Banner Intake Photos

Banner Intake Photos

Thank you to Kristina Oden for these lovely pictures of our new boy Banner. 

Slim’s Hoof: A Summary and Where We Are Today

Slim’s Hoof: A Summary and Where We Are Today

We’ve been fighting a losing battle with Slim’s foot. Every time we think we’re making progress in getting him healed, another abscess pops up and the crack in his foot becomes even bigger. Because this has been going on for such a long time, let me summarize the…

Getting to Know Alder and Pearl

Getting to Know Alder and Pearl

Our two new bay beauties, Alder and Pearl, have settled in well to their new digs at Safe Harbor Stables. We have taken the first step in separating them, and they are now in two individual but neighboring paddocks. We never know how that first step will go when two…

Rain Rain Go Away

Rain Rain Go Away

With the recent and ongoing deluge of rain rain rain rain rain, we get calls from people concerned about horses they see standing outside in water, getting wet. As horse people, we know that most horses, when given a dry shelter to stand in, will choose to stand…

Meet Pepper!

Meet Pepper, formerly known as Filly #125! This little one is proving to be brave, smart, and kind… with a good stubborn streak in there as well! Pepper likes her living area (a three sided shelter with mats), keeps it quite tidy, and has decided that her Timothy hay…

Spending Some Time with Beauty

Spending Some Time with Beauty

Beauty is doing great at SAFE. She has completed the intake process and has settled into the routine of the barn. Her dull starvation coat is shedding away and soon she will be shining like a copper penny. She is very gentle, likes attention and is a kind mare. She…

Training Update: Cyrus

Training Update: Cyrus

Cyrus has finished his first month of professional training with Donohue Horsemanship and all reports are good. He is a good guy and is learning to be more accepting of the work. No major issues but at this time, but Cyrus will still need an experienced hand to help…

Fall City 40 Horses Update

Fall City 40 Horses Update

If we’re being completely honest, taking on 24 wild horses in the dead of winter seemed like an impossible task, even to us. But we have successfully placed 11 of the seized horses into good homes with experiences handlers, and two more leave this week. That leaves 11…

The Limelight Pet Project Features Renee and Angel

Thanks to The Limelight Pet Project for featuring Renee and Angel! The Limelight Pet Project is a campaign local to Washington that shines a light on harder to adopt pets and the people who help them. We’re delighted they chose these two lovely ladies to share this…

The Limelight Pet Project Features Mara

Thanks to The Limelight Pet Project for featuring Mara! The Limelight Pet Project is a campaign local to Washington that shines a light on harder to adopt pets and the people who help them. We’re delighted they chose Mara to share this month on Q13 FOX. Here’s the…

If Horses Could Have Dentures: Amelia’s Dental Update

If Horses Could Have Dentures: Amelia’s Dental Update

We are now two months post-colic for Amelia and we’re pleased to say that she’s doing great! We haven’t seen any signs of pain from her for some time. Shortly after she returned from the hospital, we still saw minor signs of discomfort, but those have disappeared.…

The Problem with Mara’s Eye

The Problem with Mara’s Eye

A few weeks ago, Mara’s left eye appeared to be hurting. She was squinting, had ocular discharge, and started trying to rub the pain away by scratching her head on the fence post. Dr. Renner from Rainland Farm came out to do an eye exam and found that she had a very…

Farley Gets a Forever Home

Farley Gets a Forever Home

We are happy to announce that Mr. Farley has found his FOREVER home! He joined SAFE Alum Pyrrha and the two have hit it off. When Pyrrha’s pasturemate passed away, she was doing ok but having a buddy is an important thing for herd animals. We are glad that she…

Fall City 40 Update

It’s been about a month since the remaining Fall City 40 horses were seized in Enumclaw. These 24 horses have all been signed over to SAFE now, so we have full responsibility for their housing, feeding, and vet care, and we are taking steps to find homes for as many…

What’s New with Wind

What’s New with Wind

Sometimes things go as planned, and sometimes plans can change. Before Wind arrived at SAFE, our staff reviewed prior vet records, spoke with animal control officials, and made the unanimous decision to welcome her into our hospice program. We prepared ourselves to…

Mina Training Update

Mina finished her 60 days of professional training with Nick Donohue and made her way back to Safe Harbor Stables. This big beautiful mare has a gentle personality and the foundation to make some one a great riding partner. Since back with us she has spent some time…

Luna Finds a Home

Luna Finds a Home

Dear Luna has been ADOPTED! She has been placed with a lovely family living outside Ashland Oregon. Luna’s adopter Heather had visited her while in training with Nick Donohue and fell instantly in love. Heather really appreciated the training foundation Luna had been…

Asha Makes Her Way Home

Asha Makes Her Way Home

Miss Asha headed to her adopters and the pair is doing great. Makia spent a few weeks at SAFE learning to work with Asha and forming a special bond. All the hard work has paid off and they are ready to start their life together at home. We were so glad that we were…

Horses Rescued in Enumclaw

Horses Rescued in Enumclaw

Answers to FAQs• yes, these are the horses we called the Fall City 40• these horses are in a secure location, with food, water, and shelter• these horses are in sheriff’s custody now, but will be signed over to SAFE soon• SAFE is covering the cost of their…

A Big Year for Zoe!

A Big Year for Zoe!

What an amazing year Zoe is having. She had her first rides, 30 days of professional training with Nick Donohue, her first trail rides, and two amazing clinics with Buck Brannaman! She is gentle, endearing, and a solid citizen all around. The two areas we are still…

Meet George!

Meet George!

Back in August, we were called upon to help find homes for a group of wild horses we dubbed the Fall City 40. In the two weeks that we had access to these horses, we placed 14 of them into new homes. We also ended up taking one of the horses into our rescue program.…

And Just Like That, They’re Yearlings!

And Just Like That, They’re Yearlings!

It’s hard to believe that our three resident bundles of joy were born over a year ago! Nova, Rae, and Pippi have blossomed into beautiful young ladies, full of life and personality. We have enjoyed watching them grow and are looking forward to seeing what their…

A Plot Twist for Lacey

A Plot Twist for Lacey

At the most recent Joel Conner clinic, Lacey went into season and we saw some less than desirable behavior from her. She has a history of being sensitive around her flank region, especially when she goes into heat. She’ll squeal and make it known that she is not at…

Cassidy is a Riding Horse!

Cassidy is a Riding Horse!

Little “Baby” has sure grown up! A lot has changed for her since her arrival at SAFE, but more recently she has become a riding horse! We put in a lot of preparation and patience to get her ready to start this next chapter. During the September Horsemanship clinic,…

A Beauty in the Making

A Beauty in the Making

We’ve now known Beauty for a little over a week. She’s still on our standard intake quarantine for another week so we haven’t been interacting with her too much, but she’s proving to be a sweet mare with a desire to connect with people and other horses.  Beauty came…

SAFE Mailing Address Change

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Someone broke into SAFE’s locked mailbox over Thanksgiving. We don’t think any mail was actually stolen, but we can’t be certain. IF YOU RECENTLY MAILED A CHECK TO SAFE, please contact Bonnie Hammond at 206–331-0006 or bonnie@safehorses.org to…

Millie makes progress!

Millie makes progress!

Millie has been doing great! She was worked in the Horsemanship clinic at the beginning of November and was a star. Joel used her in a round pen “join up” demonstration and showed how to help her be more accepting of the rope. Very simply put, he would swing the rope…

Growing Pains

Growing Pains

Piper is in a growth spurt right now. She looks a bit awkward with her long legs and high haunches but that is a phase that will be over soon. We have turned her out with several different buddies and she seems to get along nicely with a variety of personalities. This…

Cameo: Joel Conner Clinic Report

Cameo: Joel Conner Clinic Report

Cameo took part in the first day’s groundwork session of the November Joel Conner Clinic. Here’s what Scott had to say about the experience: I worked with Cameo for just one day of groundwork. She was the easiest horse I have worked with at SAFE. She took a couple of…

Cyrus: Joel Conner Clinic Report

Cyrus: Joel Conner Clinic Report

SAFE volunteer Phoebe T has been working with Cyrus on groundwork and saddling. Here’s her report about the November Joel Conner Clinic: First off it was a privilege to work with Cyrus for 3 days in a row. He went from being constantly distracted on day 1, to being…

Amelia: Joel Conner Clinic Report

Amelia: Joel Conner Clinic Report

SAFE volunteer Jennifer A got to work with Amelia on the ground at the most recent Joel Conner clinic. Here’s what she had to say about the experience: I was so excited for the opportunity to work with Amelia at the Joel Connor groundwork clinic. It was my first time…

Remy’s Return From Training

Remy’s Return From Training

After months of chiropractic adjustments and careful rehabbing, Remy seemed as recovered as he could be from his back issues and went back to training with Nick Donohue. Nick brought him along slowly and mindfully, being sure to pay close attention to the situations…

Adorable Miss Mara

Adorable Miss Mara

Mara is arguably one of SAFE’s cutest current residents. Although she is still reserved, she has begun to come out of her shell and let us get to know her a little better. At first she didn’t want to admit it, but she eventually caved and allowed us to see how much…

Getting to Know Farley

Getting to Know Farley

Farley has settled in well here at Safe Harbor Stables. We have gotten to know and love his gentle personality and sweet nickers. Although he is shy, he does seem to enjoy the company of people and will seek out attention from his caretakers. He and Butter are quite…

Joel Conner Clinic Report: Fancy

Joel Conner Clinic Report: Fancy

Casey had this to say about Fancy’s performance in both the Buck Brannaman clinic in October and the November Joel Conner clinic: Fancy has had a busy and productive couple of months. In October, we rode with Buck Brannaman in Spanaway, which was a great experience.…

Butterscotch: Joel Conner Clinic Update

Butterscotch: Joel Conner Clinic Update

Lori helped Butterscotch get introduced to horsemanship in our recent Horsemanship clinic. Here is what she had to say about working with this smart senior mare: Butter came to SAFE about a month ago. She’s a sweet girl but didn’t understand much about horsemanship. I…

Butter’s New Look

Butter’s New Look

Bathing Butter has been something that we’ve wanted to tackle due to her perpetually grimy, shaggy haircoat. The hope was that a bath with a medicated shampoo would help her be less itchy. None of the oral supplements and antihistamines that she’s been on have seemed…

Amelia’s Trip to the Hospital

Amelia’s Trip to the Hospital

Sweet Amelia has battled GI issues since before she arrived at SAFE. But so far, we had only seen her have one colic episode, and it was a minor one. But just before Halloween we found her down in her turnout, not wanting to get up. She hadn’t finished her most recent…

Understanding PPID (Equine Cushing’s Disease)

Understanding PPID (Equine Cushing’s Disease)

We’ve taken in several “shaggy” senior horses lately. Honeycutt, Butter, and Mara all came to us looking suspicious for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and all of them tested positive. Last year, our cute pony, Sage, also got the diagnosis. PPID, also…

Luna Finishing Training

Here are some highlights from Luna’s training with Donohue Horsemanship in Banks, Oregon at the end of 2019. SAFE is thankful for all their hard work in helping us offer such well trained horses to the public. What a great foundation this young mare has received!…