Introducing Cameron
When Cameron unloaded from the trailer at SAFE last Friday afternoon, we got our first good look at a horse who desperately needed our help. This 30 year old registered Arabian gelding has come to us in very poor shape. His hip points and croup are clearly visible because he is so severely emaciated. Photos do not often show the full extent of a horse that’s been starved, but the image to the…
Nyx on His Way to Being Ridden
In preparation to be ridden, we have started groundwork with Nyx. He is proving to be everything we could have dreamed of. He’s sweet, soft on the halter, has a good amount of life, responsive, connected to us and VERY gentle. This video is our third day working with him. He was amiable to everything we presented to him and was relaxed about saddling. We will be up and riding him in the next…
Pepper at the Buck Brannaman Clinic
In July, the staff and a few volunteer riders took five SAFE horses to the Buck Brannaman Clinic in Ellensburg. Phoebe worked with Pepper and here is what she had to say: The 2021 Ellensburg Buck clinic was Pepper’s first trip away from SAFE. She handled all the unknowns, new sights, sounds and smells with surprising calmness. She impressed me with her questions, and her willingness to learn…
George Practicing to be a Trail Horse
Recently Terry took George on a trail walk in the neighboring park. It was his first time and he did great! George was accompanied by two other mares, Lucca and Aries. He crossed a wooden bridge with no problems and even saw a person on their bike. We think George could be a great trail horse! Check out the video below.
Arigato is Learning So Much
Arigato came to SAFE having never been touched by a person. The staff got right to work getting her used to all sorts of new experiences. From haltering, leading, flagging, picking up feet and fly spray, check out the videos Terry, our Operations Director, has been sharing along the way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAxx92XyQcs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gMGZd4PZjE…
Jasper’s Interviews for Q13
Jasper was interviewed by The Limelight Pet Project to be featured on Q13 this next Sunday. The Limelight Pet Project shines the light on harder to adopt pets in the Puget Sound area. Jasper’s only reason for being harder to adopt is because he is not a riding horse. Otherwise he is a sweet, loving boy who wants to connect to people. We have witnessed Jasper turn from a scared quivering horse to…
August Volunteer of the Month: Krissy Love
I am excited to announce Krissy Love as the August Volunteer of the Month! I have the great privilege of working with Krissy on Thursday PMs since she started in January 2020. Not only is Krissy the fearless Shift Lead on Thursdays, but she’s also fearless when it comes to snow or extra work. This winter she braved each and every snow day on her three day weekend to come to SAFE and help the…
Meet Freya and Nyx!
Two new friends arrived at our farm last week. Freya is a 30+ yr old Morgan type mare and Nyx is a very large BLM Mustang. Sadly their owner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was struggling to care for them. The two horses had very overgrown hooves and about a month ago, a farrier trimmed them way too short, causing them both a great deal of pain and discomfort. We have them in a paddock…
More than Just a Mom
Sundae continues to be a great mom for her foal, Coco. She remains attentive to Coco but no longer gets panicky when her baby ventures a little distance away, which is good because Coco is pretty independent. She is well behaved for grooming, though exhibits typical pony behavior with the farrier – good at times, but also a bit cheeky. Coco will be weaned at 6 months, and then Sundae will be…
Frosting’s First Farrier Visit
Frosting is currently at foster with Fancy’s adopter, one of SAFE’s volunteer riders. While Frosting is fostered, SAFE will continue to pay for her veterinary and farrier care. Frosting had her first visit with the farrier and was a brave little mustang throughout the process, although she gave the farrier and her handler a good run for their money. Frosting needs continued work on having her…
Diagnosing Merry’s Lameness
Merry was ready for a possible adoption this last March, but a pre-purchase vet examination turned up a mysterious lameness on this four year old mare. We have spent the last few months having multiple vet visits trying to get to the root of the problem for this promising mare. For our first attempt, our vet at Rainland Farm Equine Clinic used their Lameness Locator to pinpoint the problem. On a…
Minnie’s Growing Up
Minnie came to SAFE in January 2021 as a 6‑month-old filly with her mother, Checkers. We recently weaned Minnie from her mother, but we were sure to give her an Auntie to comfort her. Aunt Teddi now shares a paddock with Minnie and the two get daily grass turnout together. You will always find Minnie right next to Teddi, being her shadow, as they make their way around the large grass field. When…
Everyone is Domino’s Friend
Domino arrived at SAFE after living alone for a few years. His happy nickers on his arrival made it clear he was glad to be around other horses. He is a sweet 25-year-old gelding whose future will be that of a companion or perhaps a lead line horse walking on trails. He enjoys human contact, and is quick to approach the fence if he sees staff or volunteers coming to visit him. Domino has two…
Barb Has Opinions
Barb had a few weeks off from work after having been ridden for about a month. She is just three years old, so it’s age-appropriate for her to have a break from being ridden. Barb is a champ at accepting a fly mask. Personality-wise, Barb is opinionated and can become petulant when told “No”. She appears to be moving up in status in the filly herd and taking over the lead filly status from…
Beautiful Veronica
We are working on preparing Veronica to be saddled. She has calmed so much compared to the fearful horse, distrustful of humans, that arrived at SAFE in early 2020. It has been wonderful to watch her transition. She recently worked in the Joel Connor clinic with Candi in June. Veronica can still be tricky to catch in her large paddock, so they focused a lot on catching and releasing. Veronica…
Training Update: Sienna
At the end of 2020, Sienna was having several difficulties in training. She would get tight and panicky when she felt a rider’s legs on her sides and things on her back such as a saddle. She did panic bucking. The good news is that she is much improved since then, and during a recent clinic at SAFE, trainer Joel Conner said that Sienna was the highlight of his training visit. All our effort and…
Billy is Adopted!
Billy is adopted! He has found a loving family in Bridle Trails with Jane and Harry, their daughter Anne and granddaughter, Marin. He even has a girlfriend, Vinnie, a Warmblood trail horse. Billy had a rough past life. We believe he was used as a bucking horse for kids, which had to have been somewhat traumatic. When he came to SAFE, he was nervous around people and extremely scared of the lead…
Aries meets Buck Brannaman
Our volunteer rider, Candi, rode Aries in the Buck Brannaman Clinic in Ellensburg in June and here’s what Candi had to say. “In July, the SAFE horsemanship team had the opportunity to attend the Buck Brannaman clinic in Ellensburg. In preparation for the clinic, I spent several weeks getting to know Aries through groundwork and riding. Loading, hauling and unloading after the journey to…
George at Buck Brannaman
George had his first trip off the SAFE property since his rescue in 2019, as one of five SAFE horses who traveled to Ellensburg for the Buck Brannaman clinic in early July. Buck’s Foundations class is a great experience for a young horse like George, and we’re extremely happy that he was given this opportunity. George did well on the trailer ride and settled into his paddock at clinic with…
Video Update: George
Check out this training video update of Joel Connor working with George. The video was taken during our Joel Connor Clinic in June 2021.
New Horse: Echo
Echo was dropped off by Animal Control a few weeks ago. When she first arrived, she was very unsure of being caught. What will these humans ask of me!? she seemed to say. Once haltered, the staff started loving on her, brushing and giving her scratches. She quickly learned this is good stuff and leaned into Terry, who was brushing and she started grooming Kaya, who was scratching her head. This…
Video Update: Kayla
Kayla is ready to find her perfect match. We are looking for an intermediate rider who can support her as she continues to develop her riding skills. Please check out our most recent video of Terry riding her.
Shy Boy Quincy
Quincy’s current challenge is finding trust in people. Three months ago, Quincy didn’t like to be touched, but with patient work, his eyes have softened and now he even leans into being petted. He has received farrier care twice and was great for the farrier. We have moved Quincy’s paddock to the other side of the property. Our herd of fillies gets turned out to graze next right next to him.…
Love at First Sight
Ajax has found the perfect home! Nancy and Gary came to SAFE looking for a companion horse for their mare, Cheyenne. Her buddy had just passed away and left her very depressed. Nancy and Gary were quickly smitten with Ajax. Ajax came to us in April in rough shape with a body score of 3 and an old eye injury. He had been passed around home to home with no one caring except a family friend who was…
2021 Q2 Impact Statement
New Horses Intake Date: April 5, 2021 Aries (Owner Surrender) Lucca (Owner Surrender) Intake Date: April 8, 2021 Ajax (Owner Surrender) Intake Date: April 21, 2021 Coco (Born at SAFE) Intake Date: May 5, 2021 Domino (Owner Surrender) Placed Horses Razin Ajax Billy Fancy
July Volunteer of the Month: Renee Wass
Congratulations to our July Volunteer of the Month! I am lucky to have had the pleasure of working with Renee back when I used to work Mondays. It always lit up my day seeing her arrive at SAFE. Her positive attitude is infectious and she has a great sense of humor. Renee has always been willing to come in early to help with feeding or fill in as a Shift Lead on another team someone quit and I…
Training Update: Jasper
Sue had the opportunity to work with Jasper in the last Joel Connor Clinic in June. Here’s what she had to say: “I was fortunate to spend one day of the June 2021 Joel Conner clinic working with Jasper. I had been working with him on my own for several weeks, but was excited to have some guidance to see what I was doing right and wrong. Jasper came to SAFE extremely wary and without confidence.…
Training Update: Aries
Sue had the pleasure of riding Aries in our last Joel Connor Clinic in June. Here’s what she had to say: “I was given the unexpected opportunity to work with Aries for two days of the June 2021 Joel Conner clinic. This was my first chance to work with her, and also my first opportunity to ride a SAFE horse in the clinic. Aries is a sweet mare who wants to please. She braces on her shoulders, so…
Our Dear Abby
On a rainy Friday in June, our newest addition to the herd, Abby, arrived at SAFE. Abby is a sweet, easy going mare with wispy mane and kind eyes. Sadly, her owner passed away in a car accident and Pierce County Animal Control took her in when no other family members came to claim her. We originally thought this Quarter Horse type mare was in her 20s, but a dental appointment with our vet last…
Domo Arigato
Arigato, Ari for short, arrived on a busy Wednesday last week with matted hair, muddy and in desperate need of a hoof trim. Ari is a 4 year old, BLM Mustang from a herd in Salt River, Wyoming. Her previous owners got her from the Adoption Incentive Program in September 2020, but were never able to handle or gentle her. Ari lived at their home, standing in mud without proper care until her feet…
