September Volunteer of the Month: Cameron Boldin
Congratulations to our September Volunteer of the Month, Cameron Boldin! Cameron joined the SAFE community in August 2024 bringing with him a wildly varied volunteer history! Prior to SAFE, he volunteered as a horticulturist assistant at the Point Defiance Zoo from…
August Joel Conner Clinic Report: Mahina
Dye “the last unicorn” black, and you have Mahina, with her long elegant legs and big doe eyes. I (Lily) had the opportunity to bring Mahina into the groundwork portion of the August Joel Conner clinic, and over the course of our three days together became even more…
Mateo’s First Saddling
From stallion to gelding, from unsaddled to saddled, this year has brought big changes for Mateo. This handsome fella has made big strides (no pun intended) when it comes to being able to act appropriately around other horses, which has made spending time with him in…
SAFE Has Big News to Share!
The property SAFE currently operates from has been leased by us for about the last 9 years. It’s been a great home, but there are a lot of risks involved in leasing, especially for a nonprofit caring for horses. Stability is vital. Which is why we are so proud to…
Alumni Update: Henry (James)
One of our SAFE Alumni Team volunteers recently checked in on Henry (James) and his adopter, Marion: James is so lucky to have Marion as his owner. She absolutely loves him and dotes on him. She boards him at a hunter/jumper barn and the trainers seem to be very good…
August Joel Conner Clinic Report: Ranger
Carrie S has been working alongside Ranger on the ground, and recently brought him into the groundwork portion of the August Joel Conner horsemanship clinic. Here’s what she has to say about this special, spotted guy: “Ranger participated in his third Joel Conner…
Growing Paloma
To make a Paloma cocktail, you combine tequila, grapefruit, and lime. Our little Paloma’s ingredients would look a bit different: a good deal of curiosity mixed with a generous pour of joy de vivre, topped with a strong sense of self, and garnished with a dash of…
Brownie — Getting a Change
A well-timed release. A horse’s natural capacity and ability for change. These are some ingredients in the formula for some pretty amazing — and sometimes quite speedy — transformations. Brownie provides us with a very clear example of this. His first…
Alumni Update: Tasara
Sherri and Tasara are doing very well together. Tasara is as content and happy as can be and gets lots of attention throughout the day. She loves her large barn area that she can go in and out at will into her very large open paddock. Tasara shares the barn with four…
Alumni Update: Mac
Here is an update from Mac’s adopter Jerre from late this summer: Our biggest success has been a deep dive into positive reinforcement and collaborative care. I give Mac the option to refuse any contact, haltering, fly mask, etc., while encouraging participation with…
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Barb
Annika rode Barb in the October Joel clinic, and has the following to say about their experience together: “Participating in the October Joel Conner clinic with Barb was a lesson in presence, patience, and partnership. Barb is a small horse with a big…
Brandit Forever
We have been struggling with Brandy and Bandit’s quality of life for some time now. Over the past two years, both mares have faced challenges that have required us to closely monitor their comfort and happiness. At the beginning of November, Brandy’s condition…
Alumni Update: Opal (Bella)
Opal’s adopter Lyn recently provided a quick update and photos of Opal (Bella). Right now we are working through a Cushings diagnosis and trying to get dosage right. But we still have fun walking around the property and getting a little grazing time in.
October Joel Conner Clinic Report: Brownie
Lexee N, who has been working and riding Brownie, brought him into the October Joel Conner clinic for his first riding clinic. Here’s her report on how it went: “Oh Mr. Brownie! This guy has come so far in such a short time and impresses me every day. This…
