A Lifetime of Safety Means Being There for Our Alumni—Always
Miss Pepper recently returned to SAFE after a routine alumni check revealed she was no longer being ridden regularly. She was living in a paddock with two other mares, receiving good care, consistent feeding, and companionship from both horses and humans. Overall, she…
Alumni Update: Kelly
We recently received an update on Kelly from Dr. Heather and Laura: Kelly came to Steven’s animal sanctuary in 2023, when she needed a retirement home. She was a SAFE favorite for her gentle spirit, but she was older and struggled with lameness and some hoof and skin…
May Joel Conner Clinic Report: Deja Vu
Meghan N worked alongside Deja Vu in the May Joel Conner groundwork Clinic, and has the following to say about her experience: “Over the past three days, Deja and I had the opportunity to learn and grow together during the Joel Conner Clinic. This mare is incredibly…
Is Alvaro the Next Lionel Messi?
Alvaro has been brushing up on his soccer skills since he learned the World Cup is coming to Seattle next year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQujeYRByuE&feature=youtu.be
Nadia: “More than just a horse…”
Nadia’s backstory as a rescue horse is harrowing, and it’s pretty fair to say that it’s lucky she made it to SAFE alive. She was part of a huge Animal Control seizure back in 2010 involving 18 equines and 55 canines, who were discovered living in filthy conditions. At…
Poppy in May
Casey A has been working and riding Poppy since her earliest days under saddle, and has helped her grow into a confident and level-headed partner. At the most recent Joe Conner clinic, Casey took her out for a little spin in the outdoor arena amongst the groundwork…
May Joel Conner Clinic Report: Ranger
Lexee N has been (re)starting Ranger under saddle, and says the following about their experience together at the recent Joel Conner Clinic: “The more we ride Ranger, the more we learn about his history. This clinic has brought us to a pretty strong opinion that Ranger…
Why We Love Her: Tiva
Lily has been working with Tiva, and talks about one of the many reasons why she loves her — apart from her impeccable comedic timing, that is. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/duTqpJITVIQ
Venturo is Five Months Old!
Venturo turned five months old last week, and he sure is turning into one handsome little colt! He is a sweet and curious little fellow, one who very much appreciates scratches and a good romp on grass with mom, to whom he is baring a striking resemblance these days.…
Trinket Under Saddle
With only a handful of rides, Trinket is coming along great. We are keeping things short and sweet (just like Trinket herself) but this smart little mare is a fast learner! She is quickly getting the hang of coming up and down through the gaits on a feel, and recently…
Cleo and Deja Move to Care Fur Life
Having a community of trustworthy organizations in our network that can call on us for support — and vice versa — helps us to help more horses, not to mention each other. In exchange for taking Hayden into our program, Care Fur Life took in not just one, but two of…
Eda’s First Saddling
Eda was the first of the Valentine herd to wear a saddle, after making her way through our groundwork checklist swiftly and without a lot of trouble. Her first time being cinched up was, as you can see, pretty mellow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x‑S48RcX5m0 But…
Quincy (and Thistledown’s) New Home
SAFE’s promise to our alumni is that they will be safe, forever. Quincy’s adopter’s life circumstances had changed, and in the long term she would be unable to support Quincy and his herdmate, Thistledown. She asked for our help to rehome them — an incredibly…
Alvaro Having a Ball
Alvaro’s ball was temporarily lost, but this week it made a reappearance, much to his delight. This guy is perfecting his technique ahead of the world cup, running drills every day now. His athleticism is something else, and his energy supply never seems to end. He’s…















