What We Are All About

We see the power of the horse, human connection every day at Phoenix Rising Sanctuary, and we are still awed by the beauty of it. Horses are powerful healers and we can all learn tremendous life lessons from being around them. 

We offer programs for girls of all ages and economic backgrounds, as well as local foster girls from the Puget Sound area. Our 42 rescue horses help empower girls during their time at the Sanctuary. Participants are able to improve their riding and horsemanship skills, as well as learn responsibility, integrity, patience, communication, teamwork and leadership by interacting with other girls, adults, and the horses on the farm. We include "Girls Circle" (age appropriate) facilitated group conversations  during the daily summer sessions to encourage open and strong communication. Weekly (on Saturdays) during the remainder of the year. (www.girlscircle.com) 

We believe that by providing a safe place for girls to come, no matter where they are in the foster care system or in their home situation, we offer them the chance to trust, connect and grow. We currently have over 30 girls in our no charge and work trade programs.

First of all, an awareness of the situation, whether in the herd or one-on-one with a horse is essential for safety and success. Quiet confidence, and assertiveness, to create co-operative teamwork between human and horse is also key. Respect and compassion for another living being will open a young person’s heart, and help guide her choices for the rest of her life. Non-verbal communication to create a bond of trust and respect is a component of the horse-female relationship that is especially powerful for young women to understand and utilize, in and outside of the barn. Being responsible for the well being of another creature, especially a rescue horse is an amazing reward in itself. Being honest and accountable for one’s actions is the foundation of integrity.

On a working farm, certain jobs must be preformed. By doing horse chores, (feeding, watering, cleaning stalls, etc.) the girls learn strong work ethics and the satisfaction of a job well done. If the task is not completed or forgotten, restoring their integrity demands the girl speaking up, not only for themselves, but for the animals that could suffer from their negligence. Patience is another strong factor in creating trust, especially with the wild, young, PMU rescue foals that the girls get the opportunity to help gentle.

Finally, the most powerful lesson of all, focus on the moment, without internal or external distractions. Learn to be present; in the here and now, because horses reflect right back to us what we are projecting, good and bad! By being able to teach our girls these components of powerful living and successful relationships, be it animal or human, we feel we are opening the door for stronger, kinder, more positive and curious young women to emerge. The type of person we need more of in this world.

How It All Started

Several years ago a horrible fire devastated our historic farm in Duvall, WA. I needed to get away from the devastation, so I spent some time in a little town in upstate New York to heal and be close to my older sister.

During that time I read an article about this lovely woman nearby that rescued PMU horse babies from slaughter auction in North Dakota. We visited her farm and came back with our first six rescue foals. During that farm visit I was re-energized. I knew that this was what I was supposed to use my farm back home for. I returned to Duvall, a few months later and created Phoenix Rising Sanctuary.

The following year I found out where our PMU foals were from, and contacted the ranchers to set up a visit to see their foals before the big fall auction. The results of that trip were the 20 babies that we brought home that year, and a good working relationship we built with those two PMU ranches for the future.

Since then, I've added girls empowerment programs, which was a natural extension of the work I have done in the past with teens. What is better than horses and girls? Currently, our goal is to rebuild the barns, add a covered arena, a meeting area for the girls program including a live in center for our year round programs.