Turning a passion into a mission.

For as long as I can remember I have been that “crazy horse-girl.” The one wearing graphic tees with horses loudly splashed across the chest, quietly doodling tiny horses on everything while wistfully looking out the nearest window imagining herds of horses galloping across the lawn. But growing up horses were expensive, and we didn’t have the means to take weekly lessons let alone own one. To my mom’s credit, she fostered my love whenever she could; my childhood was filled with trail rides, visits to see wild ponies at Assateague Island, horse books, magazines, and a massive collection of Breyer Horses. But all that changed one fateful summer when my Stepdad – who was some 500 miles and 3 states away looking at houses for sale – called to tell my mom he’d found a house we were going to love. In his words “the back yard was really stinky.”  Sure enough just a few months later, as an awkward teenager about to enter High School, I was more excited about my backyard “neigh”bors than anything else. 

It didn’t take long for me to meet Mr. Currie, one of the nicest people I have ever met, who gladly exchanged work around the farm for the opportunity to ride. And ride and work we did. Over the next 15 years I have learned and experienced more than I could ever put into words. But through that time my passion to work with horses, to learn, and even to teach has continued to burn bright. The residents of Pover-T-Farm have become my family. A large, somewhat smelly and increasingly needy family. Time catches up to us all, and the residents of Pover-T-Farm have been no exception. As Mr. Currie and his herd ages, we have faced numerous medical scares, hard goodbyes, and for me, a growing sense of responsibility.

Responsibility as an equestrian to provide the animals we work with the best care we can and to share what I have learned to others. An obligation to improve my understanding and work hard to truly be the change I want in the world, even if it’s in this one small way. Over 100,000 horses* are sent to slaughter every year. These were horses bred with hopes of winning the roses and bringing notoriety and profit, or perhaps to bring home blue ribbons for children, to teach people lessons or carry them across beautiful country sides, horses bred to be partners to equestrians all over the country. While debates on the ethics behind horses as an industry can be debated, for me there is one thing that goes without question – and that is that we owe these animals a caring home for the entirety of their lives.

My hope for the future is that Pover-T-Farm can provide an end-of-life home for the horses that have found themselves abandoned to auction in their golden years while providing people of all ages a chance to connect with these beautiful animals and to learn from them as I have over the years. I invite you to join us as we grow from a small private facility to a small equine rescue and educational center. Together, lets make a difference one life at a time.

Nicole Kallmeyer
Executive Director, Instructor

*Based on averages from USDA reports from 2012 to 2016