Community Outreach
SAFE’s Community Outreach program is meant to help horse owners who want to keep their horses but are having difficulties doing so at the present time. For circumstances of exceptional need, we can provide short term assistance with hay, vet or farrier care, as well as gelding surgery or humane euthanasia.
IF YOU ARE NOT LOCATED IN WASHINGTON STATE, WE ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST YOU. SAFE has a limited amount of funds available each year to help horse owners who are facing temporary financial difficulty. Because our funds are limited, we can only help horses and horse owners who live in Washington state. If you are located outside SAFE’s area, we suggest you contact a rescue organization closer to home. You can find a list of rescue organizations who may be able to help you at https://homesforhorses.org/member-directory/.
CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS: SAFE is currently at full capacity, and is only able to accept horse intake requests from county animal control programs. We have other ways to assist horse owners in need, please read on for a full list of our Community Outreach Program offerings.
The following types of assistance are available to applicants in need of help:
Hay Bank
Sponsored by the Jester Estate
Horse owners struggling to feed their horses can apply for short term assistance from SAFE’s Hay Bank. You must be located in Washington State to apply for this assistance. You must demonstrate financial need and you must also have a plan in place to be able to afford future care of your animals. Hay will be purchased by SAFE from your feed store, and you must pick up your hay within 1–2 days of order and transport it yourself. Please submit your request by filling out the Outreach Application below.
Gelding Surgery
Sponsored by the Marion and Richard Graham Foundation
If you own a colt or stallion, we may be able to help him become a gelding, either by negotiating low cost gelding options on your behalf or by paying these costs directly. This is a no-questions-asked service that SAFE provides, and while it is our intention to help horse owners in need, we will gladly pay for gelding surgery for anyone who asks. You do need to have the ability to provide your horse with the necessary after care following the surgery. Please submit your request by filling out the Outreach Application below.
Assistance with Vet or Farrier Care
Sponsored by Tulalip Tribes Charitable Contributions
Horse owners who are facing a temporary financial setback may apply for assistance from SAFE for routine or emergency vet care or farrier care. You must demonstrate financial need and you must also have a plan in place to be able to afford future care of your animals. Funds will be paid directly to the equine professional providing this care, and we are happy to work with any legitimate veterinarian or farrier in the local area. Please submit your request by filling out the Outreach Application below.
Serenity Fund (Humane Euthanasia)
Individuals with horses facing old age, illness or injury, or documented behavioral problems can apply for assistance with humane euthanasia and removal. You must demonstrate financial need. To inquire about obtaining assistance, please submit your request by filling out the Outreach Application below.
Rehoming Your Horse
SAFE has a very limited amount of space in our program to take in horses that are at risk of neglect or abuse. We have a firm cap of 30 horses in our rescue program at any given time, and priority for those spaces goes to Animal Control seizures and horses in desperate situations who are facing imminent neglect.
Before you ask SAFE to take your horse, please ask yourself this question: is my horse in danger of being neglected or abused? If the honest answer is no, please take responsibility for your horse by finding a new home yourself. We have information on our website that can help you rehome your horse safely and responsibly:
If you have made a genuine attempt to rehome your horse but are still unable to do so, please submit a request for assistance by filling out the Outreach Application below. We can discuss your situation and offer advice, and possibly post your horses to our Mayday group on Facebook to drive potential adopters or buyers directly to you.
If you are unable to complete our online application form, please contact us at outreach@safehorses.org or click here to download a printed application form and mail it to SAFE Horse Rescue, PO Box 2769, Redmond WA 98073–2769
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