At the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
lies an equine utopia known in the Peruvian Horse world as Hacienda Nirvana.
The story of Hacienda Nirvana began when Dr.
Marla H. Wohlman was afforded the opportunity to buy one of the finest breeding and training
facilities in the country in 1993. Dr. Wohlman had been looking for an appropriate
location to fulfill her lifelong ambition of raising show and breeding quality Peruvian
horses.
Having grown up with horses as part of her daily
life and developing a keen interest in genetics during her medical training, Marla knew
that she could breed horses that would "transcend the ideal". The Peruvian
horse had captured her heart in the late eighties. She selected this breed, which
she felt possessed tremendous natural beauty, incredible strength and endurance, and the
smoothest ride of all to focus her efforts upon.
As fate would have it, just before Marla
purchased Hacienda Nirvana, Jim Foster, one of the first American breeders of the Peruvian
horse, retired from the horse business. Mr. Foster owned and bred some of the finest
stallions and mares in existence. After procuring his entire herd, Marla now had the
facility and the caliber of Peruvian horses to fulfill her dream. "Mr. Jim
Foster helped me a great deal", recalled Marla, "His death was a great loss, to
us at Hacienda Nirvana and to the entire Peruvian horse industry."
(aerial view of Hacienda Nirvana)
In June of '93, Marla relocated her horses to
Hacienda Nirvana. The ranch lies in a valley. Approaching it, one tops a high hill
and the ranch spreads out as far as the eye can see. It is truly a paradise, Nirvana
meaning an ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability and joy.
