Happy Sweet 16, Sunny D!
Penned by: Best Buddy to Shasta & Sunny After the bomb cyclone hit Western Washington and before the official start of Thanksgiving week, Sunny D turned Sweet 16 on November 23! Where has the time gone? The little guy was only 3 when he and his Mama, Shasta, arrived at SAFE in 2011 after being seized by Animal Control. Thirteen years later, he and Shasta continue to earn their keep as SAFE…
Ranger’s Friend
Ranger comes with a built in friend, and no, we don’t mean Mabel. Between his eyes, the points of two ears begin, tapering down to a mule-esque face that ends at the mid-point of his nostrils. It even boasts a cross-shaped star. Luckily, these two share a mouth, meaning Ranger’s friend is just as fed as he is. How does one call an equine-shaped marking, if not by name? We are taking suggestions,…
Week in Review: December 8 — 14
Midway through December, which means lots of rain, lots of grey skies, and lots going on. Last week was a big week for our farriers, and the majority of our herd saw the vet for their bi-annual vaccines. In amongst all that was the usual: riding, groundwork, and a lot of fun with a bag of cans. Our holiday open house was a success, and much much more. Check out some of it below:
Alumni Update: Misty
Alumni volunteer Christine recently shared information after a visit with Misty and her adopter Sarah. Sarah has such a deep bond with Misty, and it’s truly heartwarming to see how dedicated she is to Misty’s well-being. It is clear that Misty is not only loved but also thriving under Sarah’s care and the trainer’s guidance. Sarah’s dream of having her own land to let Misty retire on speaks…
Frosting is Adopted!
We can think of no sweeter end to the week than announcing Frosting has been adopted! Though she wasn’t born at SAFE, Frosting arrived as a yearling, and as such we got to watch her grow up, transforming from a gangly and matted filly into a beautiful young mare. At SAFE, she learned how to behave for the farrier, how to live in a herd, and how to wear a saddle and carry a rider, among many…
Week in Review: December 1 — 7
The first week of December is over. It has been a busy end to fall (and can you believe it’s still fall? The winter temperatures say otherwise). Last week, our vet was here for quite a few imaging appointments. She also worked in conjunction with our farrier to help set some shoes. The herd got their biannual deworming, lots of gravel was delivered for some paddock refresh projects, and many…
Jupiter is Adopted!
Jupiter has been adopted! Jupiter’s story is one of patience. After arriving at SAFE, being gelded and restarted under saddle, Jupiter had quite a bit of interest. A handsome cremello with a kind personality, what’s not to love? But some soundness issues cropped up, and later, a sore back. There was quite a bit of troubleshooting and rehabbing we would have to do before sending this dude off to…
December Volunteer of the Month: Kim Boase
Congratulations to Kim Boase, our December Volunteer of the Month! For almost two years, Kim has been an integral part of the SAFE community, dedicating her time and heart to the Tuesday PM Chore Team. Rain or shine, hot or cold, in the bright light of day or the dark winter evenings, Kim shows up with unwavering commitment and a smile. Her kindness, compassion, and genuine love for our horses…
Marvelous Moshi
Casey A has been working and riding Moshi for the last several months, and has the following to say about bringing this cute pony along: “Moshi is turning into an incredibly fun partner. She is great to work around on the ground, stands tied, loads onto the trailer no sweat, she’s easy to catch in the paddock, and, of course, is quite sweet. She can be challenging to turn out with other horses,…
Domino and Oreo are Adopted!
What’s black and white and read all over? Domino and Oreo – and their adoption announcement! Telling you that one of the SAFE horses has been adopted is always such a joy, and that joy is only compounded when we get to say that not just one, but two horses, have found a home together. Domino, SAFE’s resident casanova, was introduced to Oreo shortly after her arrival here, and the two hit it off…
Theo’s Thorough Vetting: A Unique Opportunity for Adopters
When it comes to pre-purchase exams, Theo’s journey has left no stone unturned! What began as a routine exam for a potential adopter quickly evolved into a comprehensive lameness evaluation. Dr. Lewis from Rainland, our trusted vet, stepped in with her expert eye and the assistance of a lameness locator. She pinpointed the source of Theo’s discomfort to his left front leg, where X‑rays revealed…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Cleopatra
Kirsten L has been working with Cleopatra on the ground, and partnered alongside her for Cleo’s first Joel Conner clinic back in October. Here’s her report on working alongside Cleo: “When you first meet Cleopatra, give yourself a few moments to ensure that you have the correct horse. Cleo and Déjà vu are nearly identical so find any detail that you can to tell them apart. Some significant…
Alumni Update: Razin (Logan)
Logan is besties with one of Heather’s dogs and he likes to play with assorted toys in the pasture. Heather has taken Logan to some Evan Bonner clinics and when she works her big horse, Liam, in the round pen, she follows with a session with Logan.
Lacey is Adopted!
The year is 2016. Hamilton is making waves on Broadway. The summer Olympics are happening in Rio. The cubs win the World Series. Lacey arrives at SAFE. Over the next eight years, a lot would change, both out in the world and here at the barn. SAFE would move locations, horses would come and go. But as the calendar shed its pages, one thing remained: a little red dun mare. It is no secret that…
Har Har’s Heart
Lexee N has been working with Harissa for the last several months on the ground, getting her ready for her first saddling. Here’s what she has to say about their time together recently: “Working with Harissa has been great. She is one classy gal. By classy, I mean she knows what you know and what you don’t. It is truly impressive how much she learns and retains every day after each session. She…
Alumni Update: Millie
Millie is very sweet and loves her adopter Hollie and her pasture buddy, Maddy. Millie is not a riding horse and when Maddy is taken out on trails, Millie stays in a small paddock area. Millie loves to scratch and enjoys her scratching post in the paddock area. Also, Hollie gives her lots of tummy scratches, which she loves. Millie has to wear a muzzle and fly mask on grass as she is definitely…
Movin’ and Groovin’ with Poppy
Casey A has been working and riding Poppy for some time now, and has the following to say about little Pop: “It’s funny how with troubled horses it can sometimes feel worse before it feels better. When I started Poppy, she was pretty “stuck” and wasn’t keen on really moving out. She would walk, trot, and lope, but she was always a hair behind me, or sometimes a lot behind me. Her seeming lack of…
Alumni Update: Piper
Piper’s adopter Talia had this news to share: Piper and I had our first weekly riding lesson together yesterday and she was such a good girl! It’s been a busy year (years?) and I’ve struggled to fit in as much horsing around as I’d like. It helps to have something on the calendar every week to make sure we get out. We learned yesterday that Piper is WAY better at being a horse than I am at being…
Meet Mabel: A Sweet Mare Starting Her Journey at SAFE
This little mare is absolutely adorable! Mabel is sure to win the hearts of SAFE volunteers in no time. In these early days of training, we’re taking things slow to give her time to adjust to her new surroundings. Moving to SAFE, along with adapting to new routines and food, is a big transition for her. So far, she’s been a joy to work with—kind to the volunteers who clean and feed her,…
Rediscovering Nova: A Journey Beyond Hormones
It’s time for a long-overdue update on our mare, Nova! This summer, Nova has enjoyed a growing friendship with Harissa. They make a great pair, with Harissa helping to keep Nova grounded when she gets a little too bold. Overall, Nova has shown significant improvements in her behavior during day-to-day care, and we’re thrilled to see her back to being the mare we knew before hormonal shifts…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Edward
Kaya M has been riding Edward for the last year, and has the following reflection regarding their last clinic together of 2024: “Edward had a wonderful last clinic of the year! He really showed how much he’s learned and was starting to “play with the big dogs” working on more advanced techniques and higher progressions. Eddy really showed that he’s gentle, confident, and very comfortable in a…
Alumni Update: Rae
Christina provided a couple of new photos of Rae. She wrote: Hard to pic a favorite… but I can always share more later. Looking back at photos from the March 2024 to August 2024 clinics at SAFE it’s no wonder some folks had to ask if it was really Rae! She’s growing up FAST, but still has the sweetest face. We have one more adventure on the books before we call it for the year, and what a…
Esme’s Clinic Adventures: A Summer of Growth
This little pony has so much heart! Summer has been eventful for Esme, filled with new experiences and learning opportunities. She earned her position as my riding partner at both the Spanaway and Ellensburg Buck Brannaman clinics, and she rose to each challenge beautifully. Preparing for these larger clinics, I wanted to ensure I brought a horse who would truly benefit from the experience…
Alumni Update: Nyx
Lindsay shared this update and photos from September. Had an amazing weekend at Quinn Meadows in central Oregon with Nyx. He’s just the best trail buddy I could have ever dreamed of…still some work to do with mountain bikers, but we can’t be perfect at everything. Haha. We encountered all kinds of terrain and he bravely led through a wild high desert thunderstorm. Just love this guy so much.…
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. 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…
