Journey Equus Newsletter #1

Journey Equus Newsletter — Issue #1

A warm welcome to our growing community of horseloving humans

A Message from Kristin & Brian

Hello friends, supporters, and community members,

We’re Kristin and Brian, the founders of Journey Equus, a place where horses, humans, and healing come together in meaningful ways. Many of you have been walking alongside us as we’ve grown from a dream into a fully established nonprofit. Journey Equus officially received it’s 501(c)(3) approval on February 19, 2026.

This milestone represents every volunteer who has shown up, every family who has trusted us, every horse who has carried someone through a moment of growth, and every supporter who has believed in our mission: Every Story, Every Body.

June Tea Party: Our First Community Gathering

In June of 2026, we hosted our very first Tea Party Meet & Greet with the Horses — a heartfelt gathering meant to introduce Journey Equus to the community. We made so many new friends, connected with families curious about equineassisted learning, and watched people fall in love with the peaceful rhythm of the ranch.

It was the day our nonprofit truly began to take root in the hearts of our community.

StoryTime in the Stable: A Summer Adventure

Next came StoryTime in the Stable, originally planned as a simple sixweek reading program. But like everything at Journey Equus, it quickly grew into something magical.

Children colored, learned about horse breeds, explored equipment, practiced soft hands and slow feet, groomed Gulliver, tried roping, made their cowboy pledge, and even took turns reading to the group. What began as literacy became confidence, curiosity, and connection.

We’re currently planning Fall StoryTime, and we can’t wait to welcome more families into the stable.

2Day Beginner Kids Camp

This summer we hosted our first 2Day Beginner Kids Camp, designed especially for children brand new to horses. It was a small group which turned out to be a gift because each child got to work with their own horse.

Their partners for the 2-days were Rico, Snickers, Harley, and Pumpkin, four steady, kind members of our herd who were perfect for beginner groundwork.

Campers learned safety, communication, grooming, leading, and how horses “speak” through body language. We watched shy kids open up, nervous kids become brave, and curious kids discover a whole new world.

Reset & Reconnect Day Retreat

After a busy summer of children’s programming, we shifted gears and hosted our first Reset & Reconnect Day Retreat - a peaceful, restorative experience for adults seeking grounding and renewal.

We began with a Tea Ceremony, then stretching and grounding in the pasture among the horses, followed by a wagon ride into the woods for a forest sound bath. The day continued with a nature walk, nourishing lunch, chair massages, horse grooming, horse painting, journaling, and quiet porch time.

It was a beautiful reminder of how powerful equineassisted experiences can be for adults.

EquineAssisted Learning & Therapy Sessions Begin

One of the most exciting milestones this season is that Journey Equus has officially begun EquineAssisted Learning (EAL) sessions. These sessions bring our mission to life — helping participants build confidence, emotional awareness, and connection through guided experiences with the horses.

We’re also proud to share that Kelly, our licensed therapist, has begun offering therapy sessions at the ranch. Her compassionate, professional approach blends beautifully with the healing presence of our herd, and the impact has already been profound.

This marks a new chapter for Journey Equus — one where horses help people not only learn but heal.

This Saturday: Our SoldOut Murder Mystery Fundraising Dinner

This Saturday we’re hosting our first Murder Mystery Fundraising Dinner — and it’s officially SOLD OUT. Guests will arrive fully in character, ready for an evening of intrigue, laughter, and ranchside suspense.

Stay tuned — we’ll share highlights in our next newsletter.

Upcoming Events: Adult Workshops & Hat Burning Nights

We’re expanding our adult offerings this fall with groundingfocused workshops and creative ranchside experiences.

Fall Adult Workshop Series

Learning the Herd: Understanding Horses and Their Nature 📅 September 27 | 1:00–4:00 PM | $75 Learn horse care, feeding, communication, and enjoy gentle handson time with the herd.

Growing with the Herd: Confidence and Calm through Horses 📅 October 4 | 1:00–4:00 PM | $75 Explore calm leadership and confidence through guided horse interactions.

Attend Both Workshops — $135 (Save $15!) Registration: journeyequusmi.org/events 📍 Journey Equus • 12600 Buchanan Rd, Stanwood, MI

Hat Burning Art Night

We’re also excited to host Hat Burning Art Nights with Cassie Healey of Top Reins Design. Guests will learn burnart techniques, safe tool use, and create a custom felt hat that reflects their personality and story.

Event Details:

Location: Journey Equus Welcome Center

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Adults Only · Limited Space: 20 Guests

This event is cozy, creative, and full of laughter a perfect way to welcome fall at the ranch. And a portion of the proceeds goes to fund our programs.

A Note About Volunteering

We’ve had so many wonderful people ask how they can get involved, and we want you to know how much that means to us.

Right now, we are actively building our official volunteer program into a structured, safe, meaningful system with clear roles, training, and support. It’s important to us that this program is done well.

We’re not quite ready yet, but we’re getting closer every week. Thank you for your patience, your excitement, and your belief in what we’re creating. We promise that we’re not leaving anyone hanging, we’re building something worth waiting for.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of our journey. Your support helps us continue offering meaningful equineassisted learning experiences to families, individuals, and our community.