Week in Review: December 30 — January 4
Can you believe it’s already 2025? We hope you had a happy and healthy start to your New Year. Here at SAFE we are setting our goals and intentions for this brand new year — in amongst all of our regularly scheduled programming, of course.
Alumni Update: Roscoe
Roscoe looks wonderful and has a great little herd to run with all day. Fantasia (32-year-old-mare), Ebby (4‑year-old gelding) and Hazel (15-year-old mare). Plus, Bam and Daisy, the very large goaties! Kasey and Roscoe ride regularly on trails, doing arena work, in clinics, and the occasional FUN day, like learning roping, trail obstacle courses or cow work.
Snohomish Animal Control Officer Training
We managed to squeeze in one last event before the end of the year — a training for a new officer at Snohomish County Animal Control! Officer Cameron was warmly greeted by our barn cats before spending the day learning some of the many things there are to learn about horses and horse rescue. It’s always a pleasure to host new officers and give them a snapshot of what SAFE does, and by…
January Volunteer of the Month: Megan Kavanagh
Congratulations to Megan Kavanagh, our January Volunteer of the Month! Who better to help us kick off the new year than Megan, whose dedication and compassion have been an integral part of SAFE for nearly three and a half years? Megan’s kind spirit and warm smile create a welcoming and positive environment for both horses and humans, making her an irreplaceable member of our community. From her…
Year in Review 2024
In the spirit of the recent week in review recaps, we decided to broaden our scope a bit and show you a taste of what happened each month of 2024. There is no true way to encapsulate all that the year held, but please accept this brief snapshot of a few of the things our horses and humans got up to. It was a busy year, and 2025 looks to be no less busy. Cheers to another 365 days around the sun,…
2024 Volunteer of the Year: Carrie Sjaarda
At SAFE, our mission is centered around helping horses heal, gain a solid foundation and education, and find their forever families. Each year, we take a moment to celebrate a volunteer whose extraordinary dedication, kindness, and passion embody our mission and enrich our community. This is no easy task, as SAFE is fortunate to have so many incredible volunteers. Yet, every year, one name tends…
Harissa and the Can Bag
Here is a showcase of Harissa vs. the Can Bag. Clearly, Harissa: 1, Can Bag: 0. Harissa sure has come a long way in her own self-confidence, and as a result, feels no fear about showing the can bag who is boss! This process of ‘sacking out’ is not just for fun — it is also helping to teach Harissa that the ‘cans’ she encounters out in the world pose her no threat, no matter where they might be:…
Alumni Update: Boone (Mr. Fezziweg)
Boone (now Mr. Fezziweg) was adopted from SAFE in late November 2020. His adopted family had just seen the show A Christmas Carol, and Mr. Fezziweg was the name of Scrooge’s first boss at the counting house. Mr. Fezziweg was the jolly fellow that gave the wonderful Christmas party for his staff before Scrooge turned into a jerk. So, they named him Mr. Fezziweg after the jolly guy in the…
Bijou is Adopted!
Many of us have dreamt of a horse beneath our Christmas tree, but this year it is Blair’s reality. We could not be happier to announce that our dearest Bijou is a failure — a foster failure! This sweet sugar plum has been having the time of her life over in Ellensburg for the past few months, and has made a permanent home for herself in Blair’s herd, home, and heart. These two make a phenomenal…
Thanksgiving in December (or: A Turkey’s Wish)
Author’s Note: To read this year’s Christmas-adjacent story, you must understand two things: the first is that SAFE has a resident turkey, and the second is that, while humans do exist in this story, they somehow do not witness the goings on. All of the horses and humans at SAFE wish you a very happy holiday. And if you’re having turkey, please, keep it to yourself. — Thanksgiving came and…
Week in Review: December 15 — 21
As we enter the final stretch before the holidays, it’s just business as usual here at SAFE. Aside from being surrounded by festive cheer, very little changes occur around the farm. Each day, horses are fed, watered, and mucked. Our farriers and vets still come out. Our to-do lists grow short, and then long again. We are busy busy busy little bees! Check out some of what we got up to. …
Alumni Update: Sundae (Neapolitan)
Neapolitan (formerly Sundae) is doing very well. She is easy to handle and her adopter, Cheryl, hopes to do some in-hand trail classes with her.
Alumni Update: Frosting (Shawnee)
A note and photos from Frosting’s adopter, Ann L. I am so excited to welcome Shawnee, aka Frosting, as my new family member. It’s been a week to the day since I brought her home. So far, she has proven to be such a special girl with a heart of gold and curiosity, Welcome to your forever home, Shawnee!
Bijou’s Beautiful Days
Bijou has been living the good life at her foster home, settling well into the herd alongside foster brother, Bear, and sister, Roulette. The three make quite a trio, romping and playing and generally enjoying each other’s company. Western Washington has transformed into a winter wonderland, which means Bijou gets to enjoy many a snow day — a fact that doesn’t seem at all displeasing. Hearing…
Zuri: Caring for Our Beloved Senior Mare
Zuri has had us all concerned over the past few weeks. Several times, staff received calls during night checks reporting that Zuri was down and not getting up for her evening mash. Each time, Bonnie came down to check on her, and fortunately, it was determined that she wasn’t colicking. While we know Zuri is an older mare, we wanted to ensure there were no other underlying issues contributing to…
Alumni Update: Lucca
Lucca is living the good life with her adopter Jane, spending time riding trails. Lucca enjoys the company of four other horses in her herd. While Lucca is at the bottom of the herd hierarchy, her sweet disposition makes her a favorite among the other horses.
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: Sophie
Julie and Sophie are a great pair! Julie adopted Sophie around Christmas in 2016 and they have worked on their teamwork and relationship ever since. Julie recently wrote that 2024 “represented a recommitment to prioritizing my horsemanship, my on-going education, and connecting to my horse community again”. Julie now has a 5‑year-old daughter – who she hopes is going to have the same horse bug…
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…
Alumni Update: Kayla
Kayla is doing well and has the company of six other horses. Kayla is not a riding horse, but she has a job helping her adopter, Laura, with her counseling/therapy clients.
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…
Alumni Update: Jupiter (Apollo)
From Jupiter’s adopter, Marissa: Adoption Day! So, so, so incredibly grateful for every single SAFE member who poured their time, energy and love into Jupiter, now known as Apollo. He is amazing, and that is because of you!! This journey has begun.
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…
Alumni Update: Addie
Addie was originally adopted so that Nicole’s daughter, Maddie, could participate with her in her Washington State High School Equestrian Team events. However, while Addie seemed to enjoy the cutting event she attended, she did not take to all the down time in a small stall. Addie also gets moody and stubborn when in season. So, Maddie works with their pony Talks and gelding Fuzz in her 4‑H and…
