Blog | Toni's Ponies

🐴 Herd Highlight: Bobalouie the Mini Donkey Meet Bobalouie—our spirited elder mini donkey and the undeniable snack king of the pasture. Though he’s the oldest of our four minis, you’d never guess it from the way he trots up for treats or nudges in for snuggles. Bob is full of heart and personality, and he brings a calming, joyful energy to the herd every single day.

Before coming to Toni’s Ponies, Bobalouie was deeply loved and well cared for. When his previous family faced a heartbreaking health crisis, they made the incredibly compassionate decision to find a safe and loving place for their animals—somewhere they could trust. We are honored that they chose Toni’s Ponies as that sanctuary. Bob’s story is a reminder of how love shows up in many forms, including the difficult choice to let go when it's in an animal’s best interest.

Now, Bobalouie is living his best golden years surrounded by a herd who adores him and a community that cherishes his gentle soul. 💛

Fun Facts about Mini Donkeys:

Miniature donkeys are incredibly social and thrive with companionship—they can even become depressed if left alone!
They communicate with expressive brays (also known as “hee-haws”) and a whole range of charming facial expressions.
Despite their size, they are surprisingly strong and can pull up to twice their body weight.
They love routine, snacks, and scritches—just like Bob!
Originating from the Mediterranean, these sweet, sturdy little guys were once used to carry water and supplies across rough terrain.

Mini donkeys may be small in stature, but they make up for it with giant personalities—and Bobalouie is living proof. 🥰

Your donation helps donkeys like Bobalouie find a safe, snuggly, snack-filled sanctuary to call home. 💛

I would like to make a difference through donation

I hope this finds you warm and well. As winter loosens its grip, we’re surfacing from a different kind of hibernation—not one of rest, but of resilience. While the world outside has been cold and still, we have been anything but.

We’ve been trudging through mud and ice, hauling five-gallon buckets of warm water when the pipes froze solid. We’ve broken ice from troughs in the bitter dawn and soaked feed to keep bellies full and bodies warm. We’ve stood in the freezing rain, comforting horses that once knew hunger and fear. And now, as spring approaches, we find ourselves like a bear waking from hibernation—hungry, depleted, and in desperate need of support.

Winter has drained us. Our primary fundraisers happen between May and November, and right now, we are stretched thinner than ever. Toni’s Ponies is entirely donor-funded. Every single dollar we raise goes toward feeding, sheltering, and caring for these animals. It costs an average of $400 a month per horse for feed, veterinary care, and farrier visits. With 24 horses in our care, that’s $9,600 a month—$115,000 a year. And right now, we need help.

Many of our horses have suffered before finding safety here. Some were abandoned, too old or sick to be “useful.” Some came off feedlots, one step away from slaughter. Some arrived so thin and weak they could barely stand. Others have lost the only family they’ve ever known, surrendered by owners who simply couldn’t afford to keep them. No matter their pasts, they all deserve love, dignity, and a safe place to call home.

This is where you come in.

If you’ve supported us before, from the bottom of our hearts—thank you. We truly could not do this without you. If you are new to Toni’s Ponies, please consider joining us. Even $10 a month makes an enormous difference. One-time donations, sponsorships, and sharing our story help more than you know.

And here’s our urgent ask: please share this message. Forward this email, post it on social media, tell a friend. The more people who hear our story, the more horses we can save.

Toni’s Ponies is more than a rescue—it’s a community. It’s a place where neglected horses find love again and where people come together to make a difference. If you can donate, please do. If you can share, please help spread the word.

By donating through Zeffy, you can set up a monthly sponsorship or a one-time gift. The best part? Zeffy covers all processing fees, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the horses.

Donate here

Mark your calendars for our upcoming events!

June 7 : Pirate Festival

Come join us at Mike Wallace park in the Beer/Rum Tent! We’ll also be slinging Italian ices as well! And of course we’ll be selling merch!

June TBD: Bake Sale

No firm date yet but we will be looking for those that would like to contribute to the bake sale as well as sell day of! In front of Grocery Outlet.

June - August (Thursdays 10:30am-11:30am): Pony Play

We are excited to be offering a weekly kids activity hour called Pony Play! This is geared for ages preschool - elementary but all ages are welcome! We’ll pair a kids activity with grooming and visiting with ponies! $10 a family.

July 4: Kingston 4th of July Parade

Come one, come all! Put on your pink (don’t forget a sun hat) and get ready to walk down our main street and represent TP in the Kingston Parade!

July 11-13: Annual Yard Sale

This is the biggest yard sale in Kingston and you wont want to miss it! Treasures for everyone. All sales by donation!

August 16: BBQ & Brew

We always have a blast at the Hood Canal Brewery! Come on down for some amazing BBQ, great beer, and some live music!

September 13: Picnic with the Ponies

This is our invitation to the community to come on out (wear boots!) and meet the horses. We’ll tell you their stories, have brushes ready for grooming and even have a hotdog lunch available for purchase!

November 8: Gala

Get your bellbottoms out! Come join us under the disco ball for our 4th annual Toni’s Ponies Gala. Our theme is DISCO! Dance the night away and bid on some amazing silent auction items! We always have a blast!

KitSap County
KINGSTON·WASHINGTON

A 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization / 509(a)2 Public Charity

Herd highlight

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Emerging from Winter: A Plea for Help and Hope

Mark your calendars for our upcoming events!