SAFE Horses
SAFE News and Updates
November Clinic Report: Bijou
Sara H worked alongside Bijou in the groundwork sessions in the November Joel Conner Clinic, and had the following to say about their time together!: “Who says old horses can’t learn new tricks? Bijou is a sweet and sensitive old gal who recently spent several days learning to move her feet with balance. This is a tough ask for a 20 year old mare who is heavy on the front, but she’s full of try…
November Clinic Report: Frosting, Wren, Veronica, Artie, Esme
We finished off 2023’s training program horsemanship clinics on a high note. The incredible dedicated volunteers were like a well-oiled machine over the intensive five days. Wednesday and Thursday, we got our hands on 21 SAFE horses! From the barely haltered to those loping out on loose reins in the arena and some starting leg-yields and counter canter. I had the pleasure of working 5 horses…
November Clinic Report: Sienna
Sue C worked with Sienna during the November Joel Conner clinic, and has the following to say about their experience together: “The lovely and sage Sienna was my groundwork partner for the November 2023 Joel Conner clinic. Sienna is a kind, experienced mare who is well versed in all the moves, so in many ways an easy horse to handle. She can, however, be easily stuck on her front end, and it was…
Alumni Update: Lucca
Lucca and her adopter, Jane M., enjoyed trail riding this fall. Here, Lucca and Jane took a couple laps through Farrel-McWhirter Park before the rain. 10/15/23
Changes to the SAFE Alumni Program
A letter from SAFE Alumni Program Manager Shar Conner: I wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be stepping down from my role as SAFE’s Alumni Program Manager. I’ve been in this role for 8 years now (hard to believe); it’s been a fun ride but I think now is the right time for me to hand the reins over, so to speak, to somebody else. I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you over the years and…
Domino’s Emotional Support Lacey
While bringing anxious Domino into a stall every year has always been somewhat of a production, because of his friendship with Lacey we discovered last fall, this year coming inside for Domino was no big thing. The two neighbors munch their hay happily side by side, with Domino taking occasional breaks to check that his red-head neighbor is, in fact, still next door, and after their meal time…
Shoes for Roy
Roy is a special guy. His poor teeth keep him from eating hay, leading him to be on an all-mash diet. He is covered in lumps and bumps (which we think just add a cool topography to his handsome self, but understand how others might find them unseemly). He takes Equioxx every day for his arthritis, and gets a tab of Prascend to manage his Cushing’s. He is prone to sweet itch and insect bite…
Twinning with Artie and Pepper
Halloween might be over, but it appears that Pepper and Artie are still dressing up as one another! These two are truly doppelgangers, and as they both hail from the Fall City 40 herd, it may be that there is some genetic connection to their similar looks. But regardless of if they are any percent related, they are both 100% cute!
Glamorous Nova
Someone is ready for their closeup! The fall leaves and Nova go together like apples and pie — a winning combo.
November Volunteer of the Month: Cyndi McGarry
Congratulations to our November Volunteer of the Month, Cyndi McGarry! Cyndi first joined us back in August of 2022, and has helped in just about every aspect of the farm since! From being on the Tuesday AM team, to her Friday PM shift, and helping to feed our horses in the afternoons. Cyndi and her husband, Ned, join us on facility days; power washing the barn, painting fences, cleaning up…
Alumni Update: Jewel
November 2023 From Julie: So yesterday (November 29th) I realized I made a huge, sad blunder. November 4th is Jewel’s adoption day and the day we celebrate her birthday. I’ve never forgotten it — until now. Almost a month late! I felt so bad. I apologized and tried to make it up to her with treats. Jewel is now 12.
Alumni Update: Jewel
We received an update from Jewel’s adopter, Julie: Some of you may remember the trials and tribulations I’ve had with Jewel over the past year. Last summer she was so scared of being saddled it took months to work our way back. After a half dozen rides, we had a relapse. After months of more work we’ve been riding again. Today, (10/07/23) we had a good workout in the round pen followed by a…
Journeying With Montana
A horse’s progress is not always linear — in fact, it is often not. There are hills and valleys in horsemanship, and as living creatures with their own autonomy, it is only fair that we meet the horse where they are at each time we interact with them. Montana is a special guy. He has always been sensitive, and while he has let down a tremendous amount, this by no way means he is not still…
Getting to Know Violet
In getting to know Violet, we found two things to be true: she was in desperate need of a diet, and she was dull. Luckily, neither fact was without remedy. Over the last month, we have helped Violet shed a few lbs, and have already begun to see the true shape of the horse under all that extra adipose. Her body condition score might also be contributing to fact number two — it can’t feel…
Declan, One Year Later
There are no timelines when it comes to our horses. We promise them that no matter how long it takes, we will be there for them to rehabilitate them into the horse they were always meant to be. This week marks the year anniversary of when we met Declan. Many wonderful things have happened in his life since then. Hours of care, patience, hard work, and empowerment. Declan was restarted under…
Autumn is Here
On the direct heels of Tanis’ passing several weeks ago, we received a call regarding a horse in need — another roan mare. It felt, admittedly, a bit like kismet. We know that Autumn’s story starts with an Animal Control seizure. She was one of group of 44 horses taken from a hoarder in Lewis County. This was a horrific situation that involved dead horses, as well as mares and stallions…
Alumni Update: Nyx
Nyx and Lyndsay went camping at Long Beach in June with some friends.
Scotty’s Buddies
Scotty arrived at SAFE with his half-sibling Violet, the two of them essentially attached at the hip. In order to foster new and healthy relationships (and mitigate the herdboundness that existed in each of them), we made a point of introducing them to new friends once they were off their quarantine. Scotty popped over into our ‘boys herd’ (we are a mare-heavy organization, and thus only have…
Darla is Adopted!
Dearest darling Darla has been adopted! During the summer, long time horse owner Monne came to SAFE looking for an equine partner and met Darla. The two of them took their time getting to know one another, with Monne coming out to visit and ride Darla a number of times before tying the knot, so to speak. Darla came to SAFE as a very sensitive mare, and while that is not something that goes away…
Rest in Peace, Alumni Moon
The Alumni community mourns the loss of another big girl today (10/26/23). Four years ago, this past August, Moon left to live with Beth Ann and her amazing herd in Oregon. Moon had the best life and enjoyed many good days with her family. Sadly, the time came when her hooves couldn’t hold her to this world any longer. Beth wrote us this morning: “Today when I walked out Moon just patiently…
Alumni Update: Sampson
Photos of Sampson from October 2023
Alumni Update: Jessel
Jessel and Alexandra on a glorious fall evening in North Dakota
Violet Coming Along
Since her arrival at SAFE, Lexee N has been working with Violet to help her find freedom in her feet and life in her movements. The last few times Joel visited us, he worked alongside Lexee and Violet, and Lexee has the following to say about this beautiful mare: “The lovely Violet has been a tough horse to get along with. She has a lot of resentment towards people and this reflects through her…
Snohomish Animal Control Training Days
Recently, we were happy to host two Snohomish county animal control officers here at SAFE for a day of training. Established in 2005, SAFE hasn’t taken a year off from equine rescue in almost two decades, and over those years, we have learned a thing or two about all that goes into both rescuing and rehabilitating horses. We are more than happy to share our knowledge with the folks who aid us in…
Gabby is Adopted!
Gabby was taken in by SAFE in April of 2022, where she went directly to foster with our dear friend Trisha, who had previously fostered (and then adopted!) Caramel. Well today, I bring you another tale of a foster fail: Gabby has found a permanent home with Trisha. The two of them have put in a tremendous amount of work together, building trust, and slowly but surely chipping away at the…
Alumni Update: Henry (James)
October 2023 Update on James’ weight gain progress at almost 3 months after adoption! The first photo shows him when he initially arrived, while the second photo showcases his current appearance. Notably, he has been successfully building muscle in his shoulders and has significantly reduced his rib visibility.
Getting to know Scotty
When we intake a horse who we know for a fact has had a riding background, we are equal parts hesitant and hopeful. There is a chance that what the horse has been taught will make for a relatively easy re-start — the mere fact they have been saddled before eliminates some speculation as to how that is going to go. Of course, there are always many variables that make it so that we always treat a…
Independent Inula
A few months back, we split up the Gig Harbor horses around the property — integrating them into herds, or otherwise facilitating a change of scenery from the paddock they’d been quarantining and living in up until that point. Mother and daughter, Ciara and Inula, were both involved in this separation, and at the time we had prepared ourselves to deal with the fallout of separating a pair who…
Ciara’s Saddling Journey
Ciara came to us as part of a larger seizure in Gig Harbor, alongside a tableau of horses who, aside from their lack of proper care and handling, were, as is the nature of all living creatures, of varied personalities. The ‘easiest’ of the bunch were Ciara’s daughter Inula, along with Wren, who were relatively uncomplicated as far as horses who haven’t had much quality handling go. Meadow and…
Say Hello to Jupiter
Animal Control seized Jupiter back in December of 2022, but his case was ongoing for so long that we were prevented from talking about him until very recently. He, much like the others who were a part of his seizure, was placed in a foster situation where SAFE supported him from afar. But when his foster reached out to us that she could no longer house him, we made plans to bring him here to the…
