October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Winter
Paige N has been spending some time working with Winter, and has the following to say about their time spent together over the last two Joel Conner clinics: “Over the past two Joel Conner Clinics Winter has made phenomenal progress both mentally and physically. …
Week in Review: November 10 — 16
Another week has passed at SAFE, and with it we are already halfway through November! The weather is changing (re: darker, colder) but as always, the varied personalities of the horses and the busy, busy days around the barn keep us warm. Check out what we got up to…
Alumni Update: Tasara
Tasara is a very healthy and happy horse. She is very affectionate and loves to turn her back end to you and get scritches. Tasara has a favorite rooster companion and they stay close to each other in and out of the barn. Sherri does not ride anymore but does take…
A Gentle Start: Cooper’s Path to Trust and Comfort
We’re just getting to know Cooper and working to assess his personality as we prepare him for halter training. Upon arrival at SAFE, he showed signs of soreness, and unfortunately, he seems to have a soundness issue. Because he isn’t halter-trained yet, we haven’t…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Tiva
November 2022. It’s day 2 of clinic, and halfway through class Joel has me switch horses. I had been working with Cramer, gentle giant, and he’s responsive and floaty on the end of my line. “Terry,” Joel calls, “go get her Tiva.” I had brought Tiva into the…
Alumni Update: Sophie
An update from Sophie’s adopter, Julie: I don’t know that I’ve ever posted an update here about Sophie but as we come off an incredible year of learning, effort, and new commitment to our journey, it seems fitting. Grateful doesn’t begin to describe it. Some of you…
Helping Horses With Gifts of Stock
Donating appreciated stock might just be one of the easiest ways to give to organizations like SAFE who are doing the work that you care about. And SAFE is already set up to easily accept your donation! According to Fidelity Charitable®, donating stock directly to a…
J’aime bien, Deja Vu
Deja Vu is ‘seen before’ in French, that sensation of having experienced an event, even if it is completely novel. But working with this mare is entirely unique each time, no sense of a ‘been there, done that.’ Well, some sense of having been there, since we do not…
Alumni Update: Stella
Stella is off to college! Her human has started her freshman year at Carroll College, with plans to major in Anthrozoology and Psychology, hoping to go into equine-assisted therapy. Stella has gone with her to their equine facility there and is absolutely in heaven.…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Sienna
Lise A worked alongside Sienna in the groundwork portion of the October Joel Conner clinic, and has the following to say about their time together: “I had the absolute pleasure of having Sienna as my ride or die for the weekend. I wasn’t riding her, but we did the…
Alumni Update: Otto
Otto’s adopter, Gabby, had this update and photos to share. Otto is loving the crisp fall air He has grown and filled out SO much in the last year and a half, now standing 14.1 and just shy of 1000lbs. He loves to work his mind and body and is the most playful horse…
Alumni Update: Jewel
This little girl turned 13 on November 4th!! Also our gotcha day, Jewel has been with me for 7 years now. As you can see, Jewel has an affinity for mud and somehow manages to get her supplement mash all over her face. Not flattering in a photo with snow.
Week in Review: November 3 — 9
It’s November, and though the days have grown shorter in terms of light, they are as jam-packed as ever! Joel Conner was here last week for our last two-day workshop of the year, helping us identify our growth edges to work on this winter. The farrier was out for some…
Alumni Update: Tilt
Tilt’s adopter Julie recently wrote: Much to my dismay, Korra (Tilt) loves to stand out in the snow for lengthy amounts of time.
Alumni Update: Pippi
Casey H. recently sent this update and a few photos: Pippi and (my daughter) Taryn have been putting in a lot of work! I’m just the horse show mom, credit goes to my awesome kiddo and her great trainer. Pippi is very loved.
Wren: Building Confidence, Balance, and Trust
Wren has a truly sweet disposition and a heart of gold. She has an incredible amount of try and doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in her body. Gentle with every horse she meets, Wren has proven to be a kind and dependable presence both on the ground and under saddle.…
Mahina’s Progress: A Gentle Soul Learning to Shine
Mahina acts like she’s been haltered her entire life. From our very first touch, Joel Conner noted that while she initially seemed wary, she quickly grew fond of being petted. Since that day, she’s sought out connection and attention from humans. Mahina is a smart…
Week in Review: October 28 — November 2
October has come and gone, with very little going on. Just kidding! The last week we’ve been doing a little rest and relaxation after our busy clinic weekend, but that by no means means there wasn’t a lot happening. Check it out below:
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Barb
Candi K has been working alongside Barb for the last year, and recently participated in the groundwork portion of Joel’s final SAFE clinic of 2024. Here’s what she has to say about working alongside this special mare: “It seems like just yesterday that Barb and I…
Dedicated to Transformation
To truly understand Veronica, one must look at the entirety of her journey. Today, someone walking into SAFE might see a lovely, intelligent mare working calmly during a horsemanship clinic. They might notice her willingness to respond to her rider’s cues and her…
A Decade of Transformation: Joel Conner’s Impact on SAFE Horse Rescue
This year marks 10 years since Joel Conner first joined SAFE Horse Rescue, and in that time, his support has truly transformed our organization. For a decade, Joel has been a guiding force, empowering our horses, volunteers, and staff to reach new heights. He has…
Hockey Helping Horses
Have you heard of the Ladies of the Kraken? They’re an all-female fan group of over 7,000 members supporting the Seattle Kraken, and in addition to fostering community amongst hockey lovers online and at Kraken games, they do amazing things for the community. This…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Artie
The October Clinic with Joel was Artie’s 3rd Riding Clinic for us and Artie has settled into the routine. He has not only learned the ropes of the clinic but has also relaxed greatly while waiting for others during the 3 hour session. From saddling to warm up to…
Welcoming Cooper
About two weeks back, a couple in the Maple Valley area awoke in the middle of the night to find that there was a loose horse in their yard, sidled up to the pen beside their own horses. In the morning, they took to local Facebook pages, “is this your horse?” Though…
Bijou Goes to Foster
Over the hills and across the pass, to R&B Ranch Bijou goes! Longtime SAFE volunteer Blair recently purchased a beautiful property in sunny Ellensburg, and wanted to take in one of our companion horses to winter alongside her herd. She had previously seen Bijou…
Week in Review: October 20 — 27
Another week: done. This was a busy one, but aren’t they all? We had Joel Conner here for our last clinic of 2024, picked up a new horse (more on him later), and had all the things going on that normally go on here at SAFE.
Seven Year Sienna
To know her is to love her. The ‘her’ in question is Sienna of course, but if you had to make an educated (or even uneducated) guess, it’s likely you would have reached that conclusion on your own, for Sienna is tremendously easy to love. Something about Sienna…
A is for Artie
A is for Artie, and also for Asking ourselves how this Awesome guy hasn’t been snatched up yet? This 11 year old Yakima Reservation Horse stands at an Admirable 13.3, but don’t let his status as a short king have you writing him off — he is a stout and hearty dude!…
Week in Review: October 14 — 18
Last week at SAFE! Some highlights are featured in the video below: Las
Alumni Update: Bridget
A SAFE alumni volunteer provided this update on Bridget after a recent visit. Bridgit is so sweet. She followed us everywhere and wants to be patted and be the center of attention. Her pasture buddy is Oreo, a mini horse. Oreo prefers not to be patted but be seen from…
Tiva Marie
Tiva’s middle name is Louise. Or Marie, depending on the day and who you ask. Both roll off the tongue, and neither are serious, their function purely decorative. Typically a middle name is invoked when the subject is misbehaving (i.e., ‘Tiva Marie, don’t you look so…
Alumni Update: Jollie (Libby)
Libby, formerly Jollie, has a very good life. She has a mare friend and both are happy and healthy. Their pasture is lovely, Mike has made a pasture paradise for them allowing for them to get exercise and have managed grazing of green grass. He hand walks Libby in…
Sweet Zuri
From where she lounges in her shelter, Zuri hears the rattle of the gate chain as it un-clips to let you in. She greets you with a nicker, perhaps wondering if you’ve brought her a mash, or a flake of hay, or a hand capable of a scratch on the neck. Zuri is like one…
Alumni Update: Tess (Purty Girl)
Kelly has decided to retire Purty (formerly Tess) from riding after she started limping after riding her again recently. Purty is content being on her own and isn’t bothered when the other two horses are taken out to a show.
Week in Review: October 7 — 11
What happened last week? A lot, as per usual. Theo got on his first pair of shoes, and a whole bunch of other horses had their hooves trimmed as well. We had the last of our pop-up tack sales, and the minis went to not one but two events! Many horses got their usual…
Riding Wren
Wren is nice on the ground and nice under saddle, a great mare all around. Here is a recent clip of her going under saddle — check it out!
Moshi Riding Video
Moshi is coming along well under saddle, and is ready for her forever home. She is a forward ride, and still needs a good amount of support, so needs a rider with some experience with green horses. She sure is a cute pony!
Alumni Update: Echo
Brittany and Echo are doing great! Brittany owns a boarding/training facility where Echo resides. Echo is not only the pleasure riding horse for her daughter, Addison, she is now being used as a lesson horse for the business. Echo has come a long way in her training…
Alumni Update: Daisy, Cookie & Harper
Daisy, Cookie and Harper recently received a visit from one of SAFE’s alumni volunteers. It was reported they were all relaxed and very interested in scratches and snuggles. Daisy is very bonded to Cookie and Harper, so they generally stay in the same area where they…
Week in Review: October 1 — 4
Another week is in the books. Last week we shepherded in October with a jam-packed schedule. Some of the highlights from last week’s 40-odd hours: New horses Oreo, Ranger, and Mabel had their second visit with the vet, this time for dentals and some more thorough…
Nova’s Hoof Trim
One of the first warning signs that something was different about Nova back before her spay was her sudden inability to have her hooves trimmed. She had been seeing the farrier every 6 weeks for years, but one day she could not handle the touch of a familiar hand on…
Alumni Update: Opal (Bella)
At 18 years old, Bella (formerly Opal) is beginning to show her age with a few health issues, but overall, she is healthy and well cared for by Lys. The two like to go on trail rides and Bella enjoys hanging out with her paddock mate, a Friesian mare.
Week in Review: September 23 — 27
A lot goes on at SAFE each week, and not all of it is reported on in depth. But in an effort to give you a glimpse into what a typical week looks like, we are compiling just a few of the moments into a weekly summary video. Check out last week’s below: …
Welcoming Oreo, Ranger, and Mabel!
SAFE welcomed three new faces this week, and what cute faces they are! Hailing from Pierce County, these escape artists came under Animal Control’s notice because they kept breaking out and getting loose. After multiple instances of this with no preventative measures…
Mahina Making Progress
As the days grow shorter, so does the list of Mahina’s ‘firsts’ here at SAFE. First time walking through the barn aisle, check. First time having her teeth floated, check. First (and second!) trims by the farrier, check and check. She has really shown herself to be a…
Barbie Dream Horse
Barbie’s Dream Horse was named Prancer, and technically she was cremello. But it’s hard not to look at these beautiful pictures of Winter and not conjure up images of the toy you’d bring to show and tell. If one thing is true about Winter, it’s that she is calorically…
Alumni Update: Mesquite
Mesquite shares a fence line, as well as turnout, with an Arab/QH cross. Mesquite gets four carefully measured feedings around the clock to maintain good gut health. He’s experienced a number of colic issues and this procedure is keeping colic at bay. Both Cory and…
Adopt Edward!
Edward is more than ready to meet people who are ready to meet him. Could that be you?
WASART Presentation
As part of on-going educational opportunities for our SAFE volunteers and community, we have been offering presentations by various individuals and organizations throughout the year. Recently, we were pleased to have the Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART)…
August Joel Conner Clinic Report: Bijou
Carrie S worked alongside Bijou in the August Joel Conner Clinic, and said the following about the nine hours they spent together over the course of the weekend: “I had the privilege of working with Bijou for the first half of the August Joel Conner clinic. It was my…
