Fall update

Hey everyone this is going to be super short and sweet! What’s going on with Toni’s Ponies you might ask yourselves… I’m so glad you asked! Short answer: A lot! 

Little bit longer answer but still brief because gotta get back at it… The mud has come and we are sliding around still caring for 31 horses I think it is now. Not complaining, this is the reality of Washington in the fall. It’s really beautiful out but getting chilly so we’ve put blankets on some of our more compromised horses already. Our newest boys, Roper and Stetson are settling in very nicely. I even saw Stetson running and bucking the cutest little buck the other day. 

We are gearing up for our Gala. If you are looking for a good time for a great cause please please please get your tickets now! It’s such an amazing night and a ton of work goes into it! We want to spend it with you! Tickets available here. November 8 at the Eagles in Poulsbo. 

Toni’s Ponies Thrift is up and running on a soft launch. I’ll insert a graphic here to give you all the details on times and what not. We will have a few days that we will be closed - next Saturday for the gala prep is one of them. I can’t wait to do a whole post on this but right now just let me encourage you to go down and see for yourself what these incredible women have put together. And the prices… you can not beat them! Thank you to everyone who donates items and comes out to support. There really is something there for everyone. 

Toni’s Ponies will be making a guest appearance at the Hometown Holiday Night Market at Cup and Muffin. Come out and see us - do some shopping and get your photos taken with Santa and his donkeys… the reindeer are on vacation. 

That’s all for now folks!

pony at the disco

🎉 Toni’s Ponies Annual Gala: Pony at the Disco 🎉

November 8, 2025 | Tickets: zeffy.com/ticketing/pony-at-the-disco

Hey everyone — it’s official (and has been for a while, I guess)... summer is over, fall is here, and winter is just around the corner. The days are getting shorter, the ground’s getting slicker — time to trade in the tennis shoes for muck boots. The barometer’s shifting, and you can feel it in the horses. This is the season when we keep a close eye on everyone and brace ourselves for the usual autumn antics (cue: random colics, extra wild energy, and all-around chaos).

But it’s not all worry — this can also be one of the most beautiful times on the farm. The rain washes away the dust, the pastures turn an unreal shade of green, and the crisp air makes it peak sweatshirt weather (a Washingtonian’s dream).

And best of all? It’s time for the Toni’s Ponies Annual Gala — and this year’s theme is...

🌟 Pony at the Disco! 🌟

That’s right. The year is 1970-something. The disco ball is spinning, the DJ is grooving, and the vibes are pure retro magic. We’re talking bell bottoms, sequins, platforms, groovy colors — and yes, a full-on cafeteria-style retro dinner complete with trays, a themed menu, and TANG.

Our volunteers have been working so hard gathering amazing silent auction items from local businesses, and the decor crew? Let’s just say they’re living their glittery best lives. It’s going to be a party you don’t want to miss.

But we don’t just throw this event because we love a good party (even though we do, and not to toot our own horn… but we throw a great one).

We do it for the ponies.

Toni’s Ponies is currently home to 31 rescued equines. The money we raise from this Gala helps us make it through the winter — covering feed, farrier work, and vet care. It also supports the growth of our community outreach programs and helps us make our farm more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

💛 Why It Matters

If we just rescued horses, that would be enough. But these days, we’re doing even more.

Over the summer, more than 350 people — kids, parents, grandparents — visited the farm through our Pony Play program (June–August). This sweet, simple hour on the farm includes reading stories, scooping poop, sensory play with grain, grooming ponies, and even sitting on one of the "big horses."

We saw kids who had never been near a horse before light up with excitement. One little girl told us she had only ever ridden a horse “in her imagination.” (I’m tearing up just writing this.) These kinds of moments remind us why this work matters — deeply.

We’re building a place where people connect — to animals, to nature, and to each other.

📅 Save the Date: November 8

Get your tickets now and get ready for a night of sparkle, soul, and celebration. Your support doesn’t just help us care for these amazing animals — it helps us share their magic with the whole community.

🎟 Get your tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pony-at-the-disco

We can’t wait to see you there. Let’s dance, let’s laugh, and let’s do something amazing — together.

Sunshine, Stories & So Much More

Oh, where to begin? We’re making it a goal to share more regular updates here at Toni’s Ponies—there’s always so much happening, and taking time to reflect (and celebrate) is important. Plus, we love keeping you all in the loop!

Summer So Far...

Our summer has been absolutely packed—and it’s been so good. Since early June, we’ve been hosting our weekly Pony Play activity hour, and it’s been a hit! Each week, we welcome about 15–20 kiddos and their families for story time, bracelet making, coloring, sensory activities, and of course... pony brushing and loving! Our minis—Princess, Remi, and Missy—have been soaking up all the attention.

We’ve also been lucky to welcome some incredible new volunteers—shoutout to Bernie, our storytime superstar! We can’t say it enough: our volunteers are the reason all of this is possible. Rain or shine, they show up early to turn the farm into a joyful space for kids to play, learn, and connect.

Just last week, we had a super special Pony Play featuring local authors Kristen Varner and Jennifer Mann, who joined us to share their books Horse Trouble and The Riding Lesson. Huge thanks to our friends at Saltwater Bookshop in Kingston for helping make that happen—thank you, Madison! You can support them (and snag those wonderful books) by visiting their shop or checking them out online: 👉 Saltwater Bookshop – Kingston, WA

We still have 5 Pony Play days left! Come on out to the farm and experience the fun!

The Yard Sale Hustle

The week before that was our annual yard sale—one of the most labor-intensive (but rewarding!) weeks of the year. We spent days unpacking, sorting, organizing, and hauling everything out. No rain this year (phew!), though we did have some of the hottest days on record.

Thanks to everyone who donated, helped us set up and tear down, and came out to shop. All items are donation-based, and every dollar goes back to supporting the ponies. We didn’t quite meet our “fill the barn” goal, but we got a solid start—and we’re deeply grateful.

A quick note on donations: We love receiving your gently used items, but we’ve learned that large or hard-to-donate items can become costly to dispose of. If Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity won’t take them, we’re often left with dump runs—which adds up fast. Next year, we may need to be a little more selective with what we can accept. Thank you for understanding!

Bike Raffle 

We’d like to give a heartfelt thank you to Russ and Penny Koons for their incredibly generous donation of the 2009 Honda Goldwing that we recently raffled off. Russ and Penny aren’t just amazing neighbors—they’re truly outstanding people, and we’re so grateful for their support. You might recognize Russ from the 4th of July parade, where he proudly rode the Goldwing before donating it to our cause. (And yes, we were in the parade too—rocking a sea of pink!) The raffle was a huge success, and we were thrilled to draw the winner. If you missed it, head over to our Facebook page to watch the video of the drawing and see who took home this fantastic bike. Thanks again, Russ and Penny—you made this all possible!

Vet Day = Pony Wellness Day

We recently had our annual vet visit with the amazing Dr. Toby. He helped us with dental work for a few of our horses and also gelded our sweet Timber. It was a smooth and productive day, and as always, we’re incredibly thankful for Dr. Toby’s calm, informative approach.

A big thanks to everyone who donated to help offset the cost of this visit—your support keeps our herd healthy! If you'd still like to contribute, you can do that here.

On a Personal Note

We also want to share something a bit harder. Just before the yard sale, Toni’s partner Andy was unexpectedly diagnosed with colon cancer. He’s had surgery to remove the tumor and will soon begin chemotherapy. It was a shock to us all, and while Andy is in good spirits—watering tomatoes and tending plants like always—it’s been a lot.

This will naturally affect the pace at the farm. If our response times slow down or things look a little different, we hope you’ll understand. Toni is juggling a lot, but we’re still here, still moving forward, and always grateful for your support.

What’s Coming Up?

We’ve still got plenty of fun ahead:

📍 National Night Out – Poulsbo | August 5 

🌞 Picnic with the Ponies | Late August – details soon! 

🕺 DISCO Gala | Nov 8 | Start planning those sparkly outfits! (Check out Lucky Star for ideas!) If you or someone you know would like to donate items for our silent auction, we’d love to hear from you.

The Thrift Shop... It’s Happening!

The thrift shop we’ve been dreaming about? It’s really happening. A few things have shifted, but we’ll be announcing the new location and grand opening date very soon. Stay tuned!

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you volunteer, donate, show up, or simply cheer us on—we couldn’t do it without you.