named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Horse Rescue
Collective rehabilitation of rescued horses through volunteer and community participation in daily care, training, and socialization
Equine-Assisted Learning Programs
Hosts programs for underserved populations, including ARC Mid-Hudson and Anderson Center for Autism, focusing on workforce readiness and therapeutic engagement
Youth and 4-H Partnerships
Collaborates with Ulster and Dutchess County 4-H clubs for equine education, fundraising, and hands-on care experiences
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Equine Rescue and Retirement Care 2 activities
- Rehoming and adoption placement of rescued horsesPlaces rehabilitated horses and ponies into permanent homes through adoption contracts or leases, with 11 horses rehomed on no-sale contracts and 13 rehomed as of June 2026. The organization assesses animals for suitability and reinvests all lease and adoption fees into rescue operations and programming.
- Rescue and rehabilitation of at-risk horsesRescues horses and ponies at risk of slaughter or neglect, including those from kill pens and auctions, and provides immediate care, quarantine, veterinary treatment, and ongoing rehabilitation. The organization rescued 21 horses from the auction-to-slaughter pipeline and 22 horses and ponies as of June 2026, with individual cases including a malnourished mare from Oklahoma and a Standardbred from Western Pennsylvania.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Community engagement and public programming with rescued horsesOffers free public programming, equine-assisted activities, and inclusive workshops totaling 350 free program hours annually, engaging the public through visits, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. Programming is open by appointment seven days a week and designed for varied experience levels.
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Camp Volunteer Engagement & Facility Stewardship 1 activity
- Volunteer and workforce development programsEngages volunteers in barn chores, animal care, facility maintenance, safety training, and holistic training practices such as reiki and clicker training. The organization leveraged 3,400 volunteer hours in 2025 and hosts recurring groups including 4-H clubs and autism support programs for structured learning and workforce preparation.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$123K
Contributions & grants$103K84%
Program service revenue$11K9%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$89K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$82K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$63K
2 years on record · 2024–2025 · YoY revenue +173.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 1
- Kelsey Merrow — Executive Director
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- ARC Mid-Hudson Partner — Hosted weekly at the rescue for workforce preparation through volunteer tasks and horse handling.
- Alison Buckley Partner — Board Member, E.d.D., SUNY Ulster President
- Allen Coulter Partner — President Pro-tem of the board of directors
- Anderson Center for Autism Partner — Hosted twice weekly for farm exploration and rescue horse handling activities.
- Aslan Vullo Partner — Staff member, Assistant Barn Manager
- Dannika Hungate Partner — Staff member, Grant Writer
- David Ping Partner — Advisory Board member, non-profit management consultant
- Dr. Michelle Ferraro Partner — Advisory Board member, VMD, Partner at Millbrook Equine Veterinary Practice
- Dutchess County 4-H Equine Explorers Club Partner — Participated in a veterinary care and maintenance workshop at Pony Up Rescue Collective.
- Elizabeth Wainstock Partner — Advisory Board member, public health advocate
- Kelsey Merrow Partner — Founded Pony Up Rescue Collective Inc in January 2023.
- Linda Wu Partner — Advisory Board member, E.d.D., IT consultant at Westlandon Consulting
- Mary Stuart Masterson Partner — Advisory Board member, producer, actor, and director
- Rich Zabel Partner — Board Member, VP of Media Supply Chain at Diversified
- Roseview Farm Partner — Hosts Pony Up Rescue Collective and provides the physical location for horse rehabilitation and community programming.
- Suzanne Little Partner — Advisory Board member, P.hD., Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst
- The Daily Catch Partner — Featured in a mini-documentary and article highlighting the organization's rescue work.
- The Daily Freeman Partner — Cover story and article published about the organization's mission and community impact.
- Ulster County 4-H Animal Whisperers Club Partner — Partnered with Pony Up Rescue Collective to adopt and fundraise for a rescue pony, and conducted a grooming and horsemanship clinic.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Collective Model for Rescue and Rehabilitationmethodology: community_driven_rehabilitationBy involving the broader community in funding, care, and programming, the organization sustains its rescue operations and enhances rehabilitation outcomes because collective ownership increases resource availability and deepens public commitment to animal welfare.
- Equity-Focused Access to Equine-Assisted Learningmethodology: equity_focused_accessBy providing equine-assisted learning to at-risk youth, trauma survivors, and underserved communities, the organization promotes healing and social development because access to therapeutic animal interactions is a transformative resource when targeted to those with systemic barriers.
- Mutual Healing through Human-Equine Connectionmethodology: mutual_healingBy engaging humans and horses in shared rehabilitation processes, both species experience healing and growth because the emotional and physical reciprocity in their interactions fosters psychological well-being and behavioral recovery.