National Geographic: The Noble Horse Page #4

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But he can still change lives

one at a time.

In central Georgia,

Carol Wooley has loved horses

since she was a child.

In 1995,

a friend told her about

an old school horse

who had seen better days as

a fox hunter and jumper.

His name was Carousel,

and he needed a home.

Carousel was in his mid

to late 20s,

a little lame,

in fact,100 pounds

over weight.

He was a little swayback,

just a good quiet lesson pony

Carol took good care of him.

Local children rode him.

Soon

Carousel was a favorite.

In 1996,

two weeks after the summer

Olympic Games,

the Paralympics came to Atlanta

Some 3,500 athletes attended.

For the first time,

equestrian events were included

Sixteen nations sent teams.

It was up to event organizers

to provide horses

for 62 athletes

with a wide range

of disabilities.

Each would be judged

on precision,

smoothness, and harmony

of horse and rider,

while performing a set pattern

in the arena.

A call went out to horse

owners for calm,

well-trained mounts.

Carol Wooley volunteered

two of her younger horses,

but Games Officials were

desperate for more.

She thought twice

then sent for old Carousel

as well.

After a check-up,

he was quickly put to the test

And later in the day

they called him for Denmark,

and I met Brita Anderson

who's a very small woman

in a wheelchair,

and I thought to myself,

"There's no way she

is going to ride this pony."

She spoke English quite well,

and I asked her, "Have you ever

fallen off a horse?"

And she smiled

and looked at me and says,

"Many times."

Far from falling,

on the day of competition,

Brita and Carousel took Carol

by surprise.

Brita and Carousel

made a connection.

He knew exactly

what she wanted

and she knew how to get

the most out of him.

And he loved her.

I'm still not sure

how she did it,

but they just were

a perfect match.

The judges agreed.

The pair took first place

in their division,

and received the highest score

of all the competitors.

From Denmark,

Brita Anderson

riding Midland's Carousel,

owned by Carol Wooley.

When they won the gold medal,

it was

this little pony and a horse

trainer from no where

and a world-class rider,

and the thought that

they actually won that gold

and they earned it,

it was probably one of

the high points in my life.

By the time she returned home,

Carol had decided to start

a therapeutic riding school.

Horseback riding

can improve balance

and muscle tone,

as well as a sense

of independence

and self-esteem in people with

all sorts of disabilities.

For Carol

there's no greater reward

than to see someone like

take her first ride.

You're riding, kid!

You're riding!

When you take a child

out of a wheelchair

and put him on a horse,

he's immediately taller.

The walk of a horse mimics

the same movement

you get to actually walk on

your own legs,

it gives them freedom

of mobility,

it gives them control

over something

that they may have never known

before. They can control

where they're going.

Carol runs the school

on grants,

donations and volunteers.

And Carousel heads her fleet

of gentle horses

past their prime.

In August of 1998,

at a regional show for riders

with disabilities,

Carol decides to send Carousel

into the arena

one last time.

Nine-year-old Shawn Donalson,

one of Carol's top students,

has never competed before.

It's a breathless moment

for his parents.

Make the old man proud.

He's got a good horse.

Knows what to do.

Young boy and old horse

are picture-perfect,

and take a blue ribbon.

In first place,

Shawn Donalson.

A first for Shawn,

a final trophy for Carousel.

The competition concludes

with a ceremony.

As a symbol of retirement,

Carol removes the saddle

from a little horse

of unknown breeding

who has meant so much

to so many.

To him

go the full laurels

of a champion.

He was quite calm and stood

through everything.

He half way,

I think, understood

that we were doing

an honor to him.

I was a little surprised

that he didn't mind us

putting flowers on him.

He acted like, well, those were

his flowers. This was fine.

I think, he enjoyed it really.

He wasn't just an old sway

backed horse with a gray face.

He was everybody's dream

of a horse.

He served everyone

that's ever owned him,

every place he's been.

He's done everything

we've asked him to do

all of his life.

To me, he symbolizes

all the horses

that have worked hard

all their lives

and have given us

so much pleasure.

He's a fairly tale of a horse

But there's probably

thousands of them out there

just like him.

I guess he's the poster child

for all of them.

For all they have done for us,

for all that they are,

may they always

have green pastures

each and every one.

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