Horses
We have a broad network of horse friends
At the moment, The Sanctuary School's herd is spread across the Upper Great Lakes. Julie spends time with horses in homes, lesson programs, and training programs, while continuing to learn from the horses who have shaped her life. These are a few of the teachers who have guided this work.
Seppi
Seppi belongs to founding board member Clair MacGregor and is one of Julie's closest equine companions. A sensitive Egyptian Arabian, he has taught everyone at The Sanctuary School that slowing down is often the fastest way to understanding.
Paddy
Paddy hails from the first farm Julie visited for an extended residency, making him an important ambassador for The Sanctuary School. A retired Standardbred racehorse with a big personality, he has settled beautifully into a life where he is deeply appreciated and wonderfully spoiled.
Soda Pop
Julie's early education came from lesson horses, beginning with Soda Pop. A retired Thoroughbred racehorse and show jumper, he was the kind of patient teacher every beginner hopes to meet. The Sanctuary School was founded to honor horses like him, whose quiet work shapes generations of riders.
Ducky
Ducky is Detroit Horse Power's first lesson horse and she will be among the first to move into their new urban equestrian center. Julie's first residency will help Ducky and the other horses settle into their new lives. A Thoroughbred retired from racing and three-day eventing, Ducky reminds us that children learn not only from lesson horses, but from how we care for them.
Hannah
Hannah was Julie's horse while working as a natural dressage trainer at Inside Out Horse Training. An Appendix Quarter Horse who moved like a little warmblood, she came to Julie because of a rearing problem. Hannah taught Julie that understanding a horse begins with understanding the world they've experienced.
Trixie
Trixie was the horse Julie leased after lesson programs. She taught Julie that loving horses does not require ownership, but stewardship. A Thoroughbred with careers in both racing and jumping, Trixie inspired Julie's interest in helping horses move comfortably throughout and beyond their athletic careers.