magic event. You can compare his size next to a 30.5 inch tall miniature horse and a miniature donkey.

Rainbow's friend Peanut may be his biggest (smallest!) challenger for the world record.

"Peanut" with best friend Luke

Peanut was 19 inches tall at seven months old, an inch shorter than Einstein and two inches shorter than Bella at five months old.

Rainbow meets Peanut for the first time "backstage" after appearing at the AARP national convention with Magic.

It was love at first sight for Rainbow.

People are always amazed at see how tiny Peanut is in person and what a sweet therapy horse she is becoming.

Peanut's friend Aladdin may also be a challenger for the world record.

Peanut and Aladdin arrive for a Halloween therapy visit. They love working together...can you say smallest equine couple in the world!

"Aladdin"

Aladdin was only 19 1/2 inches tall at seven months old, smaller than Einstein at five months old. He looks like a beautiful little toy!

Aladdin at the Ronald McDonald House

Aladdin (front) and Peanut go for a run with friends Shadow, Banner and Comet. They may look like little toys but when they are not working they are normal horses in every way. They require a place to run, equine friends and the same health care as a large horse.

Aladdin with his fuzzy winter coat.

Aladdin on his way to a book signing.

Baby Photos of Rainbow, Peanut and Aladdin

"Rainbow"

Photos taken at Strebor Mini Horse Horse Ranch before Rainbow joined Gentle Carousel.

Rainbow comes from a long line of small miniature horses including a very small mother. His grandfather is multiple World Champion Halter Stallion Sids Terminator.

Rainbow's color changed!

"Peanut"

Photos are of Peanut at 12 hours old taken at Cool Ridge Farm by JLW Photography.

Both of Peanut's parents are small miniature horses and her grandfather is the 26.5 inch 1988 and 1990 National Champion Senior Stallion Yoga Light Vant Huttenest.

Peanut growing up (at little!).

Peanut and mom.

"Aladdin"

Aladdin and mom at Strebor Mini Horse Horse Ranch before he joined Gentle Carousel. Aladdin's mother also comes from a long line of small miniature horses.

Aladdin is the grandson of Magic Man of LTD's, 19 Times National and Reserve National Champion and National Grand Champion Producer.

Aladdin's father is National Top Ten Stallion and Reserve National Champion Magic Man's Incognito.

Aladdin was a tiny but healthy, happy normal little foal.

Little Horses, Big Hearts!

Gentle Carousel's READING IS MAGIC 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