Alvaro
2024 Bay Iberian Gelding
Type of Rescue: Animal Control Seizure
Intake Date: 2/28/2025
Adoption Date: 7/19/2026
Length of Time with SAFE: 1 year 5 months
ADOPTED!! by Carina
Alvaro was one of the youngest horses to come through the Valentine’s day seizure — having arrived as a yearling, Alvaro grew up over the year he was with us into a handsome young gelding.
We laid a solid foundation for Alvaro in our horsemanship program, helping him learn manners and setting him up for success in his start under saddle.
In 2026, Carina heard about Alvaro, and once she met him in person, her love was solidified. Alvaro will continue his training under Carina’s ownership, and is living his very best life down in Oregon.
Alvaro is Adopted!
We met Alvaro last February as a mowhawked yearling, gangly and butt-high. When he first arrived at SAFE, he displaced our minis and spent his first few weeks living in ‘mini land,’ if that gives you an indication of his petite stature. He was playful, curious, and at times somewhat monstrous ahead of his ‘brain surgery,’ but at SAFE he learned the ropes: how to be respectful with other horses, courtesy of uncle Artie and auntie Wednesday, and how to be a good citizen where people were concerned thanks to our horsemanship program.
Over the year and a half he spent with us, his hair, legs, and maturity grew, transforming “Al,” the punk kid, into “Alvaro,” the handsome young gentleman. This past summer, he even took a trip over to Ellensburg for the groundwork portion of the Buck Brannaman clinic, where he shone like the star he is.
Carina first heard of Alvaro through our good friend Kaya, with whom she is boarding and training with down in Oregon. Alvaro was Carina’s dream horse, and she was beyond excited about the possibility of being able to call him her own.
Alvaro’s case is a special one. We don’t typically adopt out horses who aren’t firmly under saddle, if that’s their intended path. But part of Alvaro’s agreement would be that he would be put into training, and so this fall Alvaro will go off to school before returning back home for a winter of growing up some more and deepening his relationship with Carina. We hope they will make their way to at least a few Joel Conner clinics next year and maybe even up to one at SAFE in the future.
Though we are missing this guy around the barn, we are so happy for him and for Carina, who could not possibly adore him more if she tried. We look forward to following this pair along in their journey, and watching Alvaro continue to grow, both physically and mentally, from afar.
In Carina’s own words, the day she finalized his adoption: “I love this horse to pieces, he’s my dream, and that I would very much love to keep him.
He’s been loving his fence mate (soon to be his pasture mate) and he’s got a ball he’s been playing with, and we’ve been having a great time working with him ”
Congratulations, you two!
Alvaro Wears a Saddle!
Over the last 12 years, we have saddled (or re-saddled) over 130 horses here at SAFE. As the saying goes, the Trojan Horse wasn’t saddled in a day, and the same is true for the vast majority of our herd. Each and every horse is put through their groundwork paces before we even think of cinching them up for the first time, and more often than not these paces are closer to a ultramarathon than a sprint. Months, and sometimes even years pass between the time we meet a horse for the first time and the day we saddle them.
All this to say, on the rare occasion we get to saddle something that doesn’t come with a whole lot of baggage, it feels every bit the treat it is.
Alvaro, having arrived at SAFE last year, young and without a lot of prior handling, is one such treat. He has spent the majority of his time with us simply being a horse, growing up (and filling out). Apart from a few introductory groundwork sessions last year, the majority of his education has been by other horses.
That has clearly suited him just fine. When we knocked the cobwebs off him several weeks ago, he picked up right where he’d left off — as a mellow youngster who didn’t care much about the flag or the rope touching him, even in his more ticklish spots. A few practice tosses of the saddle up on his back were also not a big deal, all good omens for a successful and non-eventful first cinching.
And as you can see, it was just that. Alvaro didn’t break a sweat walk-trot-loping with this new weight on his back, and after, moseyed back on out to the pasture, probably to go share with his friends what a cool guy he was now (more realistically, just to eat some grass).
In our world of troubled horses, it is so often difficult to reach this milestone, and so we are immensely grateful when we get the chance to work with a colt like Alvaro. He is a nice horse in every sense of the word!
Alvaro is a Growing Guy
Horses play musical paddocks at SAFE on a regular basis (the one difference being that no one is ever left ‘out’) so it’s not uncommon to have the sensation of ‘you’re not where I left you’ when traversing the property. This sensation is compounded when we have doppelgangers around. It used to be that we only had one Big Bay Gelding around — that being Mateo — but now that number has doubled before our very eyes.
Alvaro arrived at SAFE very much in the ‘colt’ stage of his life — gangly and fuzzy, with a short little tail and a mohawk of a mane befitting his youth. But these days, it’s becoming harder to tell him and Mateo, all 15+ hands of him, apart. Alvaro is still a young buck, don’t get us wrong, but the horse that he is growing into is becoming more apparent by the day.
Alvaro on intake 2/28/2025
Alvaro is spending his days giving Venturo what-for, and acting as an animate chew toy for his younger companion. The two boys are a hoot and a half, and need nary an excuse to get up to antics of all kinds.
Venturo and Alvaro, New Friends!
Do you remember the feeling of being a kid and getting to hang out with your older cousins around the holidays, or being allowed to tag along with your older sibling? How cool you felt, how much fun you had? We have to imagine that’s how Venturo is feeling this week meeting Alvaro — his very first friend.
Wednesday is getting a much deserved break from being her colt’s only playmate, but rest assured she’s never too far in case the two whippersnappers get out of hand. It’s been great for Alvaro too, who has been keeping things very much in check around his new young friend, and respecting Wednesday’s ground rules for their playdates.
Venturo is on his way to be weaned, and having a buddy to help with the transition will make the process easier. Just a few days into Venturo and Alvaro’s budding friendship and we can almost hear Vinnie saying “see ya later mom, I’m going to play with my friends!” Fine by her.
Alvaro Having a Ball
Alvaro’s ball was temporarily lost, but this week it made a reappearance, much to his delight. This guy is perfecting his technique ahead of the world cup, running drills every day now. His athleticism is something else, and his energy supply never seems to end. He’s making sure to stay hydrated in this warm weather with sweet waters, and keeping up his energy with lots of good hay. He’s the first choice for a draft pick in our eyes!
Alvaro, Gelding!
A few months ago, we had a double feature gelding planned for both Mateo and Alvaro to make the switch on the same day, and while things do sometimes go as planned, this was not one of those times. Our vets were not confident they felt a second testicle on Alvaro, which meant we would have to wait a bit longer before he went under the knife. Well, last week our wait was over after a subsequent palpation revealed the magic number: two. So on Monday, it was finally Alvaro’s time.
The surgery went off without a hitch, and Alvaro is now a gelding! He has been a champ for his forced exercise, and is healing up well. Once he recovers fully, he will spend some time off at foster where he will have more space to grow and play. Welcome to the rest of your life, Alvaro!
Is Alvaro the Next Lionel Messi?
Alvaro has been brushing up on his soccer skills since he learned the World Cup is coming to Seattle next year.
Uncle Artie
Artie Shaw is worth his weight in gold. Actually, given that he’s not very large, let’s double that — triple, even, and that still might not be enough. While he has come quite a long ways under saddle and is going well as a solid little riding horse, you could argue that his true value lies in his impeccable social skills. This guy is an extraordinary herd mate, the type of guy who gets along with everyone, regardless of their differences in personality. It’s no secret that we consider Artie to be at the top of his field when it comes to introducing new geldings to the celibate lifestyle, but he continues to astound us each time we throw him out with a raucous or socially-inept fellow and he immediately clocks in and gets to teaching.
Recently, we introduced him to little Alvaro, who is still full of youthful testosterone and swagger. Alvaro had learned some pushy habits at his original home that, if left unchecked, would grow into dangerous behaviors as he aged. A nippy, curious weanling is one thing, but that weanling will soon enough be a 1200lb horse. The best way for babies to learn their boundaries and social graces is through the instruction of other horses, and Artie Shaw might as well have his doctorate.
From the moment they met, Artie sent Alvaro a clear message: we can play a little, but when I say move, you better be moving. And Alvaro said ‘yep, you betcha!’ Artie keeps Alvaro in check, but that doesn’t mean Alvaro doesn’t test the boundaries, and that Artie doesn’t put up with being a chew toy extremely well. Since going out with Artie, Alvaro’s propensity for mouthiness with humans has just about disappeared — we think his little jaw is tired from all the mouth games they play! He is learning good social skills, and we have the ever patient Artie to thank.
Artie is still available for adoption, but until that day, we are happy to have him on our payroll as educator of geldings, big and small.
KING‑5 TV: Horses Rescued During Cockfighting Bust Find New Hope
KING‑5 TV visited SAFE today for an update on the Valentine horses in our care:
Introducing SAFE’s Valentine Herd
What’s in a name? For the horses who come to SAFE, it signifies a new beginning. While their names may change as they find new homes and families, each one marks the start of their journey to safety, care, and a brighter future.
For the Valentine Herd horses we welcomed into our care, we wanted to give them names as special as they are—names that would symbolize their lasting safety and new beginnings. That’s why each of these horses has been given a beautiful Spanish-style name, including the family name Caballo de Seguro—which translates to “Horse of SAFE.”
Eight of the Valentine Herd equines are currently under SAFE’s care. They are:
Arionna Rosita Caballo de Seguro.
Named by our longtime volunteer Ginni—who recently celebrated her 85th birthday at SAFE—Arionna Rosita means “Silver Rose,” a fitting name for this stunning mare. Likely a Warlander (Friesian x Andalusian), this grey beauty is turning five this year. Though she is shy about being caught, her curiosity shines through, and when she’s feeling good, she can really kick up her heels!
Frida Isabella Caballo de Seguro
Named after Frida Kahlo by our longtime farrier and friend, Daphne, this nearly four-year-old mare is discerning, intelligent, and beautiful. Like her buddy (or sister?) Arionna, she is likely a Warlander and shares a similar wariness toward people. Recent bloodwork confirmed what we had already suspected based on her growing belly—Frida is expecting and will be welcoming her foal here in the next few weeks.
Mateo Fernando Caballo de Seguro
Named by our own Bonnie Hammond—who also recently celebrated a birthday—Mateo means “Gift of God.” This handsome four-year-old Andalusian is currently a stud in more ways than one, but once he is fully vaccinated, he will make an equally striking gelding.
Maisy Maria Caballo de Seguro
Named by volunteer Paige, who was boots on the ground for the seizure, Maisy means Pearl. She is a big boned red roan yearling filly, who is currently out at foster so she can grow up a bit more before she joins our training program here at SAFE.
Alvaro Casimiro Caballo de Seguro
Named by volunteer Candi—who played a key role on the day of the seizure and captured these beautiful photos—Alvaro means “guardian,” while his middle name means “peaceful.” This young colt, under a year old, certainly lives up to his name when he’s napping, which he does often. Otherwise, he is as playful as any youngster his age. Once gelded, he will head to foster care to continue growing up.
Wednesday “Miercoles” Viernes Caballo de Seguro
Named by the veterinarian on scene during the seizure, Wednesday was named for his daughter’s favorite character, Wednesday Addams. Wednesday is a beautiful 4‑year-old Andalusian mare, who recently became a new mother to Venturo.
Venturo Milagro Caballo de Seguro
The newest member of the herd, “Vinnie” was named by new board member and volunteer Elaine. His name means ‘good luck miracle,’ and portends a happy future ahead of him. It is not always we are lucky enough to know a horse’s birthday, but little Vinnie was born on February 25th and is enjoying his first few months alongside mom at a foster location.
and last but not least…
Eda Margarita Caballo de Seguro
Named by new board member and volunteer Amy, Eda carries a personal connection. The original Eda was a 4′9″ firecracker of a woman—a bread and wine maker who famously said things like, “IF I ever die.” Her equine namesake, a three-year-old bay mare, was the last of the Valentine herd to arrive at SAFE. As we get to know her, we’ll see what traits she shares with her spirited namesake.
Large rescues like this require a tremendous amount of effort and resources. If you’d like to support the horses at SAFE, as well as the many other animals involved in this seizure, you can make a difference by donating at https://www.safehorses.org/valentineherd/.
The Valentine Seizure
Two weeks ago, news broke that law enforcement agencies in Thurston County had seized hundreds of roosters bred for fighting from a property in Yelm. It was also reported that a number of other farm animals, including horses, cows, and goats, had been removed from the property at the same time. Although we couldn’t make it public when it happened, SAFE was one of the rescue organizations that held a number of these horses for Thurston County while the courts sorted out the legal side of the case. On Saturday, we learned that the matter had been resolved, and that the owners of the animals did not post bond or petition the court for their return. This means that we have some new friends to introduce to you in the next few days. Here’s a couple of photos to get you started.
But FIRST let’s talk about the rescue organizations that came together to help these farm animals. On point for the operation was Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County (HAROTC) who worked directly with the county to coordinate the removal of the horses, cows, and goats. These animals were all signed over to HAROTC this past weekend. There were 15 horses alive on the property. SAFE housed five of them during the holding period, while the rest were moved to foster homes out of the area by HAROTC. In addition to the horses, there were six cows taken in by HAROTC, and 18 goats – many pregnant – nine of which have been placed with New Moon Farm Sanctuary and rest remaining with HAROTC.
Once the animals were signed over to HAROTC by Thurston County, decisions could be made about their futures and switcheroos were made. Three of the horses were not able to be saved due to untreated injuries and other physical issues. SAFE has taken ownership of seven of the original horses, plus the little black colt born during the hold period. HAROTC will be keeping two pregnant mares, with plans for SAFE to take the foals after they’re weaned. And two non-pregnant females were taken by Sound Equine Options (SEO). Two of the mares at SAFE may be pregnant so along with the two that will be born at HAROTC, we may be taking on as many as four foals in the future. There are also several baby goats on the way too. This means the cost of caring for these animals will be shouldered by these four rescue organizations for months if not years to come.
SAFE estimates that the average monthly cost to care for one rescued horse is about $750 per month. Of course, this amount varies based on age, condition, and specific needs. All of the horses that SAFE has taken on will need training at some point before they can be adopted, so that adds more cost. The average monthly cost to care for one pregnant goat is about $150. That’s about $12,500 per month to care for all of these animals, and it’s coming straight out of the pockets of the rescues involved. And this amount will increase as babies are born.
So we are asking for your support for the horses, goats, and cows that make up what we’ve dubbed the Valentine Herd (since they were seized right before Valentine’s Day). These incredible souls survived hell on earth at their former home, and they have bright, happy futures ahead of them. But they have a long road to travel that will include vet and farrier care, training, and hay and grain to restore them to good health. To make these easier on those who would like to chip in to help, we’ve set up a single fund for tax deductible donations that will be divided between the four rescues – HAROTC, SAFE, SEO, and New Moon – based on the number of animals they’ve taken on. Rescuing these animals was and will continue to be a huge undertaking, so if you want to be part of these efforts, your donations will be hugely appreciated!
