Horse Helper
Colts Neck’s Lesley Luckhardt and her husband give retired and neglected horses what every animal deserves: a safe place to call home.
When Lesley Luckhardt and her husband Carl Quaglia moved to a Colts Neck farm in 2020, she envisioned a ranch filled with animals, not a horse sanctuary. But one arthritic mare in need of a home changed everything. Today, they own Bluemont Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, which provides a haven for dozens of horses as well as other rescued animals. Luckhardt, 46, says it’s become a mission for the entire family, including the couple’s four sons—C.J., 18; Aidan, 17; Cole, 7; and Greyson, 5.
How did you get into horses?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Indiana and loved to draw horses. But I had little experience with horses other than riding one with Girl Scouts. I was a covert horse girl for a long time.
How did you end up in New Jersey?
I was working for a real estate investment firm in Florida, where I met and married Carl. He’s originally from New Jersey and intended to move back. I missed the four seasons, so I told him I wanted a farm with a menagerie of animals if we moved. In 2020, we bought an old dressage farm in Colts Neck that needed remodeling and repairs.
When did you realize you wanted to help horses?
A neighbor told us about Roxy, a gorgeous, six-figure mare [worth more than $100,000] who couldn’t be ridden anymore due to arthritis. She’d lived in affluence, then ended up without a home. I had to take her in. My husband asked what I was doing, and I told him, “You look into Roxy’s eyes and tell her no.” I didn’t know much about horses, so I got an education real fast. Roxy was a saint— so patient with me.
How did Bluemont Equine Rescue and Sanctuary start?
I immediately felt a calling with Roxy, and we decided to pursue a nonprofit and a safe place for retired and discarded horses to have a second life. Once word got out about us, the floodgates opened and Roxy got new friends. Today we have 50 horses as well as donkeys, goats—even turkeys.
What is the daily routine at the rescue?
It’s a full-time job for both of us. We have a skeleton crew for mornings, and we do a twohour “med pass” to check on the animals. The horses live naturally in the pasture; there’s shelter for them if they choose, but we let the horses be horses. The barn is for animals that need special care. By midday, we are doing administrative work, keeping up with fundraising and donor relations. All the heavy lifting is done in the afternoon: We have volunteers helping with chores like grooming, feeding, cleaning out paddocks.
Your favorite part of the job?
Horses are herd animals, and they’re often denied that experience when they’re used as show horses or work horses. When they come to us to live out the rest of their lives, there’s a shift in their eyes when they realize they’re free. I love to see them thrive.
Are there any “characters” on the farm?
They’re all individuals like humans. We joke that two of our horses, Moondog and Viva, are like a married couple—they get along with the others, but they’re inseparable and won’t let anyone else between them! The hard part is matching their personalities with our volunteers’ personalities.
How much do you rely on volunteers?
We couldn’t do what we do without them. We have 65 volunteers who work at different times and in different capacities. They’re all animal people, but horses can be intimidating. We are happy to train those who don’t have experience.
Is your family involved?
This is our deal. C.J. just graduated high school, and he wants eventually to take over and continue what we’ve started. The kids do a lot of heavy lifting. We’ve sacrificed a lot. For instance, we can’t travel like other families because of the responsibilities. We’re all outside in rainstorms and blizzards. But I’ve seen how the work helps with the kids’ maturity. Favorite things to do in Monmouth? I’m a big reader—I love the library and Barnes & Noble. We love going to Bell Works in Holmdel, and we’ve grown attached to the swans at the Colts Neck municipal center. I’m also a coffee lover; I enjoy trying different coffee shops. Coffee Corral in Red Bank is great, and D.O. [Delicious Orchards] has the best latte in Monmouth County.
What’s in store for you and Bluemont in the future?
Hopefully more land so we can help more animals. I also want to do more advocacy and education and speak on panels. We have our annual fundraiser gala Oct. 17 at the American Hotel in Freehold, and we hope to keep that going and growing every year.
