Let’s not forget Oscar!

Oscar, if you recall, was returned to SAFE by his adopter, having regressed a great deal from the horse he was behavior-wise when he was adopted. After his return, we started noticing some lameness in his front right leg. Dr King of Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital…

Good News about Phoenix!

We are excited as to how well Phoenix’s recovery has progressed! We are now riding him daily for about 45 mins of walk and trot work along straight lines, and he has remained sound through it all! Our next steps include introducing turnout in a small pasture; trotting…

Video: Lucky Under Saddle

Lucky is going beautifully under saddle! He has strengthened over his top line and built up a good amount of muscle over his back. He is holding a nice self carriage and has an easy walk, trot, and canter. Lucky is ready to show First Level dressage this year and and…

New shoes for Cameo

We have been working with farrier Jake Cowden to help Cameo’s club foot by adding shoes. We’ve been making very slow and subtle changes to her hooves, but already we are seeing signs of improvement. She is striding better in the front with lots more toe flip instead…

Finn, Making Progress

I have been riding Finn for about a month now. He is a gentleman for tacking up, he stands for mounting and dismounting, walks off and halts when asked and yields his hindquarters and shoulders from both the leg or guiding reins. He is comfortable at the walk but has…

Ben has a sweet spot…

…and Steph knows right where it is! This is a happy horse.   Ben is steadily gaining weight and winning the hearts of our volunteers! He is a sweet boy and very smart and willing to work. We are just lightly working him at liberty and adding a little bit of…

A rough month for Lola…

Lola has had a difficult month. She was becoming sour to work at the trot and canter about 4 weeks ago and we starting to question the saddle fit, other things that might be causing her discomfort and possible behavioral issues. She had been going so well this change…

Bridgit training update from Kim Lacy

From trainer Kim Lacy: “Bridgit is doing well. She’s very sensible, she just has a lot of energy. Now that we are doing more “work” she is better focused. The biggest issue with her right now is she is pretty weak in her hind end and over her back and she does get…

Kai Update

Kai is doing wonderful for both his riding work and behavior. He is getting to spend a few nights a week in the arena for turnout which has been great for his energy level and training rides. We are working right now to clear up some thrush in his front feet. Wet…

Karma Liberty Work video

Karma and Terry have been working together at liberty since Karma’s rescue. If you recall, when she came to SAFE, Karma didn’t want to have much of anything to go with anybody. Working with her at liberty, Terry has established a beautiful bond with Karma and is…

Emmy Under Saddle Video

Here is the lovely miss Emmy working under saddle with SAFE volunteer rider Steph W. Does she look to you like a fun horse to ride? She must be because everyone who rides her says they never want to climb off her! What a beauty!

Lovely Karma

Here are some recent photos of our girl Karma, who continues to make phenomenal progress in partnership with Terry. In the under saddle photos you might notice that there is some string tied around Karma’s nose…Terry explains, “That string holds the bit up in…

Introducing the 2015 SAFE Board of Directors

First off, I want to thank all of our supporters and volunteers for making 2014 an amazing, incredible year for SAFE. We are finishing the year in such a strong, healthy place, and we truly did it as a Team. I am so proud of this organization and what we have been…

Rocky Update!

Thank you to Rocky’s wonderful foster mom Kellie for this update on our boy! Rocky is gaining weight, as evidence by the picture (somewhat) and his medium blanket (which is now very tight). He is eating about 3+ flakes of hay at day. (We just keeping putting more in…

Ben has been identified…

We’ve checked Ben’s tattoo and discovered that he is a 2004 gelding named Babe Hoolihan, bred in Washington state, and raced twice as a three year old. (He came in dead last in both races, so obviously horse racing didn’t suit him.) In 2009, he was rescued from an…

Nala Intake Photos

We picked Nala up today from the Pierce Co Animal Control holding barn. She loaded into the trailer without a fuss, and made the successful trip to Poulsbo where she will begin working immediately with trainer Matt Olson. Here are her intake photos, along with video…

Ben at Safe Harbor

Ben arrived safely at Safe Harbor Stables and Terry & Laura spent some time with him, getting him cleaned up and taking photos. As we suspected, this guy is a sweetheart! 

Ben Intake Photos

We picked up Ben today from Pierce County Animal Control. He’s a 12 year old Thoroughbred gelding, tall, chestnut, with a blaze and one hind sock. He was picked up by Animal Control after a pizza delivery driver found him running down the road — he was in pitifully…

Thank you Pilchuck Vet Hospital!

Over the course of the past year, SAFE has been extremely fortunate to have received donated veterinary services from Pilchuck Veterinary Equine Hospital. Their expertise and generosity has made it possible for us to perform diagnostic work on horses that we wouldn’t…

The Paddock Paradise Project

Turnout. Every horse owner wants to provide more of it, but that’s often easier said than done. Land is expensive, and here in the Pacific Northwest, our winters and our horses can turn a lovely pasture to mud faster than you can say “What happened to my lovely…

SAFE Values Statement

SAFE is currently going through an exciting period of development and growth, and as a result, we’ve had the opportunity to take a closer look at who we are and why we choose to do the things that we do. Having defined these values for ourselves, it seemed to make…

Owen Training Update

Owen’s work under saddle with trainer Matt Olson is proceeding right on schedule…our curly boy is now walking, trotting, and cantering with a rider. If you’ve been following Owen’s story, you’ll know that we’ve all been a bit surprised at how well he’s done in his…

Things We’re Thankful For

It’s the time of year when we like to look upon our blessings and be thankful, and the SAFE family has so much to be thankful for. Many of our blessings walk on four feet, and some are bigger than others, but none are bigger than Strider, who gives us 18 hands of…

Rocky Update

An update on Rocky, our champion fighter! After intake, Rocky was transported immediately to Cedarbrook Veterinary to begin his rehabilitation. Hoof care specialist Daphne Jones (The Bare Horse) was called in to begin the process of addressing his severely neglected…

Emmy training update

We sent Emmy into training with Larry Plagerman two weeks ago, and got a great update. She’s been going WTC under saddle for a week now. The only issue she’s had is picking up the left lead. She is very right canter dominant and just needs to learn to function on the…

Lucky’s Low Bulk Diet

The past few months have included some health challenges for our dear friend Lucky. He had a mild colic episode, requiring the vet to come out and administer Banamine and fluids. He responded well, but about a week later he had another colic episode. When the third…

Phoenix in Rehab: Happy Update!

We had Dr. Krauter out last week to check on his progress with his front left suspensory rehab. She flexed him and he trotted clean!! His rehab has been progressing over the past 3 months, and he’s up to 10 minutes of trot per session. With this “all-clear” flexing,…

Skye under saddle

And picking up her lovely feet to go over poles — at speed. Good girl, Skye! 

Ginger Update!

Look, it’s Ginger!! Her adopter Monica N shared this cute photo on Facebook, saying “Since you all haven’t seen her in a bit, here is Miss Ginger after her first body clip!  I fall more head over heels for her everyday! Thank you!!!” Thank YOU Monica, we are so happy…

A visit with Sapphire

SAFE Volunteer Manager Heather shared these photos of Sapphire on the SAFE Tumblr page. I asked her to fill us in on how our girl is faring at her foster home. “I take lesson there on Saturdays,” Heather explained, “and I get to spend time with Sapphire. She spent the…

Trotting with Owen

One week under saddle and Owen is making astounding progress with trainer Matt Olson. Check out this video, taken at the end of Owen’s lesson last Thursday. Did you notice how willingly Owen walked over the “bridge” from the trails course? How about that reinback? All…

October Training Report

Phoenix had a hard month concentrating under saddle. He continues to look sound on the front but does come out of his stall pretty stiff both in the front and hind. He had quite a few naughty days this month mostly due to work, noise, and activity at the barn that…

Finn Update

We’ve had a setback with Finn’s soundness this month. He has had some slight stiffness and isn’t looking as comfortable as he had been. When farrier Jake came to put on his new shoes last week, we noticed a bruise next to his frog on the right front. There was no…

First ride for Karma, and more great news!

I have to say this little grey mare has my heart right now! She is making great strides in her rehabilitation and there is a lot of hope for the sweet side of this mare breaking through. She was very cautious when she first came to Safe Harbor and we made sure to take…

Stella the Brave and Beautiful

Stella is growing up nicely and has become much more consistent for other people to handle. She is easy to catch in turnout and happy to get groomed. She is still a little shy about letting people handle her feet but that’s continually improving too. She is a very…

Owen’s Week

Last week was a momentous one for Mr Curly Horse, and we could not be more proud of the amazing progress this horse has made. Monday’s accomplishment was a successful first standing hoof trim. Matt’s been working with Owen on picking up his feet since he took over his…

Hay from the Bin

Phoenix thinks hay from the bin tastes better then hay in a bag or on the ground! 

Another trail ride adventure for Skye, Skittles, and Lola

We took a big group to the Redmond Watershed today for a trail ride: Skittles, Skye, Lola and Debi’s horse Summer. It was good to go out on a busy trail day so we could see more people, bikes and other horses. All the horses did very well. Skittles was a great leader…

A change of plans for Chip

Chip returned from foster care to Safe Harbor about a month ago and we had high hopes about getting him started in our training program. But with the chance to observe him in motion, we’ve seen some signs that a career as a riding horse might not be the best thing for…