SAFE Horses

SAFE News and Updates

Alder: Don’t Miss Out On This One! 

Alder is a 2009 Morgan Arabian cross gelding with loads of potential as your next riding horse! He has a great disposition, work ethic and try. He is a gentle horse looking for his next riding partner to put on the finishing touches and build a relationship that will last for years. Don’t miss your opportunity to adopt him. He will not stay long at SAFE! Apply now at www.safehorses.org/adopt

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Pepper’s New Foster Home

Pepper’s New Foster Home 

We’ve heard from Pepper’s new foster home–she’s settled right in and is happy to kick up her heels with Tilt! Both of these girls are coming along beautifully and are ready to find their forever families. Pepper has settled into her new foster home beautifully (with Tilt to keep her company!). She walks right up to whomever comes out to the paddock to visit or work, and will give a sniff and…

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Working with Jill 

After working with Jill at SAFE, Dylan says she’s super smart and if she were taller he would adopt her himself! They are still working on picking up her back feet, but they are making good progress. It’s really remarkable how much this little filly has changed in the last two weeks: she went from constantly trying to avoid Dylan, even trying to jump the fence, to looking to him for support and…

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May Volunteer of the Month: Sundee Rickey

May Volunteer of the Month: Sundee Rickey 

Congratulations to Sundee Rickey, our Volunteer Retention Manager, for being SAFE’s May Volunteer of the Month! Thank you for bringing your compassion and care to our SAFE family. We are better for all the ways you contribute; from barn chores, to team building, to making the Volunteer of the Month program special. You help us recognize and acknowledge the contributions of our volunteers, while…

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Working with Tilt 

Here at SAFE, Dylan has mostly been working on leading and helping Tilt be less touchy about the end of the lead rope and the flag. He says she’s doing really well and she really seems to look to him for support. Today, for the first time ever, they left the paddock to go on a walk and left Jill! Both horses were super calm about it.

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Getting to know Dylan Palm!

Getting to know Dylan Palm! 

Tremendous thanks to Caren McMillen, who interviewed Dylan and provided this write-up to help you all get to know him better! Thank you, Caren, you are one in a million! Dylan Palm became the Sunday Barn Manager at SAFE when Julien Dreher left for college. But because of the coronavirus situation, Dylan ended up on not one but FOUR daily shifts at the barn, in addition to helping Terry with the…

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Alder Makes Progress

Alder Makes Progress 

Here’s an update from Kaya, who worked with Alder while Joel Conner was in town: Alder learned a ton during this last clinic! I’m so lucky to be able to work with this smart, sweet gelding. We worked on freeing up his feet, roping, and saddling prep. Alder even wore a saddle two of the days, before developing a saddle sore that kept him saddle free the rest of the clinic. With this sore healed,…

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A Devastating Loss

A Devastating Loss 

It’s almost inconceivable to have to write these words. We lost a horse this week — a horse that was young, strong, and full of life. A horse with a sunny personality and a friendly calm outlook on life. A horse who was just days away from finding his forever home. We had to say goodbye far too soon. And worst of all, we still don’t really know why. On Tuesday morning, the morning feeding crew…

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2020 Q1 Impact Statement 

New Horses Intake Date: February 20, 2020 Jake (Animal Control seizure) Intake Date: February 28, 2020 Buddy and Banner (Owner Surrender) Placed Horses Cameo Mara Butters Euthanized Horses Jake Slim

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Joel Conner Clinic Report: Jollie!

Joel Conner Clinic Report: Jollie! 

Thank you to Casey A for this update about Jollie, who got to participate in her first Joel Conner Clinic* this month! Jollie had a fantastic week! When she arrived at SAFE she hadn’t really been halter started, and she was quite pushy, so leading her to and from her paddock each day was a great opportunity. By Sunday, she led more confidently and was more respectful of personal boundaries. She…

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Anderson Training Update

Anderson Training Update 

Here’s an update from Anderson’s regular rider, Kaya: Since this clinic was a little unique, Anderson and I both had the opportunity to really delve into our biggest insecurities and issues. We had two round pens set up in the indoor arena and this allowed me to ride Anderson with just a halter, no bridle, and work on both my ability to let go and encourage Anderson forward without letting my…

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Goodbye, Slim

Goodbye, Slim 

It is hard to share sad news with you, knowing how difficult the world is right now. But unfortunately, some things can’t wait for this to pass. We have been struggling to keep Slim comfortable for over 9 months. What started as an abscess became an infection of his coffin bone and has continually caused him different degrees of pain. Vets from Rainland Farm Equine Clinic have been out countless…

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SAFE State of the Union

SAFE State of the Union 

It should come as no surprise that horses don’t care that much about COVID-19. While the world outside the farm is changing in unimaginable ways, life here at SAFE remains pretty much the same. The horses go about their day as they always have, with certain expectations firmly in place: They will get fed at every feeding time. Their stalls and paddocks will be picked daily without fail. Water…

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Buddy and Banner Dental

Buddy and Banner Dental 

Buddy and Banner had their dentals and vaccines yesterday. Both were good boys. We are guessing ages are 25 for Buddy and 22 for Banner. The dentals should give both a ton of relief when eating. They got an intense deep cleaning spa treatments afterwards. They both are new men!! And they’ll be off intake quarantine on Friday!!

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Raising a White Flag

Raising a White Flag 

Do you ever get to moving so fast that you have no idea how exhausted you are? That’s a pretty accurate description of how things have been at SAFE for the past year or so. We started 2019 off with business as usual — caring for 30 rescued horses, managing their rehabilitation and training, and looking to find them new homes. Then in June, we got involved with the Fall City 40. That effort,…

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The Limelight Pet Project Features Millie 

Thanks to The Limelight Pet Project for featuring Millie! The Limelight Pet Project is a campaign local to Washington that shines a light on harder to adopt pets and the people who help them. We’re delighted they chose Millie to share this month on Q13 FOX. Here’s the article and segment on Q13 FOX:

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2019 Year in Review: Herd Health Update

2019 Year in Review: Herd Health Update 

Looking back on our accomplishments for the year in the herd health department at SAFE was easy in 2018, because we were still riding on the coattails of the adrenaline rush that came along with foaling out and raising 3 fillies. 2018 was also our first year with a full-time herd health manager on staff, so there were some significant changes to report. At first glance, 2019 seemed a little more…

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An Unlikely Pair Finds a Forever Home

An Unlikely Pair Finds a Forever Home 

We meet Janelle a few weeks ago when she came to us, looking for a riding horse to join their family. She met Cameo, and It quickly became clear that Cameo and Janelle were perfect for each other. But since Janelle didn’t own any other horses, we were reluctant to adopt her all alone. Cameo loves having friends around, so being alone on a property would not make her happy. Because Janelle wanted…

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Anderson Horsemanship Update

Anderson Horsemanship Update 

Here’s an update from Anderson’s regular rider and friend Kaya M: Anderson is one special horse. Since we first began working together last summer, our relationship and ability to understand each other has grown exponentially! Last summer, Anderson would walk away from me with ears pinned in his paddock and now he is all happy ears and cuddles when I go get him. This change in attitude feels…

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Fall City 40 Update

Fall City 40 Update 

We started back in June with 40 horses…and we could not be happier that 30 of those horses are now in new homes, getting the care they need and deserve. That leaves ten horses who still need homes. You’ll notice that on the last update, we said that 11 horses are still available…things have REALLY slowed down with placing these horses. A couple adoptions fell through…the weather got…

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Amelia Under Saddle

Amelia Under Saddle 

SAFE volunteer rider Phoebe has been working with Amelia for quite a long time, and has successfully restarted her under saddle. Though Amelia will only be suited to light riding due to her age and history, she loves kids and would be a great horse for leadline. Amelia is under saddle and doing great! It has taken a while for her to understand that her mouth won’t get pulled on, but she is now…

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Pearl Training Update

Pearl Training Update 

Volunteer horseman Phoebe T has been working with Pearl. Here’s her report on their progress: I’ve never worked with a Morab before, and Pearl has me sold on the combination!! She is SOOO smart! She is definitely a willing partner and has gotten accustomed to the flag, learning a soft feel & a one rein stop from the ground. Also backing up — from a heads up fearful, to a chin tucked, soft,…

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