Stella learns to halter herself!

I have been working on catch and release games with Stella. She is a very timid girl but is coming along nicely. We have been practicing with the halter and her putting her own nose down into it. Finally got someone to hold the camera for me so I can show you all. She…

Emmy Intake Photos

Welcome a new horse to SAFE! Emmy was seized by Pierce County Animal Control after she was discovered abandoned on a property with a huge herd of starving pigs and cattle. While the owner of the animals was identified and charged with cruelty, he apparently fled the…

Stella is learning!

Stella is learning to pick up her hooves softly without kicking. The rope allows us to desensitize her and get her used to picking up her feet at a distance where the handler can stay safe. She’s come a long way in the two weeks we’ve been working with her. By the end…

Sapphire to training with Kim Lacy

The next lucky SAFE horse to work with trainer Kim Lacy is Sapphire, who made the move to Hidden Falls Farm in Arlington today. Here’s Kim with her new student, ready for action!

Water, water everywhere!

Something wonderful happened over the weekend at Safe Harbor Stables, something that will have a tremendous impact on the lives of the horses who live there and the volunteers who care for them. To truly understand the scope of this, keep in mind that in the two years…

What’s so remarkable about this picture?

So what’s so remarkable about this photo of Owen? It actually represents some pretty amazing progress that our newest gelding has made over the past several weeks. Owen is now allowing himself to be caught easily in his paddock when it’s time for a ground work…

Thank you, farrier Jake Cowden!

We’re starting to understand Finn’s lameness issues a little better, thanks to Dr King who has determined that Finn a few hoof related problems going on. He does have chronic laminitis, but that does not appear to be the cause of the lameness we’ve seen. The lameness…

The way to Stella’s heart

​Here’s SAFE volunteer Lisa doing some expert scratching on the (formerly) shy Stella. Apparently the way to this sweet mare’s heart is through her withers! 

Who doesn’t love a happy ending?

Here are SAFE we are so fortunate to have some great equine professionals on our team! Take for instance, Kim Lacy. Kim is a dressage trainer and rider who specializes in the Arabian breed. She is quite active on both the local Arab show circuit as well as in…

Kat’s found her person!

We’ve said all along that Kat was a one-woman horse. After all, Kat isn’t the type to give her heart away to just anyone. She’s not the sort of girl who has hundreds of casual acquaintances. But she is the sort who is a friend to the end, once she decides to let you…

Pictures of Stella

I had a chance to visit with Stella and Terry today. Stella is the prettiest little thing! 

Stella’s education begins…

Terry has started working with Stella at liberty in the arena, giving her the chance to stretch her legs and learn a thing or two about approaching people. Fortunately she loves scritches, and that makes this introduction period a lot easier!

Chip makes new friends

Here’s Chip, making some new friends and behaving like a perfect gentleman around the young 10yr old that was grooming him. He would make a great companion horse for another gelding. Low man in the order so he doesn’t try to dominate other horses. Since he was a…

Lola at the Show!

  Terry and Lola, with vital assistance from Heather, went to the Hollywood Hills Schooling Show this past weekend. It was Lola’s first horse show outing since Terry has started working with her, and she was a great girl! The pair competed in Walk/Jog and…

The Further Adventures of Owen the Gelding

Owen joined the ranks of happy geldings everywhere this week, when he underwent a successful procedure to rid him of his family jewels. Getting there was a bit of an adventure, but now that he’s a gelding, Owen starts the next phase in what is sure to be a wonderful…

Stella Intake Photos

Stella was signed over to SAFE today by Snohomish County Animal Control. She’s a tiny thing, still thin, but otherwise looking much improved from the photos taken of her a few weeks back by SCAC. Stella was one of two horses seized by SCAC in early May 2014 due to…

June Training Notes

Perhaps this is obvious, but we are just so proud of our horses! Every single one of them faced tremendous challenges in their lives before being rescued, and the courage and bravery they show us during their rehabilitation and retraining is nothing short of…

Happiness is for horses

Ruby was moved to her new foster home for the summer a few days ago. She and Jewel will be sharing Jackie’s lovely horse pasture for the next several months, soaking up the sun and enjoying life as only horses can. Here’s a video taken on the day of her arrival as she…

Alumni News: Miah of the Mountain

Here’s a great update from Miah’s adopter, Heather! Hi everyone, happy spring, Finally! Miah has been with me now for about 6 months. We did little during the winter except survive, although that time was well spent, Miah is home and I think she knows that. I was able…

Tarp training for Cameo

Cameo is pretty brave, but she’s not fond of loud or sudden noises. So Terry and Laura are working with desensitizing her. Here is Cameo’s first attempts at moving over a noisy tarp. Laura is very good at helping Cameo know she can take her time and think about it.…

Lola videos and update

Here are three new videos showing Lola’s progress under saddle. We’re also super pleased to report that Terry has had a couple of her volunteer riders working with Lola, and she has been as good for them as she is for Terry! Clearly, Terry and her team have unlocked…

Tarp training with Lola and Skye

Playing with desensitizing using the big blue tarp. Lola wanted to eat it! Skye had seen it before working with Dave but she pretended at first that it could eat her.

Sometimes fairy tales do come true

We could not be happier to officially announce that Atticus has been adopted! Our sweet old man has found himself a wonderful new home where he will live out the rest of his life in comfort, and receive the kind of care that he has always deserved. We’d like to thank…

Ginger Makes Us Smile

We are overjoyed to update everyone on Ginger’s progress! This girl has made such a wonderful transformation under Kim Lacy’s training. When we contacted Kim about taking on a SAFE horse to foster she happily accepted and offered to donate her training services and…

The girls are back!

Cameo and Skye graduated from training at the end of April and returned to Safe Harbor Stables to continue their education under Terry’s guidance. The two are settling in nicely, and are both healthy, happy, and feeling good. Terry’s been giving them both some…

A home for Savannah

We are delighted to announce that our sweet Savanah has been adopted!!! Congratulations to SAFE volunteer Sandi N who met Savannah at SAFE and forged a strong connection with this lovely mare. Savannah is now living at her new home which she shares with a mare…

Saving Summer

We said goodbye to a dear old friend this week. Surrounded by adoring friends, at the farm she’s called home for the past few years, Summer was humanely euthanized. Summer’s health had been slowly failing over the past six months or so, and she was starting to have a…

A Big Day for Owen

Today was full of new experiences for our man Owen. As you know, Owen is a stallion, and it has always been our intention to change him into a happy gelding, as we do with all intact male horses that end up in our rescue program. When we agreed to take Owen in, we…

A visit with Strider and Chip!

I had the pleasure of visiting Strider and Chip at their foster home yesterday. Both boys are looking fabulous and enjoying the onset of sunny weather now that spring is here. Their foster mom, Heather, says that the two of them are best buds, and will stand as close…

Spray bottle? No problem, says Jewel!

Terry and her team spend time teaching the SAFE horses the small but important skills they’ll need once they’re adopted. Some of the horses still object to the spray bottle (I’m looking at you, Kai!) but Jewel is completely unfazed. [gallery link=“file”…

Her Name is Lola…

We’ve been a little quiet on the subject of Lola, but that doesn’t mean that everybody’s favorite Sassaloosa hasn’t been hard at work behind the scenes. Lola’s actually doing really terrific right now and we want to get everyone up to speed with what’s been going on…

From the Horse’s Mouth: There’s Something About Owen

If you follow Honeycutt’s blog, you know that he shares a lot of secrets about horses and their interactions. Today’s update on Owen comes straight from the horse’s mouth… Owen is a new SAFE horse who lives here with me for now. There’s something about Owen that is…

Skittles is Ready!

We’ve had a lot of good things to say about Skittles since she arrived at SAFE after her rehabilitation at NWESC. Let’s recap: She’s beautiful. A bright chestnut Arab with a big wide blaze and three white socks, she’ll catch your eye for sure! She’s healthy. NWESC did…

Dottie Belle

Here’s our Dottie, enjoying some bodywork from Pilchuck’s Dr Meyer:   photo by Deunan Berkeley

Skittles Training Update

Skittles did very well on the trail ride Sunday. She is very brave, liked to lead, and had a go button. Overall she stayed calm and listened well. She would have loved to run up the hills but I was able to keep her at a walk. She was fine with the other horses too. I…

Ruby Red

Ruby is a lucky horse who has an entire community behind her, pulling for her recovery! She got a visit today from one of her major benefactors, SAFE supporter Bernice S, who spent some time with our girl in the company of SAFE president Debi Shatos. Debi reports that…

Good news for Jewel?

Dr King of Pilchuck Vet Hospital came out to SHS and donated her time to give lameness exams to some of the SAFE horses. We asked her to take a look at Miss Jewel, and her assessment of Jewel’s crooked leg was not half bad. In fact, she told us she’s seen perfectly…

Time off for Oscar

Oscar has been showing some front end lameness since his return to SAFE. This lameness, which appears to be in his right front leg, isn’t noticeable at the beginning of a ride, but seems to get progressively worse as he is exercised. Dr King of Pilchuck Veterinary…

Trail Ride!

Volunteer Sara E rode Kat on a trail ride this weekend along with Terry and Skittles. Sara was able to compare this ride with one she and Kat went on a year ago. Not only does Kat know Sara better now and trusts her, she is also clearly feeling much better in her own…

Dottie and Eve

Lovely photos taken today of Dottie with her best friend Eve! 

Unbridled Joy

Sara, who is SAFE’s Vice President and Adoption Manager, keeps in touch with many of our adopters through Facebook, and a few days ago, she saw this lovely photo, posted by Karen who adopted Zanadu from us. When Sara asked Karen about it, she received this beautiful…

Skye is now cantering under saddle!

We are just delighted to share this video with you of Skye cantering under saddle! Huge thanks to Andrea Lucianna and everyone at Half Trak Farm for this wonderful work. Watch closely in the video and you’ll see SAFE alumni pony River (adopted by Jenny Lucianna)…

Handsome Atticus

Atticus is back at Safe Harbor these days, and he’s looking like a million bucks! He’s an exceptionally handsome Arab gelding, and now that he’s no longer bony and thin, he’s looking really good. He even has a cute little belly! Now that Atticus is healthy again, he…

The Amazing Owen

Owen had made so much progress since our last update, but yesterday was a stellar day for this fine young man. Owen is now wearing a halter — on his face! But before we tell you how that milestone was reached, we have to say a great big thank you to Jenny M, who you…

Ruby’s Recovery

Ruby continues her slow recovery at NWESC, where she is getting hands-on care and attention following the birth, and passing, of her foal. She is definitely not out of the woods yet, but her condition has stabilized. Initial blood tests revealed that she was severely…