Alumni Update: River
SAFE Volunteer Debbie M recently visited with SAFE Alum, River; his humans, Wendy and David Z; and “big sister”, Ameli, at their beautiful 5‑acre property in Snohomish. River arrived at SAFE in December 2012, along with two herd mates as part of an owner surrender…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Artie
Kirsten L has been riding Artie for several months, and brought him in to the March Joel Conner clinic. Here is her report on the experience: “Mr. Artie Shaw is quite the gentleman! This was my first riding clinic with Joel and Artie was incredibly patient with my…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Bandit
Kirsten L has been working with Bandit for well over a year now, and has the following to say about their time spent together during the March Joel Conner clinic: “In working with Bandit at our 6th Clinic together, the saying ‘one step at a time’ rings true. This 27-…
Alumni Update: Betty & Eleven
A SAFE alumni volunteer recently checked in with Betty and Eleven and their adopter, Cindee. Cindee admits these lovely mares are quite spoiled and are living the life every horse dreams of — plenty of running space, a heated stall in winter (Cindee’s husband wants…
SAFE Horse Rescue: Autumn’s Journey
The goal of any animal rescue organization is to help their charges return to the happy, healthy individuals that nature intended them to be. It’s a mission that the volunteers at SAFE Horse Rescue in Redmond have successfully completed more than 300 times over the…
Rest in Peace, Lancelot
Every once in a while, we are reminded of just how delicate horses actually are. While announcing the loss of one of our herd is never easy, this one is a bit more painful than most. During his first saddling, in a freak accident, Lance broke his leg. While a broken…
Alumni Update: Piper
Piper’s adopter, Talia, recently provided an update. It’s been a long time since I gave a Piper update! We’re all trying to get in shape for spring with hikes up the big hill. The Arabian (Nova) led the way, and Piper and I did just a little huffing and puffing behind…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Edward
Kaya M has been riding Edward as of late, and the two of them participated in the March Joel Conner clinic together. Here’s what Kaya has to say about their time: “Edward and I had a little set back a couple months ago in the process of getting more life and have been…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Theo
As a young guy just starting out in our training program, the goal for Theo is to keep things light. We’re working to develop his balance and strengthen his confidence while wearing the saddle. Theo continues to get softer and is showing great improvement with…
Snohomish Animal Control Officer Training
This past week, SAFE hosted two of Snohomish County Animal Control’s newest officers, Sarah Weaver and Ashlynn Trujillo for a day of hands-on education. Even for those with knowledge of horses, encountering an unknown horse in the field presents its challenges and…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Frosting
There are many things that we adore about Frosting but the overarching theme is her kind heart. As her understanding of the work grows so does the partnership with her handlers. Over the last few weeks she has been getting ridden consistently at least 4 times a week.…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Barb
Barb is named so because back when she was a wild thing, veritably feral as part of the Fall City 40, she ran herself through a barbed wire fence. This would not be Barb’s only brush with fencing, as several years later she would tweak her back crawling out of her…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Blanche
Lexee N, who has been working with Blanche since her arrival at SAFE, put the first rides on this lovely lady at the end of March, and has the following to say about her: “This mare! Blanche has been checking boxes left and right since she’s arrived at SAFE. She’s…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Wren
This mare has “try” in spades! One of the sweetest mares on the property, she is eager to meet you at the gate, accepting of everything asked of her and lets out the cutest nickers when you dismount. She LOVE her tummy scratches when you take off the saddle and…
Autumn Will Soon Run Free
SAFE takes in a lot of unhandled, untouchable horses…mostly because a lot of unhandled, untouchable horses end up at rescues. It’s not against the law to let a young horse grow up without giving it an education, but uneducated young horses can grow up to be unwanted…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Jupiter
Lexee N has been working and riding Jupiter for several months, and recently brought him into the March Joel Conner clinic. Here’s what she has to say about this handsome guy: “Jupiter is one of the sweetest, dopiest guys you could ever meet. And although his demeanor…
March Joel Conner Clinic Report: Pepper
Candi K, who has been working with Pepper since her return to SAFE, rode this cute little mare in the recent Joel Conner clinic. Here’s what she had to say about their time together: “When it comes to our sweet Pepper, Cher says it best in her song “Just What I Have…
Look Ma, No Reins!
Part of a horse’s education under saddle, perhaps the most basic yet complex thing they learn, is how to steer and stay hooked on to a rider’s line based on leg alone. Frosting, who was started last year at SAFE, demonstrates in the video below just how well she is…
Alumni Update: Emma
Emma continues to enjoy a nice life with her adopter Jan, herd mate Galaxy and two goats, Seamus and Sequoia.
Dorothy Health Update
Dorothy came to SAFE from Pierce County Animal Control after being seized from a neglectful situation. PCAC does a tremendous job of vetting and rehabbing the horses that come into their care before they even come to SAFE, but Dorothy came to us still in need of a…
Alumni Update: Rae
Christina and Rae attended the March Joel Conner Horsemanship Clinic at SAFE. Here is an update from Christina. What a whirlwind of a week! Rae and I are still processing all the great things we learned at the Joel Conner Clinic at SAFE last week, but it was all SO…
Alumni Update: Billy
We recently checked in on Billy and as you can see from the photos, he is doing well and is a happy, curious little guy.
Alumni Update: Angel & Renee
Best friends Angel and Renee continue to enjoy retirement together. Renee is the boss mare in their herd of pasture mates. These two have found a comfortable, peaceful home with Carla.
Alumni Update: Sebastian (Sparky)
Sebastian, now known as Sparky, is having a happy retirement in the herd at Carla’s. Sadly, Alumni Camille, Sparky’s best SAFE buddy, passed on in September 2023. But he enjoys the friendship with SAFE Alums Angel and Renee who are also part of Carla’s herd.
Esme’s Abscess
Pop Quiz: your horse, who was sound as a music note yesterday, walks out of her stall with a major head bob the next morning. Do you: A. PANIC! Something serious must be wrong, and the vet needs to come out immediately! B. Treat it like an abscess — soak the foot in…
Alumni Update: Lucy
Alumni volunteer Lisa G recently contacted Diane and has this update on Lucy. Diane and Lucy made the move to Colorado in early 2023 and, after some adjustment to the new environment, soil, etc, they are both thriving! Diane has found an amazing community there, from…
Alumni Update: Irene (Honey) & Khianna (Kiki)
SAFE recently checked in with Irene (now Honey) and Khianna (now Kiki). Both horses are well taken care of and well loved! Photo is of Stanalee, Kiki and Honey
Ciara’s Crossroads
We talk a lot about ‘time’ here at SAFE, the time it takes for a horse to reach certain milestones (varied), the time we give them to get there (endless, for the most part). But to frame this in a linear style is not always the most accurate. Yes, the paths some…
Alumni Update: George
We received an update on George from Ana. Doesn’t he look amazing all grown up?! “George and I got to sneak in our first after-work ride of the year. The sunshine is coming and we need to work off some winter chub with our pony friends!”
Alumni Update: Gunnar
Gunner is a very happy boy and is well taken care of and looked after by his adopter, Carrie, who loves him to pieces.
Alumni Update: Zoe
Zoe is doing really well and is very bonded to the other horses in her herd. She enjoys going on rides on the many trails accessible from her family’s property.
Addie is Adopted!
With the sound of a trailer door shutting, another Graham horse is out the door. Addie has found her family! Madison and Nicole came to SAFE looking for a horse who could also participate with Madison in her Washington High School Equestrian Team (WASHET) events.…
Theo’s First Saddling
Theo wore a saddle for the first time at the end of February. It seems like just a handful of days before that, Theo was having his first groundwork sessions… and that’s because he was. The forward progress of this sweet guy has been swift and easy, making him…
Aries Seeks New Home
We are helping to get the word out regarding the rehoming of one of our alumni: Aries. Aries was adopted back in 2021, but due to family circumstances, is currently looking for a new home. Aries had been a riding horse before she came to SAFE, and though she’d had…
Alumni Update: Cassidy
Cassidy continues living her life to the fullest with her adopter Brianna
Transformations
Gradual change can be difficult to see, especially when what you have in front of you is almost impossibly different than what once was. Below is a quick before and after of a few SAFE horses, and their nearly unbelievable transformations over the years at SAFE.…
Thanks for the Work Party, Bishop Blanchet!
Though it may technically still be winter, property maintenance is a year-round job! Last Friday was our inaugural work party of 2024, where we partnered with Bishop Blanchet High School for their first annual Staff & Faculty Day of Service. We had 14 members of…
Alumni Update: Gabby & Caramel (Cara)
Alumni volunteer Candi K. recently went out to visit alumni Gabby and Cara and provided this lovely update: “Imagine yourself on 20 acres surrounded by the beauty of the Northwest and views as far the eye can see with a picture-perfect red barn and matching farmhouse…
Covering Ground(work) with Lance
Wearing a saddle for the first time is not an overnight process. For a horse like Lance, who came to SAFE last May as an unhalterable stallion, that process might be a little longer. But with no timelines in place, Lance is being given all the preparation he needs for…
Blanche’s First Saddling
Blanche has been an ‘easy’ horse from day one. The fact that she allowed us to halter and lead her with some quality right out of the gate put her in a higher percentile than the majority of our intakes. But because we didn’t know a lot about Blanche’s past, we had no…
Champagne is Adopted!
We are breaking out the bubbly, because little Champagne has been adopted! Champagne arrived at SAFE as a very nervous little stallion who was averse to being caught or handled. During his time at SAFE, we spent daily time with him, working to teach him that people…
American Trucks Positive Payload Program
We love our truck. It is every much a working member of our barn as the living, breathing individuals who give their time for the horses. It has picked many a horse up from deplorable conditions and helped transport them to their new lives. It has shepherded many…
Volunteer Education: Horse Health
This past Saturday, our volunteers braved the cold to attend a Horse Health class, taught by former SAFE staff member Melinda Couvillion. It was a terrific presentation, and the volunteers who attended learned some very interesting facts about horses (did you know…
Alumni Update: Nashville
Here’s a March 1st update from Anna, Nashville’s adopter. Well, I haven’t updated on Nashville lately so here she is, sneaking past me and making a mess in the hay while I clean stalls. Guess I’ll clean that up next:) She has been on stall rest for a couple of weeks…
Lacey in the Sunshine
Have you seen a cute red mare recently? Even if the answer is ‘yes,’ it’s never a bad time to see another. When the sun is out at SAFE, Lacey never misses an opportunity to find the most optimal spot for a sunbathe. When the light hits her just right, she looks like a…
Jupiter’s Soundness Evaluation
Jupiter’s great red spot, as it were, is a slight hitch in his step that we first noticed when restarting him under saddle. In our efforts to better represent our riding horses as we move them into the ‘adoptable’ category, we had our vets out to evaluate Jupiter’s…
Artie Shaw, Friend to Many
If SAFE had class superlatives, Artie would definitely win ‘friends with everyone.’ He is the horse that most other horses (at least if they’re geldings) first meet, and for good reason. Artie’s mellow demeanor around other horses helps introduce even the most…
Theo’s First Groundwork Session
We speak a lot about time here at SAFE — specifically as it relates to giving a horse the hours, weeks, months, years they needs to gain. Gain weight, gain confidence, gain the skills and tools they need to be successful going forward in life, be it as a companion or…
Rest in Peace, Scotty
It is never easy to announce the passing of one of our horses, and harder still when the passing is so unexpected. Scotty left this earth last week, following a sudden and painful colic. This was his third colic in five months, in addition to the ulcers we had been…
Introducing “Safe at Home” Community Assistance
For the past 19 years, SAFE has helped hundreds of horses and their owners through our Community Outreach Program. This safety net program was created to provide short-term assistance to horse owners struggling to care for their animals, with the ultimate goal of…
