The best part of an Adoption Manager’s job…

The best part of an Adoption Manager’s job… a “thank you for saving her” hug from a little girl who is over the moon for her very first pony. It just doesn’t get much better than that. Congratulations to Stella who took Maggie home with her today! You two have fun now!!

read more

Everett Herald: Horses’ owner may be charged with animal cruelty

Horses’ owner may be charged with animal cruelty By Herald Staff Published Oct 4 2013 SNOHOMISH — Police here are recommending animal cruelty charges against the owner of two horses that apparently were so poorly cared for that one had to be euthanized. The case was investigated in August and September, Snohomish Police Chief John Flood said Thursday. The owner initially was given a chance to…

read more

2013 Q3 Impact Statement

New Horses Intake Date: July 17, 2013 Sapphire (owner surrender via Regional Animal Services of King County) Intake Date: August 31, 2013 Dottie (owner surrender) Intake Date: September 13, 2013 Atticus (City of Snohomish Police Dept) Scout (City of Snohomish Police Dept) Placed Horses Kai River April Euthanization Logan (Hospice program, pain & discomfort due to neglect) Scout (severe pain…

read more

A happy ending for April

We’re not going to beat around the bush because we have some great news to share: April has been adopted. On Saturday, she left SAFE Harbor Stables with a professional hauler to travel to Equamore Horse Sanctuary in Ashland, Oregon, where she will have permanent home for life. She arrived safely and is already settling into her new home. We’d like to take a moment to share the full story of how…

read more

Ginger Goes Off To School!

We are so excited to announce that Ginger is off to a foster home and training with Kim Lacy, owner and trainer at Hidden Falls Farm in Arlington. This little mare has a special place in our hearts and by luck we found an amazing opportunity for her. Kim Lacy is a very experienced and accomplished rider who has been looking for a way to get involved with helping rescue horses. On a visit to her…

read more

Kat Goes a Little Country!

We had a little dress up fun with Kat this last week and she looks amazing!  Sara E., one of our fabulous volunteers, brought her western barrel saddle over to Safe Harbor for us to borrow.  The western saddle is heavier than the English saddle that Kat had been using in the past and it has a rear cinch that prevents the back end of the saddle from rising up in working situations.  I’m sure this…

read more

September Volunteer of the Month: Carrie Gouldin

Carrie Gouldin came to SAFE at the perfect time: our new Barn Manager, Terry, needed some help to get the barn in order and to manage the horses during some vacation she had planned. Carrie was ready, willing and able to fill both of those needs, and she came to us with an impressive resume of horse experience! She worked almost full time for the month of August while she was between jobs. Very…

read more

Checking in with Misty!

Here is the latest and greatest from Lisa who is fostering and training Misty, and keeping our girl very busy it sounds like: We have had our challenges but overall Misty continues to progress. We had a nice trail ride on Tuesday, up to Rattlesnake Lake again. She only had one moment of spookiness where she tried to back up/go sideways back to where we came from but I felt that it was justified…

read more

Meet the “new girl” Sapphire!

This lovely creature is Sapphire, a 9 year old Arabian mare who was rescued from a neglect/abuse situation. She came to us with lacerations around her hind legs from being tangled in rope, several feet of her tail burnt off, and some alarming behavior. She’s been sequestered at NWESC for the last seven weeks while Dr Hannah worked on her injuries and got her accustomed to being handled and now…

read more

KING‑5: Rescued neglected horse set to compete in equestrian event

Rescued neglected horse set to compete in equestrian event Posted Sept 20 2013 A neglected and near-starved horse that was rescued three years ago by King County animal services is now thriving and set to compete in an equestrian competition this weekend. Delilah was one of five horses seized from a southeast King County farm in January 2010. Officials found the then-pregnant, underfed mare…

read more

Updated photos of Sapphire and a video too!

Terry had this to report about Sapphire, who has been at SAFE Harbor for one week now: “She was a great girl today. Stood for grooming, all good except for back feet, we didn’t push it today. She haltered a few times and over all just took sometime letting her know I’m a friend. She is very sweet with lots of nickers when you go to her stall.” Here are some photos that Terry took of Sapphire…

read more

Sapphire Intake Information

Sapphire was living in a situation of neglect on a local reservation. Animal Control officers in King County had been monitoring the mare’s condition for a period of time, but when tribal police found her running loose down a road, SAFE was called in to negotiate a surrender with the horse’s owner. Sapphire was signed over to SAFE, and taken immediately to NWESC for treatment of several wounds…

read more

Miah Brings a Smile

It has been a delight to get to know this gentle little flower. Miah is always happy to greet you in the pasture or in her paddock. She has a very soft and pleasant demeanor and her beautiful big eyes make your heart melt. I’ve started to ride Miah over the last few weeks and while she was cautious at first, I’ve quickly gained her trust and I’m enjoying our time together. She is a very willing…

read more

A minute with Moonshine!

Moonshine enjoyed some time in the arena to stretch his legs and play. He took the opportunity to show off some of his fancy moves!

read more

Jewel Comes Home To Safe Harbor

When I was told that Jewel would be moving back from foster, I was warned she had a history of being a bit of a stinker.  I thought for a long time on how to prepare the barn for this little rebel and what ways I could set her up for a successful transition.  We played a little musical stalls and left an open space between her and the other horses to ensure no kicking or broken fences to mend!…

read more

Meet Dottie!

Dottie is a tall and beautiful Thoroughbred mare, who came to us via a pair of good samaritans who helped remove her from an abusive owner. She is reportedly a former broodmare who was approved by the Westphalian registry, but she’s had a difficult life and has fallen in and out of rescue situations for many years. Her guardian angels arranged transportation to SAFE in Woodinville, and we are in…

read more

Bucky B Lucky day at the races

Emerald Downs invited members of SAFE to come down to the track today and set up a table. We asked and were granted permission to bring Sunny and Shasta along for the day as well. It was the mini’s first visit to a race track, but they decided to try their luck at handicapping the races and even printed up their Hot-To-Trot pick sheet to share with other racegoers. I ponied up $10 for them to…

read more

Sweet Smellin’ Ginger!

What Arabian girl doesn’t love her hair products and pampering?  Well until this matted tail little mare had met me, I’m not sure how she survived without spa treatments and pampering!  As you may know from earlier reports, while Ginger’s previous owner allowed her to eat at much as her round body could take, her skin and grooming were neglected.  If the mat in her tail, the size of a toy bat,…

read more

The Constant Gentleman: Portland

If you have yet to meet this amazing gelding, I wanted to give you just a little taste of what it’s like to know this special horse.  I lovingly call him my “boyfriend” because he embodies a strong, caring gentleman who would undoubtedly take long walks on the beach and read poetry to you near the fire.  He is a real charmer! In turnout, Portland plays kindheartedly with Chance and knickers in a…

read more

Checking in With Bridgit

Bridgit is an endearing youngster, her occasional moments of baby brain are quickly forgiven when she looks at you with her innocent charm. She spent the summer in the company of my older boss mare, learning how to be a respectful member of a herd. She was a very quick learner, and the two girls are now pretty well bonded. I have been working with Bridgit on learning the basics she will need to…

read more

Healing thoughts for Summer…

Please think good thoughts for Summer…she went down in her pasture this morning and for a while it didn’t look like she was going to get back up. Thankfully she’s up on her feet again and our vet is on the way out to see her. We’ll have an update later today, meanwhile we are hoping and praying that she is okay! UPDATE: Summer has been seen by the vet and everything seems normal. She was a…

read more

Moonshine is ready to graduate!

Moonshine has finished his training and will be coming back to SAFE Harbor Stables this Friday. His trainer, Andrea Lucianna, told us that there have only been three SAFE horses that she seriously wanted to keep for herself…Delilah, River…and…Moonshine. She said if he was just a little bigger, she’d find a way to work him into her program. Moonshine is a nice, nice horse with a sweet…

read more

SAFE Horses

SAFE News and Updates