Rehabilitated horses thrive thanks to SAFE rescue
By Denise Whitaker
Aired on Aug 2 2013
WOODINVILLE, Wash. — There’s been an increase in horse rescues in recent years and the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers have been there to help in several cases.
But what happens after a horse is taken away from an abuser or a neglectful situation?
In the case of Corona, a 12-year-old thoroughbred, he was nursed back to health by Save a Forgotten Equine, or SAFE.
“When we took corona in he was a rack of bone,” SAFE Director Bonnie Hammond said.
Corona’s in the prime of his life and now a winning show horse with Sheridan Jones at the reins.
Jones was a volunteer with the non-profit SAFE when it rescued Corona — neglected and suffering from injuries too graphic for some — from deplorable conditions.
His hooves were horribly split and cracked, but SAFE volunteers nursed him back to health. Jones fostered Corona during his rehabilitation and then she adopted him.
“Corona is an amazing example of why the work that SAFE does is so important,” Jones says.
Jones will be riding Corona in the horse show SAFE puts on to raise money for its rescue efforts.
“With the economy the way it has been the past 5 or so years, the horses have taken a really hard hit,” Hammond says.
Hammond says they need about $13,000 a month, to properly care for the 28 to 30 horses they foster.
Corona isn’t the only example of SAFE’s good deeds, just last year, Problem Solvers showed Mr. Pibb — yet another example of an abused horse — thriving today.
“And he’s turned out to be a talented horse, a beautiful horse and a great friend,” Jones says.
SAFE’s big horse show runs all day Saturday and Sunday, August 3–4, at Donida Farm in Auburn, Washington.
The free show features rescued horses and others available for adoption, plus the Seattle police mounted patrol will entertain the crowd Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m.
More information:
Other ways to help SAFE are to donate online, become a sponsor, volunteer, in-kind donations, or helping out with wish list items.
