Unsticking Sienna
To work with a horse is to embark on an archaeological mission of sorts, uncovering within both the horse (and yourself!) hidden spots of trouble. Sometimes such spots are obvious — a horse who is worried about the flag flapping, or rope around their feet, or a…
Training Update: Pepper
Pepper was saddled for the first time last June, and has come a tremendously long way since then. These days, she’s riding in the big arena more often than not, and is learning how to carry herself with more balance and straightness. It’s hard to imagine this little…
Curious About George?
George is more than ready to find his forever home! He is a 4‑year-old Yakima Reservation gelding with a personality that much exceeds his 13.3 hands. Started at the end of 2020, George is going phenomenally under saddle – walk trot lope – with the potential to go…
All Grown Up
There is one certainty in this life — time will pass. Sometimes like molasses (often when we are in less than pleasant situations, reclined in the dentist’s chair, or when waiting on an important phone call — the seconds slug along) but more often than not it seems…
Alumni Update: Shortbread and Whisky
We recently got an update on these two cute buttons! Whisky and Shortbread are lucky to enjoy grass time and Sherry says they sometimes get the zoomies and it’s fun to watch them run and roll around. She said “They are both so sweet and a joy of her life.” [gallery…
Alumni Update: Billy
Billy’s family sent a few photos from the past year. Marin had this to say about our Billy: “Billy is doing great! He somehow gets sweeter and more curious every day. I can now give him kisses on his face, braid his forelock, touch his ears freely and without flinches…
Jacob’s Progress
Jacob has been under saddle now since the beginning of this year. He was the easiest of his compatriots to saddle, but that does not mean that he was the safest. Jacob is perfectly easy to get along with if you both have the same ideas about what to do, but as soon as…
Alumni Update: Orion and Roxanne at the Derby
Check out these photos of Roxanne and Orion at the French Creek Pony Club derby a few weeks ago! They are beautiful! Roxanne said “We had just the *best* day at the French Creek Derby, and came home with a blue ribbon! We did a BN combined test, so dressage and cross…
Tiva is Making Friends
Go Tiva!! Last week, she met quite a few new two legged friends and just a couple days ago she let Candi walk up and halter her! We captured it on video so you have to believe us! She’s still a bit shy and can get upset if pushed and doesn’t feel free to move her…
Bijou in the Round Pen
It’s been a busy first few weeks here at SAFE since Bijou arrived. Now off of Quarantine, she had her first set of vaccines, dental float and microchipped. She also got a lovely pair of front shoes from our farrier and was a super star for it! Here is a short little…
Training Update: Nova
Long-legged Nova will celebrate her 4th birthday this November. In the meantime, she has been working on her physique with some trot pole work. We think that Nova has it in her to really take on some fences one day, but for now, we will stick with cavalettis.
Alumni Update: Flynn
Kirsten had this to say about Flynn: “Flynn loves being adored by all the kiddos who come to our farm. I’ve noticed as his confidence has improved as a 1 eyed horse he has helped build the confidence of the more timid kiddo riders! He truly is a special pony with the…
Otto Enjoying Summer
Sunshine, soft, fluffy dirt and playing with friends are the best reasons to lay down for a nap…everyday…several times a day. It’s usually the position Otto is in when our volunteer photographer visits the property. (Thanks Kristina!) He can’t be bothered to get…
Training Update: Rae
Rae, who was born at SAFE in November of 2018, has blossomed into quite the nice mare! This summer she has been in regular work in preparation to meet adopters — when she’s not out grazing with her buddies Nova and Valentine, she’s in the round pen going over trot…
Ruckus is Adopted!
Ruckus was one of five horses surrendered to SAFE in 2016 after their owner passed away unexpectedly. He and his friends came to SAFE in good health, but with very uncertain futures. Ruckus quickly became a volunteer favorite, and we delighted in the way this tiny…
Training Update: Rope work with Esme
Esme has had a busy summer, spending much of her time learning to wear a saddle (some days, it’s easier than others) and drilling the groundwork basics on the regular. One big hurdle for Esme has been getting comfortable with the rope touching her — her back, her…
Gabby Meets the Halter
Trisha has made such amazing progress with Gabby, that we got behind on sharing her last milestone! Here you see Gabby realizing a halter is no big deal.
Tilt is Adopted!
Tilt was adopted in March 2021 along with another horse friend, Valentine, a 16 year old sweet chestnut mare, but due to unfortunate circumstances, both made their way back to SAFE. Tilt was only back at SAFE for a few short months before catching the eye of one of…
Montana’s Mountains and Valleys
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same applies to the education (or re-education) of some horses. Montana’s arrival at SAFE coincided with the end of summer last year, where we were spending lots of time picking up fallen apples from our trees and starting to think…
Alumni Update: Aiden
Maeve and Copper (formerly named Aiden) in a July 4H gaming show. What a photo!! Next stop for these two is the Pierce County and State fairs!
Training Update: Edward
In addition to his work under saddle, we have been spending some time sending Edward over trot poles to aid with strength and conditioning. It is always a treat to watch the floaty way horses move over poles, and this handsome boy is certainly no exception! Check it…
Cramer Making Strides
Cramer has made some huge strides (but with legs his length, maybe it’s just a normal stride for him) the last several months here at SAFE. It wasn’t all that long ago that he was first learning to walk from paddock to round pen, a relatively short distance that once…
Hooves of Glass
Remember when Darla blew an abscess, way back in January? The shockwaves of that are still being felt all the way now in August. There was a sweet spot a few months back where she was sound, and we thought that we were in the clear. But it was not to be. Shortly after…
Rodeo Fundraising Results
Written by our volunteer, Debbie Meyer. As you may have heard by now, this year’s Heart of the Horse fundraiser was a huge success, raising an all-time high of $320,000! Most of that money was raised at the Heart of the Horse Barn Party. However, contributing to the…
Handsome Horse Modeling School
Horse, or hat model? These days when he’s not wearing a saddle, Artie Shaw entertains with displays of handsome stoicism to rival any fashion week editorial. I jest, of course – a hat perched atop his head is not a common look for Artie. And while I’ll be the…
Welcome, Pomme and Dolly!
Sometimes, the rescuing begins before horses even arrive at SAFE. When the horses now known as Pomme and Dolly were first seized by animal control, they were in rough shape. Pomme, a 25-year old sorrel grade mare, had the concavity between rib cage and spine that is…
New Horses, Sebastian and Bijou!
Sebastian and Bijou were found abandoned at the Tree Farm in Arlington. Snohomish County Animal Control posted publicly searching for their home, but after no one came forward, they were released to SAFE. Bijou is a 10 year old Quarter Horse mare who is very sweet and…
George: One of the Guys
George is one goofball of a gelding. His curious nature got him his name, and he lives up to it every day. But this tendency to dive head first into the world can get him into a bit of trouble, especially by his horse-peers. George isn’t always the most receptive to…
Dental Day for Montana
It took a while to get here, but Montana had his first dental this week. Getting a sensitive horse like Montana OK with being haltered and caught is one thing, getting him to the point where he is OK with the rigamarole of a dental float is quite another. It means a…
Echo is Adopted!
After catching the eye of Brittany at the June Joel Connor clinic, she went home and told her family about this sweet pony. They gave SAFE a call and we talked about where Echo was in her training and the work needed to help her. We all agreed they were capable to…
Mac is Adopted!
Mac headed to his new forever home in mid June. This confident gelding followed our staff right up onto Jerre’s beautiful trailer. He was great on the ride home and was slowly integrated with his new four legged girlfriends. Which was a perfectly drama free…
Tiva is Haltered!
Our Operations Director, Terry, was able to halter Tiva for the first time here at SAFE, just last week. What is not shown in this video is the preparation in getting to this moment — the hours that were spent with Tiva in the round pen getting her to hook on, roping…
Our Annual Auction, Saturday July 23rd!
The property is abuzz with staff and volunteers preparing for our annual auction, Heart of the Horse Barn Party, this Saturday, July 23rd. We are excited to host the event on SAFE’s property after holding it virtually the past two years. Even though it’s a sold out…
Sparky-ing Joy
The novelty of meeting new horses as they come through the gates of SAFE never gets old. The horse person in all of us lights up with every new arrival — each new equine could be the very first one we’ve ever met, considering the way we act. And not to say that the…
Valentine on Fox 13!
Our sweet Valentine was featured by the Limelight Pet Project this last Sunday on Fox 13! If you missed it, no worries, check out her full story by watching the video below. Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Limelight Pet Project who help shine the light on…
Catching Eddie
Edward has, as all horses do, an almost preternatural ability to read humans. When I think about a horse like Edward — really, when I give thought to horses in general — I am filled with amazement that they allow us to do even a quarter of the things that they do. So…
A Walk With Cameron
One of our long time volunteers, Monique, who walks Cameron once a week, wrote this about him and it melted our hearts. “Our sweet boy Cameron can see us a mile away, Is that a bucket?! Oh, time for my walk! He’s always eager against the gate, messy face nose dive in…
Nyx is Adopted!
Congratulations to our big boy Nyx! Lindsay first made the journey from Oregon to meet Nyx 3 months ago. The two hit it off and the plan was made to continue Nyx’s training for a couple of months before heading to his new home. The training would end with Lindsay…
Daisy is Adopted!
Foster fail alert!! When Daisy headed to foster at Shellie’s home back in February 2021, we didn’t know that she wouldn’t return, but we are happy to hear Shellie fell in love and refused to give her back. In fact, she said she couldn’t imagine life without her so she…
George, in focus
These beautiful photos of George, taken by Marika Moffitt, Owner of SoulDog Creative (formerly Dirtie Dog Photography), showcase two versions of George — the spunky, athletic gelding moving out in the roundpen, and the observant, brave fellow ready to adventure out…
George is a Carrot Man
Did you know dewormer is flavored? Apple, usually, though I’m not about to test that personally. Still, flavor or no, there are certain horses who prefer the tube not even enter their sight, thanks very much. George is one such fellow, who recoils at the merest brush…
June Joel Conner Clinic Update: Tilt
One of our horsemanship volunteers, Sue, had this to say about working Tilt in the most recent Groundwork Clinic with Tilt: “I was happy to have the opportunity to do groundwork with Tilt at the June 2022 Joel Conner Clinic. Tilt is a young mare, one of the Fall City…
Freya is Adopted!
It’s not everyday we get a horse like Freya, who is not only sweet, but also writes letters! When Manuela adopted Freya and picked up her up last month we had no idea Freya would be the one who would keep us up to date on how she was doing. I’m not sure why we were so…
Barb, the Houdini
If you know horses, you know their proclivity for finding themselves in less than ideal situations. Barb, a mare too smart for her own good, recently got herself into one such scrape when she decided to liberate herself from her paddock by tunneling beneath her fence.…
June Joel Conner Clinic Update: Pepper
One of our volunteer riders, Sue, had this to say about riding Pepper in the most recent Joel Connor Clinic: “I was so excited to get to participate in the riding portion of the June, 2022 Joel Conner Clinic at SAFE. It was my first chance at this, and I was very…
Chip and Dale Update
Some miles from SAFE, nestled on a little slice of paradise, Chip and Dale continue to thrive at their foster home. These two sweet boys spend their days cavorting around their dry lots, luxuriating (under careful supervision) on green grass, and being doted upon by…
Bliss is Adopted!
A year and a half is the average time a horse spends with SAFE before being adopted. Bliss, our sweet, blind mare, was in our care for 5 weeks before being adopted to the absolute perfect family! Emily and her family had previously adopted SAFE alum, Beauty, but had…
Alumni Update: Phoenix, King and Sinatra
SAFE friend and 3‑time adopter, Lauren, shared some recent photos of Phoenix, Sinatra and King. The picture around the round pen looks like they are planning their next prank to play on the cattle!
SweetHearts of the Rodeo is Underway!
The Heart of the Horse “SweetHearts of the Rodeo” campaign is underway! We’re going to raise $40,000 for the horses at SAFE in the most fun way possible! Twenty one SAFE horses are competing to be named “Rodeo Queen”, “Rodeo King”, and “Rodeo Clown” for Heart of the…
Gabby Picks Up Her Feet!
Foster parent, Trisha, has made huge strides with SAFE’s first mule, Gabby! Here’s what she had to say: “Here are some Gabby videos of her learning to pick up her feet. Figuring out the right way to balance has been tricky for her, but she’s catching on. She is doing…
