The Whole Horse Place

08/07/2025

The next cycle of Stable Paths is open for registration! Register online at https://thewholehorseplace.com/programs%2F-registration

Stable Paths
Ages: 11+
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: Free
Schedule: Select Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Register for all of the dates or whatever dates work for your schedule. But please honor your commitment as space is limited.

Current Cycle: September 20, 27, October 11, 18

Overview:
Stable Paths is a free equine-assisted substance abuse prevention program for youth affected by alcohol or addiction—whether personally or within their families. Participants work hands-on with rescued senior horses and receive mentorship from licensed drug and alcohol counselors and volunteers from the recovery community.

What Makes It Different:
Youth take full responsibility for their assigned horse’s care—feeding, grooming, and handling basic medical needs. These horses often have special care requirements due to age or trauma, encouraging participants to develop empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills. Horses provide real-time, nonjudgmental feedback, helping youth build emotional awareness, confidence, and trust.

Life Skills in Action:
Through horse-handling exercises, participants learn leadership, emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and clear communication. These experiences translate directly into everyday life.

Lunch & Connection:
Each session includes a provided lunch where youth and mentors gather for relaxed, meaningful conversation. These mealtime talks often become the heart of the day — a chance to reflect, connect, and support each other in a safe, judgment-free space.

Riding:
While not guaranteed, riding may be offered to participants who show responsibility, respect, and readiness.

Attendance Matters:
Because this is a free and limited-space program, we ask participants to honor their commitment. Missing a session may prevent another youth from having the chance to join.

Also, please note that if you are trying to sign up for this class because it is free, please contact us and we will get your child a scholarship or subsidized tuition in the Ranch Hands program. We talk about intense things at times in Stable Paths that is not appropriate for kids not in these circumstances.

Scheduling:
Offered on select Saturdays throughout the year, depending on available funding. Thanks to our generous supporters, Stable Paths remains free and accessible—giving youth a safe, meaningful way to grow and heal through the power of horses.

501(c)3 Not for Profit "The Place of Horses"

08/04/2025

Please welcome Joanie.

Joanie’s Journey: From Forgotten to Family

Joanie’s story is one of resilience, gentleness, and second chances. Once a racehorse, Joanie ran 13 races, placing in the top two six times and earning just under $14,000. Her career was modest, and her legs still bear the scars of pin firing, an outdated and painful procedure once used in an attempt to speed healing. While we don’t know the full story of her retirement from racing, the physical signs suggest she may have been pushed too hard, too early.

After her racing career, Joanie became a broodmare. We don’t know the fate of her foals, but her years as a mother clearly shaped her. In 2022, she was sold to a family where she was loved deeply—until life circumstances changed. Facing a divorce and financial hardship, the family left Joanie behind at a boarding stable, underweight and struggling. The stable owner, trying to help, gave her free-choice hay at his own expense. Unfortunately, her teeth were in such poor condition that she couldn’t chew it well enough to benefit.

That’s when our board member Jenna stepped in. As a longtime volunteer with Laughing Pony Rescue, Jenna took the lead on Joanie’s rehabilitation. With support from Laughing Pony, she arranged and oversaw the veterinary care, dental work, and refeeding plan Joanie needed. At the time, Joanie’s condition was critical. Emaciated and unable to eat properly due to severe dental neglect, she was just days away from being considered for euthanasia. Her recovery wasn’t quick—but it was steady. Over time, Joanie’s strength returned, her coat softened, and her calm, sweet nature began to shine.

During her recovery, Jenna turned out two recently weaned foals with Joanie, thinking her calm presence would help them adjust to life without their mothers. They weren’t supposed to nurse—that was the point of weaning—but the little rascals had their own plan. Within days, they were happily nursing, and Joanie, ever the patient matriarch, simply stood there and let them. It wasn’t what anyone expected, and it made us laugh. But it also said a lot about Joanie—steady, nurturing, and willing to step in when she’s needed.

Sugar Shack is a business that specializes in orphaned mustang foals. Knowing Joanie’s nurturing behavior and gentle temperament, Jenna thought she might be a good fit and offered her as both a potential riding horse and companion to their foals. It seemed like a perfect match.

After one long trail ride, Joanie came up sore, and with an unexpected influx of orphaned foals, her role there shifted. When space and needs changed, it became clear Joanie wasn’t the best fit for their current situation. When Jenna wasn’t able to take her back, she was told Joanie would need to be picked up that weekend. With limited options and growing pressure, Jenna called us to see if we might have space.

When Jenna called us she was unaware that we were just hours from saying goodbye to our beloved horse Poppy. Her timing, though heartbreaking, was strangely perfect. We were about to lose a horse at the height of our youth program season, and here was Joanie, a calm, proven kid-safe horse in need of a home.

We said yes.

We picked Joanie up the next day. She walked quietly off the trailer like she’d always belonged. Her story is long and winding, but her gentle presence is undeniable. She’s now a permanent part of The Whole Horse Place family, and giving back in the best way possible: by simply being herself.

We’re incredibly grateful to Jenna for never giving up on Joanie, for doing the hard work of rehabilitation, and for trusting us with such a special soul.

08/01/2025

In Loving Memory of Poppy
We said goodbye to Poppy yesterday.

She came to us after a rough past, passed from rodeo home to rodeo home as she got slower and slower, eventually landing in a situation where she was bound for slaughter. We didn’t know much about her history, only that she was kind, stoic, steady, and tried her best every time.

Not long after she arrived, we discovered the truth about her legs, which were severe damaged from years as a rodeo horse, where she gave everything she had until her tendons gave out. We started rehab right away. She spent nearly a year on stall rest with laser treatments, taping, massage, and careful handling. She never complained. In fact, she leaned into it. Poppy loved attention and grooming, and she stood quietly for hours while kids brushed her and talked to her. We called her a “smoochie pig” because she soaked up every ounce of love people gave her, and gave it back 100 fold.

While she was healing, someone asked if she could be loaned out to help an elderly woman with dementia; someone who had started a barn and just needed to feel like she was still part of it. All they needed was a horse who would stand quietly for long periods of time. That sounded like Poppy, and a wonderful opportunity for her to really give what we knew she was good at...understanding, compassion, and love.

But Poppy had other ideas.

She made it very clear, from the moment she got there, that she didn’t want to stay. She reared, ran, and refused to be handled. She turned into a fire-breathing dragon. Two days later, they asked us to come get her. When we showed up, she sighed and loaded herself into the trailer without hesitation. She was done being passed around. She made it very clear that her home was with us.

We kept her in gentle light work for a while, but eventually her tendons couldn’t keep up. She started to struggle with comfort even in retirement, and when she told us it was time, we listened.

Poppy wasn’t flashy or dramatic. She was solid, loving, and dependable. She wanted connection and trust, and she gave both freely once she felt safe. She belonged here. And we were lucky to have her.

We love you Poppy; aka, "Poppers" and "Pop Tart". There is a giant hole left in our hearts today.

07/31/2025

We’re grateful to The Ruth Foundation, a legacy of the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation, for supporting our work through their Animal Welfare grant.

Their generosity is helping us provide daily care for our senior horses and keep our programs going for youth and veterans. It means a lot to have this kind of support behind the scenes and making sure the work gets done.

Thank you for standing with us, and to the Gary Milgard Family Foundation for the legacy they continue to build.

07/17/2025

We are so grateful to share that The Whole Horse Place is supported in part by the Bainbridge Community Foundation, and The BCF Community Partners' Fund: Cunningham Endowed Family Fund and Kathy & Dan Huxley. Their generous funding helps us continue offering hands-on care programs that give rescued senior horses purpose and provide youth and veterans with meaningful, healing connections.

Thank you, Bainbridge Community Foundation, for believing in our work; and for making it possible for these horses and humans to grow together.

07/13/2025

LAST DAY TO VOTE! Thankyou everyone!

Surprise! We’ve been nominated!

The Whole Horse Place is a finalist for Best of South Kitsap; and we only found out when someone asked if we wanted to buy an ad (we didn’t...we’d rather spend that on hay!).

We’re just excited to be included. Recognition like this helps raise awareness; and yes, it even helps with grant applications. So if you feel like cheering us on, we’d love your vote!

You can vote once a day from June 30 to July 13 right here:
👉 https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/bestofsk/ #/gallery?group=515593

Thanks for believing in the work we do—for the kids, the veterans, and the horses.

07/03/2025

Have you voted today? 🗳️
You can vote EVERY day for the Best of South Kitsap 🫶 We’re so honored to be nominated as a finalist.

https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/bestofsk/ #/gallery?group=515593

Thank you for your support! ❤️

07/01/2025

Surprise! We’ve been nominated!

The Whole Horse Place is a finalist for Best of South Kitsap; and we only found out when someone asked if we wanted to buy an ad (we didn’t...we’d rather spend that on hay!).

We’re just excited to be included. Recognition like this helps raise awareness; and yes, it even helps with grant applications. So if you feel like cheering us on, we’d love your vote!

You can vote once a day from June 30 to July 13 right here:
👉 https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/bestofsk/ #/gallery?group=515593

Thanks for believing in the work we do—for the kids, the veterans, and the horses.

06/28/2025

Stable Paths starts TODAY! It's not too late to sign up.

Ages: 11+
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: Free
Schedule: Select Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Current Cycle June 28, July 19, August 2 and August 9

Overview:
Stable Paths is a free equine-assisted substance abuse prevention program for youth affected by addiction—whether personally or within their families. Kids do not have to be in active addiction or alcoholism- if they are effected by it, or if they have it in their family history; they are much more at risk, and they are welcome. We can give them skills which will help later.

Participants work hands-on with rescued senior horses and receive mentorship from licensed drug and alcohol counselors and volunteers from the recovery community.

What Makes It Different:
Youth take full responsibility for their assigned horse’s care—feeding, grooming, and handling basic medical needs. These horses often have special care requirements due to age or trauma, encouraging participants to develop empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills. Horses provide real-time, nonjudgmental feedback, helping youth build emotional awareness, confidence, and trust.

Life Skills in Action:
Through horse-handling exercises, participants learn leadership, emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and clear communication. These experiences translate directly into everyday life.

Lunch & Connection:
Each session includes a provided lunch where youth and mentors gather for relaxed, meaningful conversation. These mealtime talks often become the heart of the day — a chance to reflect, connect, and support each other in a safe, judgment-free space.

Riding:
While not guaranteed, riding may be offered to participants who show responsibility, respect, and readiness.

Attendance Matters:
Because this is a free and limited-space program, we ask participants to honor their commitment. Missing a session may prevent another youth from having the chance to join.
Also, please note that if you are tryng to sign up for this class because it is free, please contact us and we will get your child a scholarship or subsidized tuition in the Ranch Hands program. We talk about intense things at times in Stable Paths that is not appropriate for kids not in these circumstances.

Scheduling:
Offered on select Saturdays throughout the year, depending on available funding. Thanks to our generous supporters, Stable Paths remains free and accessible—giving youth a safe, meaningful way to grow and heal through the power of horses.
You can register for this program at

501(c)3 Not for Profit "The Place of Horses"

06/21/2025

“If we are lucky, once in our lives, we get to love a horse—and have that horse love us back.”

This is Kody and his former person. I still call her his owner, because their bond never ended—it just changed shape. She visits him, brushes him, talks to him, and he still leans in like this, eyes half closed, trusting her completely.

This is what we mean when we talk about giving horses a peaceful retirement. It’s not just about hay and shelter. It’s about keeping the love alive.

06/13/2025

Stable Paths
Ages: 11+
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: Free
Schedule: Select Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Current Cycle June 28, July 5, August 2 and August 9

Overview:
Stable Paths is a free equine-assisted substance abuse prevention program for youth affected by addiction—whether personally or within their families. Participants work hands-on with rescued senior horses and receive mentorship from licensed drug and alcohol counselors and volunteers from the recovery community.

What Makes It Different:
Youth take full responsibility for their assigned horse’s care—feeding, grooming, and handling basic medical needs. These horses often have special care requirements due to age or trauma, encouraging participants to develop empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills. Horses provide real-time, nonjudgmental feedback, helping youth build emotional awareness, confidence, and trust.

Life Skills in Action:
Through horse-handling exercises, participants learn leadership, emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and clear communication. These experiences translate directly into everyday life.

Lunch & Connection:
Each session includes a provided lunch where youth and mentors gather for relaxed, meaningful conversation. These mealtime talks often become the heart of the day — a chance to reflect, connect, and support each other in a safe, judgment-free space.

Riding:
While not guaranteed, riding may be offered to participants who show responsibility, respect, and readiness.

Attendance Matters:
Because this is a free and limited-space program, we ask participants to honor their commitment. Missing a session may prevent another youth from having the chance to join.

Also, please not that if you are tryng to sign up for this class because it is free, please contact us and we will get your child a scholarship or subsidized tuition in the Ranch Hands program. We talk about intense things at times in Stable Paths that is not appropriate for kids not in these circumstances.

Scheduling:
Offered on select Saturdays throughout the year, depending on available funding. Thanks to our generous supporters, Stable Paths remains free and accessible—giving youth a safe, meaningful way to grow and heal through the power of horses.

You can register for this program at

501(c)3 Not for Profit "The Place of Horses"

06/06/2025

Want to support us monthly? You can donate here — just check the box for “Make this a monthly donation”:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V2EXCNMF7Z3DC