The Florida Steeplechase is thrilled to announce that Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses will be special guests at this year's meet. Gentle Carousel is an award winning 501(c)3 charity and one of the largest equine therapy programs in the world. Their team of highly trained miniature horses visit thousands of adults and children every year inside hospitals, hospice programs and with families, veterans and first responders that have experienced traumatic events. Gentle Carousel has also developed the award winning literacy program 'Reading is Magic' which inspires young readers inside schools, libraries and education resource centers in high crime neighborhoods by bringing a group of their horses to meet young readers which match the characters in classic children's books such as Misty of Chincoteague. Many of the Gentle Carousel horses also have their own children's books in which they are the characters.
A key member of the Gentle Carousel team is Magic the Hero Horse, who has been named 'One of History’s 10 Most Courageous Animals' by TIME Magazine and has been made into a Breyer Portrait Model Horse among the numerous accolades she has received for her work. The miniature horses will participate in a parade on the racecourse in between races and afterwards they will meet fans young and old in our tailgate section. The horses will also be available to sign 'hoofographs' of their books incuding 'Mini Horse Mighty Hope'! To find out more about this wonderful organization and the work that they do please visit: https://gentlecarouseltherapyhorses.com/