SAFE Horses
SAFE News and Updates
The SAFE 2021 Annual Report is now available!
The 2021 SAFE Annual Report has finally been completed! In each of the last 10 years, SAFE has released an annual report to recognize our donors, share success stories, review our financials, and provide an overview of some of the year’s accomplishments and highlights. The 2021 Annual Report will take you back through Year Two of the pandemic and how this rescue organization fared with your…
Alumni Update: Bubbles
Bubbles, now named Bella, is doing awesome! She absolutely loves trail riding and really enjoys hanging out and horsing around with her brother rescues, Thunder and Jax. Bella recently got a gold star on her annual vet exam!
Training Update: Otto on the Fence
As part of a well-rounded education, our horses are put through paces that include more than just learning to wear a saddle. A class they must take and pass is learning to bump up to the rail. This serves several purposes, including but not limited to: learning to pick a rider up off the fence (not all of us can mount from the ground!), getting used to someone up above them, and learning to be…
Alumni Update: Teddi, Coco and Minnie
Pure cuteness of “Aunt” Teddi, Coco and Minnie! Such a wonderful success story! “All is well in Lakebay!! The weather is warming up and I imagine that feels good for them after all the rain!! They sure love being out in the pasture on the weekends!! The Littles are fun to watch and run around like crazy when they first get out there — FREEDOM 😄” ~Marti and John
Artie’s Second Chapter
When a horse leaves SAFE for its new home, we hope that there is a ‘forever’ tacked in front, but this is not always the case. But our commitment to a SAFE horse is lifelong, and when Artie needed to return to us, we welcomed him back with open arms. Artie had left SAFE as a companion. This was not always our intent for him – an able bodied young gelding like Artie was more than capable…
June Volunteer of the Month: Andrea Leger!
Congratulations to our June Volunteer of the Month, Andrea Leger! Andrea has volunteered on both the Wednesday and Thursday PM shift for over a year and a half and also helps with grain baggies and Barn Assisting on Wednesday PM. She is always willing to jump in with help and we are extremely lucky she How and when did you first get involved with horses? I took many years of riding lessons as…
Ezra Gone Too Soon
I am very, very sorry to have to tell you that we lost Ezra last Saturday. All seemed fine earlier when the breakfast mule came around, but about 30–40 minutes later, he was rolling on the ground, in major distress. A volunteer alerted our Barn Staff, Trudy, who called Lily who called me, and the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew we were dealing with an extremely severe colic. Ezra had already…
Alumni Update: Topper
Such an amazing friendship! Topper loves his home and family, especially his best friend in the picture.
Blazing New Trails
One of our Volunteer Riders had this to say about Veronica: You could say Ms. Veronica is “Walking on Sunshine” as a whole new world has opened up to her beyond the main gate of SAFE Harbor Stables. Just a few weeks ago Veronica and I prepared to make a trek to the great unknown. Well really it is just the trails the connect from SAFE to Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park, but it sounds more…
Alumni Update: Khianna (AKA Kiki)
Khianna (AKA Kiki) has been spending her time hanging with her horse friends and new companions, miniature goats! They are quite amused by the goats bouncing off the barn walls! Kiki’s adopter, Stanalee, reports that Kiki has had a lot of sarcoids (non-cancerous tumors) and had to have one removed from her leg and is doing well. Stanalee spends a lot of time brushing her and just sitting out…
A Great Horse is Gone
It’s with a lot of sadness that we share that one of the great SAFE horses is gone. Earlier this week, after a severe colic, Bucky B Lucky was humanely euthanized. To his wonderful adopter Ruth, our deepest sympathy to you, and our most sincere thanks for the life that you gave him. Lorenzo has left us all far too soon, and we are so sorry for everyone’s loss. But especially yours, dear Ruth.…
Frosting: Duckling Turned Swan
Take a look at our little “ugly duckling’s” transformation into a swan this spring! What a difference good food and care has made! She is turning into a gorgeous young mare — it’s almost hard to believe she’s the same horse as she was when she arrived!
Working with Cramer
Lexee N, who has been spending time working with Cramer, had the following to say about her time with him: Cramer is such a Handsome Man & is Making Progress! How can you not fall in love with that face? Cramer is a very sweet gentle giant and working with him has been an extreme pleasure. I don’t often work with a sensitive horse like Cramer and I will not lie, it’s a big change for…
Welcome Ezra and Sparky!
Two new equines arrived at SAFE last week, both from Animal Control seizures. Welcome Ezra and Sparky! Ezra is a very handsome grey 20 year old Arabian gelding. He can be haltered and led but has never been ridden. Ezra is a sweet guy who enjoys the finer things in life…like his haystack/senior mashes and getting those good scratches (beneath his mane is real sweet spot!). He basically has no…
Rest In Peace: SAFE Alum Banner
It is with sad hearts that we report the passing of SAFE Alumni, Banner. Banner was a 24-year-old gelding who came to SAFE with another sweet boy, Buddy, who passed in September 2020, with Banner by his side. On April 30th, his loving and caring adopter Casey, found Banner in extreme pain and was able to have her veterinarian out to Banner right away. Despite a dose of Banamine, his heart rate…
Artie and Ruckus Return
Due to sudden life changes, Artie and Ruckus’ owner needed SAFE’s assistance in rehoming them. We commit a lifetime of safety to each and every horse who passes through our care and we picked them up this week. Artie had many fans before leaving SAFE last summer, so many of the volunteers will be happy to see him peeking out his former shelter window, where he enjoyed flipping his hay bag out to…
Otto Under Saddle
This month was the first time Otto saw a saddle (or rather, the first time he wore one – technically he’d probably seen one before then). First saddlings are always interesting. We do our best to prepare the horse before we cinch them up for the first time. Touching them all over with the flag, placing saddle pads on their backs, throwing the rope around their middles, all exercises to help…
Rest in Peace: SAFE Alumni Farley
The SAFE family is saddened to report that SAFE alumni Farley, passed away yesterday. He had been struggling to get to his feet after napping in the sunshine and when assisted, wasn’t able to stand. Dr. Schroeder from Northwest Equine was able to come out and with his buddy and SAFE Alumni Pyrrha (Zelda), by his side, Farley was able to pass peacefully. Zelda said her goodbyes and seems to be…
Three’s Company Forever
Teddi, Minnie and Coco are adopted together! When the volunteers and staff heard the murmurings of a possibility that Auntie Teddi and her two littles might get adopted together, smiles and glee spread through the barn. The three friends have been adopted together to their new home in Kitsap County where they get to enjoy the good life in each other’s company. Their new family simply adores…
Alumni Update: Razin (Now Logan)
Razin, now Logan, recently had a dental check-up which revealed that he is actually younger than we thought! Wouldn’t we all want that kind of news?! It was determined that he appears to be closer to 2 years old than 5. He has been doing regular ground work with his adopter Heather, which he really enjoys. But, in his free time, enjoys granola bars, iced oatmeal cookies and greeting his peeps…
Riding Horse Edward
This past week, Eddie had his first few rides — uneventful, just the way we like them. It took him a bit of time to give to the bend Joel was asking him for, but with the patience and great releases of a well-practiced teacher, he got there. He was also uncertain about what Joel’s leg meant when asking for hindquarters, but again, figured it out soon enough under Joel’s tutelage. Times like…
GiveBIG is May 3–4th!
Today kicks off GiveBIG!! This year, SAFE invites you to help your favorite Western Washington horse rescue raise needed funds to help unforgettable horses. Donate here. Our theme for GiveBIG 2022 is “Let’s Not Forget.” Horses don’t end up at rescues because they’re bad or broken…they end up here because they’ve been forgotten. Once upon a time, these horses were someone’s partner…someone’s…
May Volunteer of the Month: Caitlin Soden
Congratulations to our May Volunteer of the Month, Caitlin! Caitlin works a full time job and still manages to muster up the energy to spend her weekends volunteering. She even shows up early to help with feeding! The Sunday PM team is very lucky to have her at the helm. How and when did you first get involved with horses? Before I started volunteering at SAFE in 2019, I had SEEN one horse in my…
Esme Loves to be Groomed
One of our horsemanship volunteers, Sue, had this to say about Esme. “Esme has come a long way from the wary mare who was hard to catch, and careful who came close. She spent some time in the rehab paddock next to Pepper, and was always very curious when I groomed Pepper. What is happening over there? Should it be happening to me? After a few days she would actively go to the fence line to…
Otto’s Origins
Otto arrived at SAFE the very definition of a ragamuffin, with a scruffy, mud-caked winter coat draped atop his thin frame. We looked forward to seeing what health would do for Otto. It brought out his personality, for starters. Even when on the mend from his tooth extraction, Otto remained a rambunctious and playful gelding. It also revealed some mysteries about his past. During a vet visit,…
Alumni Update: Atticus
Atticus’s adopter Bernice says that he is doing very well at the age of 32. Despite his age and mild arthritis in his hind, he still acts like a young 22-year-old. He is currently shedding out as seen on his face, getting ready for some summer fun!
Trail Horse Nyx
Nyx’s had his first trail ride with volunteer rider Lexee N! Here’s what she had to say about their experience: On this Sunny Thursday (4/7/22) Nyx and 4 other SAFE horses went on a trail ride/walk. Nyx has gone on a couple of trail walks before but today was his first time with a rider and he did so well! He was mellow yet alert. Every time the path had an opening he would always turn his head…
Working With Domino
Sara H, who has spent some time with Domino recently, had the following to say about their time together: I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Domino for three days during the last Joel Conner Clinic in November 2021. It was clear this distinguished gentleman has a few habits, particularly being heavy on the front end while backing up and wanting to cuddle up close with his handler. With…
Darla Gets to Work
Kaya has the following to say about her time spent recently with Darla: After struggling with her hoof injury for the last several months, Darla is sound and ready to get back to work! It seems she has used the time off to think about what she was working on before the injury. She’s less touchy about her hind end than when we first got her and quicker to relax and let down. Darla’s past has…
Veronica Melts Candi
A sweet note and reminder how special horses are in our lives. Candi recently had this to say about her relationship with Veronica: “It has been two weeks since I have been able to be with Veronica. Today she ran to me when she saw me at the gate of her turn out. Being with her made all of the crazy, chaotic, emotional days of the past two weeks drift away.”
