SAFE Horses
SAFE News and Updates
Alumni Update: Jill
A SAFE Alumni volunteer recently checked in with Jill and her adopter Anna. Anna states Jill is growing up beautifully. She credits SAFE for that and adds that each time Jill encounters something she is troubled about, she returns to a calm state of mind quicker and becomes more and more willing. Jill likes trail riding and seems to enjoy going to new places.
Nova’s Saturday Scratches
Trudy M, our stupendous Saturday barn staff, has been spending some time grooming Nova during the past few months while she has been in recovery from her spay earlier this year. We have given Nova some time off, and while her expectations for work have been low, she has still been getting her itches scratched with Trudy’s help. Here is what Trudy has to say about Nova and their time together:…
SAFE at Buck
Buck Brannaman is headed to Washington for the next two weekends, and the SAFE horses will be joining him at his clinics in Spanaway and Ellensburg. This is a great opportunity for the horses to get experience off-property while furthering their education with a phenomenal horseman. Come see: Esme, 2015 Yakima Reservation mare, at Spanaway and Ellensburg Jupiter, 2017 AQHA gelding, at Spanaway…
Alumni Update: Jewel and Tilt (Korra)
Jewel is doing well and living a pretty leisurely life right now. She enjoys her feeding schedule (four times per day). Her favorite thing to do is trail riding, which is on hold right now as Julie works through a saddling issue with her. Tilt (Korra) also likes her leisurely life and same feeding schedule as Jewel. Her favorite thing is eating. Julie is training Korra in the round pen and looks…
Alumni Update: Kai
SAFE recently checked in with Kai and his adopter, Barb. Kai has mostly had the winter to hang out with his herd mates, but Barb is looking forward to trail riding this summer. Kai is as handsome and sweet as ever and he is clearly adored by Barb!
Alumni Update: Tabitha (Willa)
Tabitha, now called Willa, lives with Alyssa in a beautiful area with trails across the road that go for miles. They do a lot of trailing riding, but Willa tends to prefer loping the trails when possible. Recently, they attended a dressage clinic in Spokane.
Blanche is Adopted!
We interrupt your weekend to bring you good news: Blanche has been adopted! Blanche, now called Joule, headed out on a beautiful sunny day to join Elissa’s family, whose non-human members include a handful of Nigerian goats and new horse-brother, Watney. Elissa had previously adopted Mina, another SAFE horse, but after Mina’s unexpected passing last year, Elissa had been waiting patiently for…
Jupiter’s Masterson Session
Jupiter has been dealing with a sore back as of late, and in the midst of his rehabbing (he can do his carrot stretches in his sleep!) he had a visit with our good friend Natalie for a session of bodywork utilizing the Masterson Method. Jupiter was very responsive to the work, and had some great releases. Here is what Natalie had to say about their session: “Jupiter did very well, he seemed…
Brandit Loves Grass
These two mares may be older in their years, but put them on pasture and they sure don’t act like it — these girls can rip! A necessary part of any turnout includes a good roll, and Brandy and Bandit, particularly the latter, prove how well-versed they are in the art of the roll. Bandit’s roll includes a bit of eating, which we think is the best way to go about it!
SAFE Arena Grader Raffle
SAFE is holding a prize drawing for this brand new Land Pride AG1560 Series arena grader, donated to us by Issaquah Honda Kubota. 60″ wide, made from heavy-duty tube framing with adjustable S‑tine shanks. Five-position leveling bar to smooth the soil and a mesh roller to break clods and fluff the soil. Working depth 4″. For an 18–45 HP tractor. 3‑Point and Quick Hitch compatible (Cat I). Retail…
Run Free, Bailey
Yesterday, as the sun shone overhead and a warm breeze blew, we said goodbye to Bailey. While she might not have been at SAFE for very long, she was well fed, well cared for, and well loved during her time with us. You’d be hard pressed to find a sweeter mare, and even with the visible pain she was in due to the rotation in her front hooves, she never lost her sunny disposition. Since her…
Getting it Done with Deloitte
Another day, another fun and successful Work Party! Last week, SAFE hosted Deloitte LLP as part of their 25th annual company wide Impact Day. We had nearly 40 people from their Seattle office come to the barn for the entire day. These folks were hungry for the work and chewed through the planned task list, even tackling extra projects that could be done without much pre-planning. The…
Taking Care of Winter
A little less than two weeks after she arrived at SAFE, Winter met with the vet and the farrier for the first time in years. When we’d first booked the appointments for her, we did so tentatively, unsure if she would be far enough along in her handling to be seen to. But Winter is a tremendously bright mare, and over the course of the week following her arrival, made huge strides. Each day,…
Safe at Home: Happy Geldings
SAFE’s reach extends beyond the 30 horses who we keep on-site in our care. Our Safe at Home Community Assistance Program is designed to provide short term assistance to horse owners struggling to care for their horses. The goal of this program is to partner with horse owners in our community to keep their horses in their homes and out of the rescue pipeline. Through this program, we are able to…
Alumni Update: Ajax (AJ)
Here is an updated photo of Ajax (AJ) with Nancy. AJ is living a happy, safe, healthy life, hanging out with best buddy Cheyenne.
Inula at Summer Camp!
Inula is doing great at foster, and settling in well with the rest of the herd! She had already been introduced to SAFE Alumni Finn (formerly Doolin), but this past week met foster mom Shannon’s horse-sized horses as well. Introductions went well, and the four of them enjoy grazing and play time during the day while remaining separated at night to avoid any potential shenanigans. Inula is very…
June Volunteer of the Month: Ellen Weisberg
Congratulations to Ellen Weisberg, our June Volunteer of the Month! Ellen has been helping care for the horses of SAFE for just shy of a year, and we couldn’t be more thankful that she is part of our community. Ellen started on our Thursday AM chore team, and not only did she add on another shift, she is leading the team as the Shift Lead on Monday mornings! We are so lucky that we get to see…
Alumni Update: Bliss and Evie
Bliss and Evie are doing great. This year Emily plans to ride Evie on trails with her daughter’s horses. Bliss is fine staying behind as the neighbor, who has three horses, keeps a watchful eye on her. Emily loves her girls and watching Bliss canter behind Evie, despite being blind, when called for dinner.
Remembering Roy
Last week, Roy passed peacefully over to join the rest of his herd. A year ago, Roy came to SAFE from a sad situation as part of a 7 horses seizure by Pierce County Animal Control. Two had to be euthanized on the property, one left the property but was euthanized at the vet hospital, and two others had to be euthanized after a period of time in holding with Animal Control. As such, Roy was a…
Alumni Update: George
SAFE Alumni volunteers, Candi K and Jackie L, recently visited George and his family. Here is an update from Candi. Imagine turning off a country road and setting your eyes upon an idyllic white farmhouse nestled amidst 6 acres of fragrant, sweet grass with the sights and sounds of your favorite farm animals. You will have arrived at Dr. Ana and Clint Kidder’s slice of paradise. Jackie and I had…
Winter in the Springtime
Winter came to SAFE in the springtime, though a recent onslaught of gloomy, rainy, chill in the forecast does conjure more January than June. That’s Washington for you. But Winter herself isn’t exactly wintry – pairing a horse coat color up with a season would certainly land palomino with summertime, yeah? She is all sandy-coat and bleach-blonde tresses, and even has a little dollop-of-sunscreen…
Back in the saddle with Barb
As you pass by her paddock, Barb nickers at the gate, a little bay siren enticing you closer. It is hard to divine what, exactly, she wants, once she has you. Likely to be let out and left to her own devices. Barb would make an excellent automatic lawn mower, if only someone would allow her to live out her dream. Barb was between riders for a bit, and had a bit of a vacation, but after a period…
Bailey’s Troubled Hooves
The horses who arrive at SAFE are rarely in good shape. But the amount of rehabilitation each horse requires is as varied as the horse themself. Bailey arrived as part of a four horse seizure from Pierce County Animal Control. We have spoken before about what an amazing job PCAC does at beginning the rehab process for the horses who come into their care, and this group was no different. They…
Alumni Update: Harley
Harley is living on a beautiful 40-acre property with other horses. Harley was gifted to Elouise for her birthday and the two are quite close, with Harley following Elouise around the property. Elouise has been doing junior level horse agility, and is 6th place in the U.S.
Orbiting Planet Jupiter
There’s an old adage that begins, ‘boys go to Jupiter…’ followed by a statement that implies it is where one goes to lose intelligence. Jupiter, the horse, is grounded enough to not take offense from such slanderous statements (and the fact that he does not understand English probably also helps), but we are here in his defense to express how much that little rhyme does not apply. Jupiter is a…
Alumni Update: Flynn
Flynn is doing well! In his late 20s now, he is retired from riding and living with seven other horses. He was in a kid’s program but would lie down when ridden! Now he is happy just teaching kids how to groom, etc.
Alumni Update: Kat
Kat is doing well and lives with her buddy, a 21-year-old Mustang. Adopter Shar says that Kat is her usual sassy self. At 27 now, Kat is retired from riding but gets hand walked regularly and Shar does some basic groundwork with her whenever she can.
Welcoming Trixie to SAFE
Trixie was the fifth chestnut mare to join our herd in the span of a week (the other four being the Tennessee Walkers), but apart from the color of her coat and the blaze she shares with two of them, the similarities end there. Trixie is her own horse, after all, an should be introduced as such! This sweet mare came to us as an owner surrender, where she was living alongside a stallion with a…
Progressing with Poppy
Casey A has been riding and working Poppy for some months now, and speaks about her experience riding Poppy out in the big arena amongst other horses during the recent Joel Conner clinic: “Poppy has come a long way from the defensive, stoved up pony who would strike at people, and charge at other horses with ears pinned and teeth bared. That armor is being shed as she gains confidence in…
Alumni Update: Alder
Alder moved to Arizona with his family about two years ago. He is doing well and living the good life with a pal on two acres of grass. With Jill’s daughter, Halle, in school Alder hasn’t been ridden much. Jill is looking for a trainer to re-start him. There are plenty of opportunities to ride in their neighborhood. That’s what the plan is after Alder’s re-start.
