Alumni Post: Bean
Bean and her two four legged friends are lucky enough to have 2 acres to graze, run around, and kick up their heels. Bean is the queen of the herd, and her friend, Midas, has two bites on his butt, reminding him of his place. Michelle (Bean’s adopter) said the children love riding Bean because she’s so gentle and patient. It makes us happy to see how much love surrounds Bean. [gallery…
Hay for Our Herd
Hay prices in Washington have DOUBLED since March 2022. But for this year’s Fall Into Winter Hay Drive, we have a generous group of donors who have pledged to match EVERY DONATION YOU MAKE (up to $35,000) Can you help us reach our goal by the end of November?? Every penny of your tax deductible donation goes straight to the horses’ mouths!!! SAFE’s Fall Into Winter Hay Drive is the one and only…
Alumni Update: Ruby
Ruby enjoys her life on 17 acres of pasture and forest. About a year ago she lost her best gelding friend. To help her cope with the loss two young mares how lost their mother came to live with Ruby. She is now a fantastic mom who is quite strict with their behavior and is definitely in charge of the herd. Ruby is a well-loved horse and we are happy she is living her best life with Sophia.
Limelight Pet Project: King Domino Seeks a Castle
Domino, our regal old gelding, was featured recently on the Limelight Pet Project. As always, they do a wonderful job of showcasing our herd, through their interviews and photo sessions. Here is what they had to say about our sweet guy, Domino: “Meet Domino. He is a 26-year-old Registered Paint Quarter Horse who is waiting for his forever home with our friends at Save A Forgotten Equine in…
Artie is a Riding Horse
Well, it’s official: our sweet, handsome little Artie is a riding horse, and we couldn’t be more proud of him. Lexee N has been working with Artie for the last few months, and has been a huge part of this guy’s transformation. She calls him “Artie the wonder pony!” and says his tagline could be something like: “Coming to life under saddle in all the right ways!” Emphasis on ‘life.’…
Meet Declan!
It has been a busy start to the fall (more like Winter, with this change in weather) here at SAFE – our phenomenal Outreach team is working hard behind the scenes on rescuing a vast number of horses from dire situations, and we have welcomed, and are preparing to welcome, a few through our own gates. Our newest arrivals come to us from Yakima, and while animal control was involved with the case,…
Beva and Aspen Thrive and Survive
Beva and Aspen were owned by an elderly woman who collapsed in her home and was hospitalized in early October, leaving the horses to be cared for by a neighbor. Animal Control was called out about the horses’ condition, but found hay, water, and shelter on the property and a pair of horses that seemed pretty spry. They gave the neighbor feeding instructions and told the individual to contact…
Alumni Update: Mina
A note from Mina’s adopter, Elissa” “We are happy to report that Mina continues to thrive — and we continue to be completely smitten with her, of course. She is enjoying an easygoing life that suits her easygoing attitude. She spends each day with her older ‘brother,’ Watney, in their 3+ acre field that is surrounded by other horses on each side, and adjacent to the smaller field for our herd of…
Alumni Update: Pippi, Aries, Checkers and Breve
All 4 horses were adopted together and are living together on a lovely farm up in Skagit County. According to our volunteer that visited them, they are impeccably cared for, in great health, and are living in ‘horse heaven.’
2024 SAFE Holiday Open House
Time: Noon to 3pm Location: Safe Harbor Stables 10407 192nd Ave NE Redmond WA 98053 Admission and parking are free to these family-friendly events. Guidelines for Visiting SAFE People coming to the barn is a great thing for SAFE! It brings us more volunteers, more supporters, and even potential adopters. The downside, however, is that people can unknowingly carry germs with them from…
Joel Conner Clinic in November
Interested in expanding your horsemanship knowledge? Do you wonder what goes into preparing our horses for adoption? Join us, Friday November 11th — Sunday, November 13th for our quarterly horsemanship clinic with Joel Connor. Schedule: — Groundwork 8AM-11AM — Riding 11:30–2:30PM — Colt Start with SAFE horses following the riding class Not only will you have the chance to learn from Joel, but…
November Volunteer of the Month: Kellie Larsen
Most Volunteers of the Month spend their time onsite at SAFE in some capacity. However, this month we recognize a member of the behind-the-scenes SAFE Community Outreach Team who shoulders the responsibility of reviewing all the Community Outreach Applications submitted online by horse owners across WA state and sometimes beyond. These applicants are seeking help with rehoming their horses,…
Camille and Sebastian, peas in a pod
Camille and Sebastian could be styled as storybook characters in the furry flesh. Two older horses, brought together by virtue of poor circumstance, united under shared healing. She, an ex-carriage horse, standing at a cool 18 hands, a true gentle giant. He, whose past is entirely unknown to us, but whose last experience with humans before he arrived here was watching them leave him behind,…
Jacob is ready for adoption!
Our sweet Jacob is ready to meet his human! He is a primarily easy-going guy who would thrive in a home with an intermediate rider who is looking to ride frequently – because he is still green and learning boundaries, he will do best in a home where he is in regular work. He has proven to be level-headed on walks outside the arena and quite brave when faced with new and unfamiliar circumstances,…
Dolly is Adopted!
Angela met Dolly only two weeks after her arrival at SAFE and immediately fell in love with her kind disposition. Dolly, now named Rose, remained in our care while we continued to brush up on her horsemanship skills. In September, Angela attended the groundwork clinic with Joel Connor, laying a foundation for the future and strengthening their bond together. At the end of the weekend, Dolly…
Alumni update: Gracie and Emmy
We are happy to hear Gracie and Emmy are living happy, healthy lives together with their adopters, who love them very much! Here is a photo they recently sent us.
Darling Darla
Darla has been sound since August, and in regular work with Kaya since then. She has certainly come a long way from the nervous mare we met at the end of last summer, and while she is still quite sensitive about things, she grows a bit more comfortable in her skin with each week that passes. And that’s certainly not a result of just sitting around. Darla’s increased (and increasing) comfort is a…
Approaching Montana
Montana is NOT a baby. You wouldn’t think he was, looking at him, but there’s something about a sensitive guy like Montana that makes it so people’s first inclination is to handle him with kid gloves. There’s a hesitation when they go to pet him, and it’s understandable why – his nervous snorts, the taut arch of his neck, the way he slides backwards when you draw near, all signs stylizing him as…
Alumni Update: CJ and Rosie
CJ and Rosie were adopted together and still remain the best of friends today! Their other friends/roomates include chickens, turkeys, goats and ducks. Eric, their adopter, loves being able to look out his window and see them in their pasture.
Alumni Update: Sampson
Sampson is living the good life in Scottsdale, AZ. He is boarded at a facility with a horse swimming pool! Sampson was a competitive show jumper, but is now retired from jumping and is doing working on dressage. Sampson’s adopter loves him very much and said will never part with him. He truly has a happily ever after!
Otto, ready to meet you!
Otto has been put through his paces, and is ready to start meeting potential adopters! First saddled May of 2022, he has proven to be very level-headed — just shy of six months under saddle, Otto has proven that he is ready for his next adventure. Though it is still relatively early in his education, Otto has taken each new experience in stride, and is currently going well under saddle. But…
Veronica Under Saddle
Veronica is a riding horse! There is a spectrum here, of course. Veronica’s first rides would have been more suited to a rodeo setting – she would have made a fine saddle bronc, don’t let her size fool you. And while she’s still quite some time away from being ‘grandma’s horse,’ she has certainly made some serious progress from those first few times with a rider. Veronica’s sense of…
We’re Headed to Buck Brannaman!
Are you interested in seeing a few of our riding horses in action?! How about seeing their skills (and our horsemanship skills) expand under the tutelage of the legendary Buck Brannaman?! Well now is your chance, this weekend October 21–23rd in Spanaway at the Tacoma Unit Horseman’s Arena from 9AM‑4:30PM! For only $30 a day to audit, watch Otto, Rae and George stretch their knowledge in what…
September Joel Conner Clinic Report: Bijou
Kirsten L. worked with Bijou in the September Joel clinic, and had the following to say about her experience: “With a fitting name of French origins, Bijou means a rare gem and that is certainly the case for this 20 year old mare indeed. She shines both in appearance and attitude. Her muscular image makes her seem much younger and quite capable of holding her own. And then her willingness…
September Joel Conner Clinic Report: Valentine
Lise A. worked with Valentine in the September Joel clinic, and had the following to say about her experience: “I had a great time doing ground work for three mornings with Valentine at the most recent clinic with Joel. Valentine has a lot of try and makes an effort to understand what is being asked of her. Once she “gets it” she moves with relative ease. She will tend to creep forward…
Cow Horse (in training) — Jacob
In addition to gaining miles under saddle, Jacob is learning some other fun things — like how relaxing it can be to be roped off of. Kaya and Jacob like to end their rides by throwing the rope a few times, which is a great exercise for Jacob to learn to be okay with the potentially frightening idea of an object swinging above his head, flying off in front of him, and touching him all over. But…
September Joel Conner Clinic Report: Cramer
A letter to Cramer, following our time spent together at the September Joel Conner clinic: Dearest boy, how far you’ve come! Earlier this week, I came across your intake photos, and whoever was peering over my shoulder gasped – “That’s Cramer?” We met in the winter, when your coat was long and dull, and there was a bit more than just a shadow of ribs on you. You were a big and imposing…
Pomme is adopted!
Congratulations to Pomme and her new family! This adoption may be the quickest turn around in the history of SAFE horses, but when it’s right, it’s right! Debbie and Peter recently had lost their Quarter Horse mare due to colic which left their sweet 28 year old, Peanut, all alone. Their neighbor is one of our lovely fosters (who wonderfully foster failed to Daisy) and she recommended they give…
Loadin’ & Tyin’
In preparation for an off-site clinic (and just in general for adoption), Edward spent some time practicing trailer loading and standing tied recently. These are important skills for any horse to learn, ones that set them up for success in their future home (a home they cannot reach if not by trailer!) Edward proved a quick study, hopping on and off the trailer like an old pro. But trailering…
Barb, Out of the Woods
Have you seen Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window?’ Poor Jimmy Stewart, laid up in his apartment with a broken leg, unraveling a murder via a pair of binoculars. In the horse-remake, Barb might play Mr. Stewart (the jury is still out on Grace Kelley’s stand-in) given that she has spent the entire summer holed up on stall rest, hanging her head out the window, observant. Luckily, there have been no…
