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. Winter is such a sweet horse that has a tough time trusting the outside world. I am working with Winter on making sure she…
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 last week:
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 Tasara out for walks around the property and down the lane from her house.
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 been able to conduct a full veterinary exam. However, we’ve consulted with veterinarians and agreed that our first step is to slowly…
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 covered arena maybe a handful of times for Terry. Tiva was working on getting caught by other people, as she’d only been haltered not…
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 have heard me say that 2024 was the year of the horse. That’s an understatement. 2024 isn’t over but it represented a re-commitment…
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 charity is one of the most tax-smart ways to give. If you donate stock directly to a charity, there’s no capital gains tax to pay,…
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 start at ground zero each time we begin a session, rather we build on the foundation we have been working hard at creating. When…
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. She is part of the school’s equestrian education program now, along her new BEST friends (she truly believes every horse she meets…
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 groundwork portion of the clinic with Joel Conner. It was three hours for three days. I logged about 8000 steps (4 miles) each day.…
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 barefoot trims, we had a leaf day to help clear out yet another round of those pesky leaves (they just keep falling!), and it was…
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. She’s shown few faults in her work, and with time and more experience, her “green” traits will naturally smooth out. Her main…
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 mare with a strong flight response, yet she’s catching on to her training remarkably fast. At SAFE, we love horsemanship because…
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:
November Volunteer of the Month: Alisa Allgood
Congratulations to our November Volunteer of the Month, Alisa Allgood! Alisa joined SAFE on a chilly December day in 2022, just before the holidays, and her warmth and commitment have been a gift to us ever since. She jumped right in with our Tuesday AM team, working hard to ensure our horses have clean, comfortable stalls/paddocks where they can heal and flourish. Driven by a generous spirit,…
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 started working together and now it is almost the end of 2024. We started in the dark months of winter, welcomed the spring, basked in…
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 inquisitive, bright expression. But few would guess how much time, patience, and dedication have gone into helping her become the…
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 helped change the face of rescue, bringing horsemanship to the heart of our work and reshaping the way we help horses in need. When…
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 September and early October, the Ladies of the Kraken (LOTK) hosted a Hockey Helping Horses fundraiser in partnership with Seattle…
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 his body was in decent condition, his long tangled mane and standoffishness told a story of a horse who was reluctant to be caught.…
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 and developed a bit of a horse crush, so in visiting with her again in making her decision as to who would be a good fit, the choice…
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 makes her seem much bigger than her 15 hands. True, she is big boned, but it goes beyond that, an internal magnitude, like the…
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! Artie remains calm cool collected in the face of new situations and environments, and we think this Adventurous guy would make for…
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 a distance. Both horses looked great and are very well cared for. She and Oreo do everything together. Kristina’s plate is very…
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 nasty at that other horse!’) but in Tiva’s case, it is typically cooed, applied like a pet, as her instances of being simply…
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 nearby trails but has not ridden her out yet. Mike feels that she has turned a corner recently and is more calm and closer to…
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 of those motion-activated decorations — if you walk within a certain radius of her, it’s likely she will call out to you with a…
