We would like to introduce two new additions to the SAFE Board of Directors: one, a familiar face, and the other, a new friend!

Lara Lutz has been involved with SAFE since the day she opened her home and heart to a rescued mare named Amber, way back in 2010. Since then, Lara has been an active volunteer for SAFE, lending her expertise in accounting, bookkeeping, and event planning. And since the only thing better than adopting one SAFE horse is adopting TWO SAFE horses, Lara added Louie to her family in 2013. Lara began riding at ten years old. By age thirteen, she convinced her parents to let her work for her trainer in order to purchase her first horse. She has competed in hunter/jumpers, English pleasure and even a little barrel racing for good measure. Lara now enjoys schooling dressage with both Amber and Louie. Professionally, Lara is a bookkeeper, and enjoys working with small businesses across a variety of industries. Lara takes over the role of Treasurer on the SAFE Board of Directors.

The second new member to the SAFE Board of Directors is Meghan Hoey. Meghan’s love of horses began at the age of 10 when her mom, Julia, gave her the first book in the Thoroughbred series, A Horse Called Wonder. It had always been her mother’s dream to own a horse, and with Meghan’s interest, it pushed her to turn that dream into a reality. Meghan started English riding lessons at French Creek Stables in Snohomish; and soon after, Meghan and Julia went on the hunt to find their own horse. After many visits all over WA State, they found Sovereign Wind Nautice in the summer of 1995 at a small stable in Bothell. Nautice was a beautiful bay Thoroughbred, and captured the hearts of Meghan and Julia. Over the next five years, Meghan competed in 3‑day eventing and was an active member of Pony Club. Meghan later trained under Lynda Bender, competing on Nautice and Lynda’s horses Okima and Kermit. Though Meghan’s life moved away from horses, there was always a longing in her heart that kept her close to the equestrian community, volunteering at Little Bit and Hope for Horses. Now a current fitness instructor and MBA candidate, Meghan’s passion after graduation is to work toward campaigning for farm animal rights through food policy and nutrition education. She is thrilled to join SAFE’s team of inspiring and dedicated animal lovers. She hopes to utilize her business background combined with her love of animals to dedicate energy and hard work toward helping to keep SAFE a top-notch and growing safe haven for horses! Meghan loves spending time with her husband Shane and two dogs, Rico and Luna.

Thank you to both Lara and Meghan for joining the team and joyfully embracing the challenges that lie ahead!