Cavallini di Amore is a non-profit association located at Brandy Manor in Culpeper County, Virginia. We organized on May 1, 2007 with the help, support and generosity of our family and friends. We believe that children who are given the opportunity to care for, work, and play with miniature horses have a rewarding and unique experience.
Founders
Nancy Lee Wheeler and Frank A. Passarelli
Our primary focus is to provide a positive personal experience to children, particularly those identified as abused and/or neglected, including, but not limited to, children in the foster care system, children in Head Start, alternative education, and mentored programs, those from single parent families, the disabled, hearing impaired, the blind, and the seriously or terminally ill.
The miniature horse experience for at risk children will include specially designed programs based on each childs individual needs. These programs may include, but not be limited to fostering the childs own miniature horse, taking care of it in its home environment by feeding, grooming, training, and working with the horse in a calm and loving manner. Children will learn about the needs of animals, how to care for animals with patience and kindness, particularly without anger or physical harm. Children may be assigned to foster one horse or may work with more than one. A child may visit our facility once a month or more frequently as suited.
For some children, such as those in Head Start, preschool, or seriously ill, our services may include visits to the school or hospital grounds. The visits will facilitate in educational instruction and/or serve to improve the quality of life for children in need.
We will share our mission with the community through events, including but not limited to fairs, parades, school functions, library, and public awareness programs. We will also extend our services to the employees and volunteers of charitable and public institutions as a means of support and enthusiasm for their particular missions and directives.
Our focus continues in the care and well being of miniature horses. Cavallini di Amore will rescue and/or foster neglected, abused, or abandoned miniature horses. These horses, if suitable, will be placed into the children's program. Alternately, they will be placed for adoption to appropriate homes.
