SAFE Horses

SAFE News and Updates

Oscar: A Perfect Gelding…A Perfect Gentleman

Oscar: A Perfect Gelding…A Perfect Gentleman 

Oscar came to SAFE as a stallion, one of 16 horses seized from a breeding operation by Pierce County Animal Control in Dec 2011. Oscar had been starved and badly neglected. As a breeding stallion, he’d lived a life of isolation and was aggressive and “studdish” towards humans and horses. Oscar was gelded immediately after SAFE took possession of him, and for a period of a few weeks, he was only…

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Chance/Waldo

Chance (formerly CBER Waldo) is a 13yo (1999) 16.1hh Bay TBx gelding. As a youngster, he flunked out of bucking horse school and was rescued from slaughter by SAFE.  Currently ridden English; previously had some dressage training and an introduction to jumping.  Also has trail experience.  He is healthy, sound, UTD on all vaccinations and feet.  He has bilateral fibrotic myopathy which is a…

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Fall Work Party Thank You! 

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the world’s greatest team of volunteers for their hours of hard work donated on Saturday, September 22nd. Record turnout and hard work made a lot of improvements to SAFE Harbor Stables happen. SAFE appreciates everything our dedicated volunteers do for our horses. Additionally, we would like to thank the following individuals/business: Patti…

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A new day for Khianna 

The past several months have been a journey for Khianna. She went into training last June to be restarted under saddle, but unfortunately, she had some issues with bolting. Andrea put a lot of time into trying to work through these issues, and felt that Khianna’s bolting was a fear-based response that was developing into a learned behavior. She tried a number of different training methods with…

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Louie’s new foster home 

We’ve gotten a great update on Louie who moved to a great new foster home this past weekend. We’d also like to welcome Lisa to the SAFE family as a new foster “mom”! Louie has settled in great at his new foster home. He and the other Arab gelding — Shazam — have hit it off. In addition, we have a lot going on in our neighborhood — sometimes screaming kids on the trampoline across the road,…

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2012 Q3 Impact Statement 

New Horses Intake Date: July 1, 2012 Opal (owner surrender) Intake Date: August 18, 2012 Noah (owner surrender) Intake Date: September 15, 2012 Charmeon (former SAFE horse, returned by owner) Placed Horses Ego Afire Euthanization Dexter (behavioral problems)

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Miah goes to training! 

Miah is off at the trainer’s to get re-started under saddle. She’s already trotted under saddle and Andrea reports she’s doing great and easy so far. We’ll have more updates on her progress soon, but for now, here’s a picture of our lovely girl after her first bath! Doesn’t she look amazing?

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An afternoon visit with Marta 

Thank you to Marta’s foster mom Eileen for this wonderful update and video of our girl! Marta is doing well. She is sleek, shiny, a wee bit plump, perhaps, and getting fuzzier as the cool weather sets in. It is a little hard to judge her ideal weight because she was a brood mare for most of her life as I understand it. Consequently her “trim” may be a little more rotund than another horse. Marta…

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Goodbye Dexter

Goodbye Dexter 

This will not be an easy post to write. I’ve already made four or five attempts to get started, writing tired cliches…like “Letting a horse go is never easy” or “We know we can’t save them all” …and then hitting the delete key. Staring at an empty page. And finally putting the task off for another day. But when you run an organization based on transparency, you have to be as forthcoming with…

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Charmeon joins the SAFE Harbor herd 

Charmeon graduated from her refresher training course this past weekend and made the trip down to SAFE Harbor Stables where she’ll be staying while she waits for her perfect adopter to come! Char is a sweet and friendly mare who, as you’ll see from these pictures, is not at all standoffish! Rather than pose for my camera phone, she came over to say  “I’m ready for my close up!” Updated to add…

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Chance’s Big Trail Ride 

An update from Chance’s owner, Sandy: “Chance has been doing great on the trails. I have taken him on a few rides by himself and although he needs a confident rider he has done great. Yesterday he went on a 5 1/2 hour ride for the first time with two horses he had never met before. He did awesome. He lead for a bit, was in the middle and bringing up the rear. He still doesn’t like to go through…

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SAFE Tool Drive Information 

Do you have extra tools cluttering your work bench? Can you really use three hammers at once? Pining for a shiny new lawnmower, even though your old one is perfectly functional? Donate your surplus unwanted tools to SAFE! We need just about everything to stock our tool shed for the upkeep and improvements going on every day at SAFE Harbor Stables! Right now we borrow tools from our volunteers,…

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September Volunteer of the Month: Sherry Leake 

After a short hiatus to support the July move in, and the August Benefit show…Volunteer of the Month returns in style. Please join me in congratulating the September Volunteer of the Month, Sherry Leake. Sherry is a hard working and dedicated SAFE volunteer who does farm chores on Saturdays and fills in other times when help is needed. She was a tremendous help during the move to SAFE Harbor,…

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April Update 

April has been on pasture rest for several months due to showing some signs of lameness. We’re looking forward to her beginning to come back slowly at the end of the month and we know she is too. She needs to be in work to keep her weight in check and she gets bored silly if she’s not played with regularly. One thing is certainly true about April and that is she is a sweetheart. Visitors to SAFE…

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Tilly & Moonshine Update 

Here’s a great update from foster Jackie L who cares for Moonshine and Tilly: Moonshine has found a place in my heart. Each morning I stand on the deck and call his name, and he replies with a whinney. Sometimes he runs to the fence to say good morning up close and personal. We are still working on manners and personal space, and I regret to admit I don’t spend as much time with him as I’d like.…

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Maggie Video 

Our little Maggie is making great strides! Here is video of her first canter as a SAFE horse!

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Maggie Update & Video! 

Training Update, Aug 28, 2012 Maggie was put into the training program in order to address some significant fears about allowing her hind legs to be touched or handled in any way. She has made great progress in this department and just yesterday was deemed “almost normal” by the farrier. We have also discovered that she has had some under saddle training. She had her first ride a few days ago…

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Thank you…to whom?? 

An adorable electric weed eater mysteriously appeared at SAFE Harbor Stables last week. It is lightweight, quiet, and very efficient. Here are some before and after pictures…it will be so nice to have this little helper to keep the areas close to the barn neatly trimmed. Sincere thanks to the mystery donor, please let us know who you are! We still need donations of lawn equipment and tools! SAFE…

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Misty Training Update 

Here’s an update on Misty from our trainer, Heather Roe: What can I say about Misty? This little mare is a super star! She has now been to two shows where she won her classes both times and has was steady and unflappable both times. Her training is progressing right on track and I am currently focusing on getting her more balanced in her canter. She has just been started on small lateral…

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Aiden Training Update 

Aiden is such a good boy! His newest skill is walk/canter transitions and although he does not always give the right lead, the transitions themselves are getting more and more consistent. He is very responsive to seat and leg aids and is a very fun and steady ride. He is growing again and is just shy of 15.1! With his naturally calm temperament and willing attitude he is going to make a great…

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Kat Update! 

Kat has been in regular work for just over a month and so far she is a very steady and level headed mare at the walk and trot. She was ridden by one of our novice riders at the SAFE show and did great! Her canter work has proven to be a bit of a challenge as she does not seem very confident in her ability to balance at the canter. Our trainer, Heather, is working her in the round pen where she…

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Louie Training Update 

Louie is back in regular work some time off for some chiropractic issues. He is feeling significantly better under saddle and is now willing to bend, work laterally and stretch long and low. His canter work is still developing but he is now able to sit down and use his back and the canter is getting more round and balanced with each ride. On a fun note, he was walked over to the alpaca farm with…

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Lola Training Update 

Lola is now consistently working over small jumps and was shown over fences at the SAFE show, where she placed 3rd. She has proven to be a bold and willing jumper and I think the next step is to try her over some cross country jumps. She has been steadily improving in her flat work as well and her lateral work is getting stronger with each ride. She is a sensitive mare that requires a tactful…

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