The unique and personal history of People of the Horse

by Jessica Mills

Located in the scenic hills of Bonsall, California is People of the Horse, an equine community and stable that goes beyond the traditional lens of animal care. The ranch is owned and operated by mother and daughter duo Lynn Hogan, the owner, and Michele Calandrino, the Stable Manager. Home to a variety of people, horses, peacocks, goats, trees, wildlife and a unique sense of community, the 21-acre site works to ensure that everyone, especially the horses, are both happy and healthy.

Hogan, who went to school to study art, fell in love with Arabian horses and had a dream to own an Arabian horse ranch. Only a month after paying off their home they had in Palos Verdes, Hogan and her family moved to Bonsall in 1994, purchasing the property, which at the time, only contained two corrals. Through her dream, Hogan transformed the site and made it into the equine facility it is today.

At its height, the ranch was home to over 100 horses, including Khemosabi, a bay Arabian stallion often referenced as the “superhorse of the 20th century.” Khemosabi was well known throughout the horse show ring — winning multiple national championships in both halter and western pleasure performance competitions. He was one of the only horses to win an Arabian National Championships in both halter and performance in the same year.

Furthermore, Khemosabi was only one of four stallions to win the U.S. Championships in both halter and performance. These winnings earned him the highest level of achievement award by the Arabian Horse Association: The Legion of Masters.

Throughout his lifetime, Khemosabi sired over 1200 foals, hundreds of which went onto be show and national champions. Along with Khemosabi, the ranch was home to other wellknown Arabians Alada Baskin, Baskhemo and Sir Victor, an Arabian stallion who sired over 1500 foals in his lifetime.

From 2011 to 2023 the ranch transitioned to a boarding facility and was operated by Lynne Hayes. Hayes continued to maintain the high standards of care and service Hogan had instilled in the facility. Many horse owners from the region entrusted their beloved animals to Hayes’ care.

In 2015, Hogan leased a segment of People of the Horse property to Sheryl Brown and Jeff

Wohler, where Sheryl operates an equine-assisted learning business entitled Healing Horse. Brown’s Healing Horse Circle allows attendees to experience the healing and meditative practice of horses in nature. Over 1,000 people have participated in these meditative sessions, which help reduce blood pressure, release endorphins and inspire tranquility. In alignment with People of the Horse, Brown’s Healing Horse Circle also views horses as partners in healing, growth and transformation.

Brown explained why horses are being used for this type of work.

“Horses are extremely sensitive. As a prey animal they survive by being extremely attuned to their environment and being able to identify anything that’s different that they need to be aware of and careful of. They have survived millions of years on Earth because they have refined these skills and abilities. And because of that, they are able to pick up on our body language, our emotions, and even our micro facial expressions. By carefully observing the horse around people, a trained eye can detect a horse’s response and use that information to help people.”

She goes on to say that “Even in this line of work, we’re concerned with the overall welfare of the horse. I make sure they get enough time off to stay fresh. I don’t want the horses to get bored, I want them to stay curious and interested in the work.

This approach is consistent throughout People of the Horse’s mission, as well. Most recently, after a bout of cancer, Hogan reclaimed her ranch from Hayes and resumed operations under the name, People of the Horse, which honors the remarkable relationship between the American Indian horses and the Shoshone Bannock Tribes to which they belonged. Calandrino, who has now taken over and emerged as the ranch’s leader, explained that the importance of the relationship between people and horse, as well as the bond with her mother, has fueled her passion to maintain the facility’s legacy, both for herself and her family.

“My mom is a very special woman,” Calandrino said. “She had a dream about horses, and it has come to be my dream. She’s 86 years old and I want to be able to fill her shoes because if it wasn’t for my mom this wouldn’t be here. My favorite part of what I do is seeing a healthy horse and their owner and their connection. That’s just the best. I love people and the connection they have with their horses. If I can be a part of that happening for someone, that’s very rewarding.”

At People of the Horse, they believe that horses are more than just animals — they’re teachers, healers and companions. By providing the best care and attention possible for their horses, People of the Horse prioritizes their commitment to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for their horses and community.

Tamara is the CEO of Reality Changers, an organization that prepares youth to become first-generation college graduates and agents of change in their communities. She goes to great lengths to help students achieve their dreams… including rappelling down a 30-story building!

Tamara took some time to chat with us about Reality Changers, their upcoming Over The Edge event, and how you can get involved.

How are you making a difference in San Diego?

I am the proud President & CEO of Reality Changers. We help local high school students from underserved communities become the first in their families to graduate from college.

We know that college degrees can make a huge difference for our students. On average, a Bachelor’s degree increases an individual’s lifetime earnings by 84%. So, our work helps to address economic inequalities, giving young people and their families a chance to thrive.

Additionally, part of our mission is to create “agents of change.” This starts with community-service projects in high school and continues when our graduates come back to San Diego to educate, advocate, invest, and collaborate. Every degree has a ripple-effect that benefits neighborhoods and communities.

Is Reality Changers really offering the chance to rappel down the side of a building?!

Yes! On Sunday, August 6, 2023 we’ll be hosting Over the Edge, Presented by NV5. This is a one-ofa-kind event where attendees make a difference for college-bound youth by rappelling down the iconic Manchester Grand Hyatt downtown.

Rappellers will set up a custom online fundraising page. Participants must raise a minimum of $1,000 for Reality Changers to secure a place on the ropes. Every dollar raised helps local students to achieve their dreams.

Anyone who wants to join is welcome, no prior experience necessary! They can learn more or sign up online at realitychangers.org/over-the-edge

What is it like to go Over The Edge?

I will admit, rappelling 30 stories was a bit outside of my comfort zone, but it was also so incredible. The view was amazing. And what an adrenaline rush!

Our students face many challenges in their lives –they may have to balance work and family obligations with school, they may have adults in their lives who are telling them that they aren’t cut out for college, or they may feel out-of-place on college campuses – but we know that they are going to succeed and we tell them that every day. Since we ask our students to conquer their fears, I knew that I had to challenge myself as well. And for me, that challenge was a 30-story rappel.

It was definitely worth it. I feel extremely proud that I did something BIG and BOLD for our students. Plus, I had a lot of fun!

What will funds raised during Over The Edge support?

Over The Edge supports Reality Changers programs, which are focused on getting students to, through, and beyond college.

We have a three-part model. First - we start with 8th through 11th graders. We offer tutoring, career & college experiences, parent programs, mentorships, and community involvement opportunities. At this stage, it is most important to us to identify students who are struggling academically or who may not have considered themselves “college material.” We want to surround them with a strong support system and start building their self-confidence.

Second - we work with 12th graders. We help students apply to college, get financial aid, and prepare for life on campus. The goal for 12th graders is to make sure that they get into the 2- or 4-year school that’s the right fit for them AND that they graduate with minimal debt.

Third - We support college students and graduates. We help students stay in college with academic advising, on-campus resources, and troubleshooting. As they start to think about graduation, we’re there to help with resume review, career mentorship, networking, and more. We are with our students every step of the way and that’s why our participants are seven times more likely to complete college than their similar peers.

How does Reality Changers measure success?

At Reality Changers, we have both quantitative and qualitative metrics for success.

Quantitatively, we know that:

1) High school students in our program increase their GPAs year over year.

2) We served 1550 people last year. This includes youth,college graduates, and parents.

3) We have had more than 3,300 graduates since we were founded in 2001, including 175 this year.

4) Our high school class of 2023 has earned more than $10.4 million in grants and scholarships for the next 4 years.

Qualitatively, we see success stories every day. We have graduates who have become doctors, teachers, small business owners, accountants, engineers, and more. One story that has been sticking with me lately is Haniyeh, a 2018 graduate.

Haniyeh is an Afghan refugee who joined our program in 2017. At the time, she was simultaneously learning English, taking care of her little sister, and attending high school. Her mother brought her and her sister to this country specifically to pursue education, since women in Afghanistan are prohibited from participating in higher education. Haniyeh wanted to become a doctor, but didn’t know how to get into college or how to pay for it.

Reality Changers helped Haniyeh apply for college and scholarships. We also connected her with a mentorship program at UCSD. Through a lot of hard work, she just graduated from UCSD and is now working on medical school applications. She told me that Reality Changers helped her to understand the U.S. education system and opened doors for her. Most importantly, however, she says that the program helped her to believe in miracles.

When it comes to success, that’s what I am most proud of. Reality Changers works with students who have been overlooked by the education system. We know that they can succeed and we help instill that belief in them.