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Honoring the horses who teach us, through stewardship and care.
Mission
The Sanctuary School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the emotional wellness and dignity of lesson horses through immersive care, relational horsemanship, and public education.
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We provide no-cost services to working horses in youth and therapy programs, offer coaching to committed horse–human partnerships, and maintain a small number of horses in our care to support ongoing learning and community connection.
Our Program Partner: Detroit Horse Power
Sanctuary School is proud to partner with Detroit Horse Power, a youth development nonprofit connecting youth in Detroit with horses. Our support takes the form of no-cost, multi-week residencies, beginning in Fall 2026.​
During our time with DHP horses we:
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Observe each horse across varied contexts (work, rest, turn-out, transitions)
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Conduct in-depth "interviews" using groundwork, bodywork, and riding
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Experiment with small, meaningful changes to care or routines
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Deliver a comprehensive wellness and behavior report with individualized recommendations​​
Our long-term goal is to obtain property in the upper peninsula of Michigan where DHP horses can retreat and retire.
How You Can Help
There are multiple ways to support The Sanctuary School with its mission to thank horses.
Equine Services
We offer some paid services in the Marquette area as part of our fundraising strategy. Look to us when you want to put your horse first.
Donation
Make a one-time donation or make giving to The Sanctuary School part of your stewardship routine. Caring comes in many different forms.
Other Generosities
We know it takes a village to meet our goals. Join our network and let us know the different ways you might be able to help.
About the Founder
The Sanctuary School was founded by Julie Lesnik, PhD — a horse trainer, anthropologist, and educator who believes that stewardship is the way forward.
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Julie's academic research focuses on human–animal relationships in modern ecosystems. She observed that many conventional solutions simply replicate the systems that caused harm in the first place. Her response: step outside those systems, return to the land, and listen deeply to the more-than-human world.
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Julie brings the rigor of a research scientist and the intuition of a natural dressage trainer. She now blends these with earth-based holistic healing practices to forge a new path for horse–human connection. Her work invites us to reimagine how horses participate in education — and to treat them accordingly.
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