Employees at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station were paid a unique and uplifting visit this past weekend when miniature therapy horse “Valor” stopped by with owner and trainer Victoria Nodiff-Netanel. As part of non-profit organization “Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses”, Victoria and other volunteers take these specially trained horses across the world to visit with children and adults in need of inspiration and friendship in the most unlikely of ways. Teams of horses and their handlers visit 35,000 people each year, from children and first responders of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, to hospices and Veterans homes throughout the country.
The dedicated volunteers that make up the Gentle Carousel Team have seen firsthand the benefits that their horses bring. Children suffering from extended illness, victims of child trafficking, survivors of natural disasters and terrorism, wounded veterans, and the elderly are given a reason to smile when a miniature therapy horse walks through their door. Children show cognitive growth when given the chance to interact with the horses on a regular basis, and adults are reminded of the childlike amazement in seeing something magical as these pint-size ponies for the very first time.
Victoria will be attending a September 11th Law Enforcement Memorial event in Washington D.C. soon and will be bringing her own therapy horse, named by the family of an officer killed in the line of duty during the attack. Victoria is a local of the unincorporated Los Angeles County area, and has been raising miniature therapy horses in the area for many years. Her passion is uniting her horses with veterans and families of fallen peace officers, and she is thrilled to be a part of Animal Assisted Therapy.
Please visit Victoria’s website minitherapyhorses.com as well as Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses on Facebook.
Picture shared by Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses.
Prepared by : LET Heather Fuquay
Media Release Date: December 31, 2014
* Lost Hills Sheriff's Station polices the Cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village, and the unincorporated communities of Chatsworth Lake Manor, Malibu Lake, Topanga, and West Hills: For further information contact: Malibu / Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 27050 Agoura Road Agoura, CA 91301 (818) 878-1808 Website: www.LostHills.lasd.org LASD HQ Text and Emails: http://www.Nixle.com http://nixle.com/lasd---malibulost-hills-station-los-angeles-county-sheriff/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LostHillsSheriffsStation Twitter https://twitter.com/LHSLASD
