In Athens, Greece, a little girl named Josifina Topa Mazuch, who is just 9 years old, recently experienced an uplifting visit from Ivi, a specially trained miniature horse. Josifina, sitting in her pink wheelchair, initially approached the small gray horse with a gentle touch. As she interacted with Ivi in the school hallway, a radiant smile spread across her face. After the visit, she expressed her eagerness for Ivi and another miniature horse called Calypso to return, stating, “They made me feel really happy.”
Ivi and Calypso are part of Gentle Carousel Greece, an organization that brings joy and therapeutic interactions to children and adults in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and care homes. These miniature therapy horses, standing at about 30 inches tall, have undergone rigorous training to facilitate interactions in confined settings with those who might be vulnerable. The sessions have proven to be beneficial for enhancing connections and providing learning opportunities for individuals who often find themselves isolated due to their circumstances.
Established in 2014 by Mina Karagianni, an interior architect, Gentle Carousel Greece is a branch of a Florida-based charity. Mina discovered the organization while researching how to care for a rescued Shetland pony. Inspired by the charity’s work with children battling cancer, she felt a strong urge to replicate such compassionate outreach in Greece. After months of negotiation and overcoming logistical challenges, six trained miniature horses arrived in Athens in late 2013.
Today, Karagianni manages a total of nine horses, which include the original six from the U.S., one pony born in Greece, and two others, Billy and Giselle, who were rescued. Mina has transformed her family’s property in Rafina into a facility named Magic Garden, featuring stables, a paddock for the horses, and a small café where she once hosted visitors. Proceeds from the café helped cover various operational expenses such as specialized horse feed, veterinary care, and transportation costs to schools and care facilities.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Gentle Carousel Greece had positively impacted around 12,000 children. However, the pandemic forced Karagianni to close the café and she struggled to reopen it since. Combined with her health issues that sidelined her for over a year, the charity faced significant financial challenges. With no income, utility services were cut off, forcing her to rely on neighbors for basic needs.
As she navigates a path to recovery, Karagianni continues to face overwhelming debts. Her appeals for funding from various organizations have gone unanswered. Despite the burdens, she exhibits resilience, stating, “I’m trying,” but admits the necessity of a support team. Karagianni acknowledges her limitations at the age of 68 and is on the lookout for someone to help sustain the program.
Even amidst financial difficulties, the therapeutic joy her horses bring to children motivates her to persist. During a recent visit to a special needs primary school, children were lined up for opportunities to interact with the horses. The teachers noted the magical impact these animals had, observing that some children, previously hesitant or fearful, reached out spontaneously to pet or kiss the miniature horses.
The benefits extend beyond children. At Iasis, an adult psychiatric care home in Nea Makri, residents greeted Omiros, a 12-year-old miniature stallion. The horses foster deep therapeutic moments, allowing individuals to build non-threatening connections, which can be a tender and calming experience amidst their challenging pasts. According to social worker Alex Krokidas, these interactions encourage feelings of tranquility and connection.
Residents like Giorgos shared the profound effects of the horses, describing how their presence instilled positive feelings. “I feel an absence now that he’s gone,” he said after the interaction. The warmth and joy these miniature horses bring highlight the essential human-animal bond, providing comfort and hope to those who need it most.
