Dominion Equine Welfare is dedicated to finding solutions for at-risk equines through innovative ideas and actions, as well as sharing information based on the our experience with horse rescues, veterinary medicine and best practices of the equine community.
About
The mission of Dominion Equine Welfare – an all-volunteer organization - is to ensure the welfare of equine, both domestic and wild, through direct action, education, advocacy and strategic collaboration.
Within our mission are the following goals:
- Provide for equine under our direct care
- Education through community events
- Find solutions for at-risk equines
- Promote responsible horse ownership, from birth to death
- Provide support to individual horse owners in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Tim Parmly, Co-Founder
For more than 20 years, Tim’s career was repairing and restoring British cars. By the latter part of the 1980’s, the British car business was waning and a career change was in the offing. While traveling in Great Britain and being a fan of James Herriot’s books and television series about veterinary life in Yorkshire, Tim sought him out. Tim was so impressed by his meeting with “Herriot” (real name James Alfred Wight) and his own memories of growing up on a farm in Southern Illinois, decided veterinary work in large animals would be his next career.
Tim enrolled in the Veterinary Technology Program at Northern Virginia Community College. After receiving his AS in Veterinary Science, he obtained licenses in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia and went to work with a dairy practice in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. He liked working with the dairy cattle and farmers, but really wanted to work with horses, an animal he had always admired. Tim secured a job as a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) with a mobile equine practice in Northern Virginia. He spent the next eight years working and learning all he could about horses. The gentleness and trusting nature of horses was what he most admired. Studying and practicing equine dentistry during this time was a dream that came true.
An opportunity to be part of the staff as an Animal Care Technician at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MAREC) became available. Tim had the responsibility of caring for 100+ Thoroughbred horses, including foals, weanlings, yearlings, mares and stallions. After 12 years, Tim retired and is now part of Dominion Equine Welfare.
Maria Kimble, Co-Founder and President
Throughout her life, Maria always worked for the animals: donating, volunteering and taking in those who were homeless. While she would always help any creature in need, the plight of horses captured her heart.
After leaving a successful career in broadcasting and telecommunications, Maria immersed herself in her passion. She has volunteered with several horse rescues, filling various roles from hands on care and rehabilitation to day to day management. She was an active member of the Board of Directors of an organization that took abused and neglected mustangs from horrible circumstances, worked to rehabilitate them and then secure lifetime sanctuary for each, where they will never be faced with abuse or neglect again. Maria personally rehabilitated and cared for 7 out of the dozens of mustangs saved.
Maria was a full time volunteer then employee with Project Horse Empowerment Center, serving as their Director of Equine Wellness. She not only serves animals in need, but humans as well. Maria is a Certified Equine Specialist under the Eagala model, a non-riding equine-assisted psychotheray and learning modality to help humans with their mental health, wellness and growth.
Maria is a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and has regularly donated her services to equine rescues and sanctuaries. Maria continues to rescue animals, large and small, and has fostered several interesting beings. She shares her life with her incredibly supportive husband and their handsome gelding who is actively engaged as Maria’s “co-worker”, helping humans through the magic and power of the equine spirit.