Stella

2012 bay Paso Fino cross
type of rescue: Animal Control seizure
intake date: 6/12/2014
adoption date: 7/9/2020
length of time with SAFE: 6 years

Stella is adopted!

Stella’s Story

Stella is a young Paso Fino cross mare who was seized by Snohomish County Animal Control in 2014 after she and another horse were found starving and neglected. Stella spent 6 weeks under the care of the county before being released to SAFE. Watching this young horse grow up has been a delight. At first she was shy and quite unsure about humans, but with kind, consistent handling, she’s proven to be friendly, sweet, and easy to catch. We’re most impressed by the bravery and confidence that this horse displays. When faced with something new or strange, she takes a moment to investigate and reassure herself that the scary thing means her no harm. That bravery should suit her well in her future life as a riding horse, as will her smooth and powerful movement. She’s a small thing with a lot of get-up-and-go, and she’s ready for anything! She does not appear to be gaited, so she’s probably not pure Paso.

Stella Today

Stella is going beautifully in all gaits with a soft feel, working on leg yields and haunches in and walk canter departs. She has a wonderful mind and her volunteer rider loves that Stella is always ready to work and is always seeking to find an understanding with her rider. Stella loves her little hacks around the SAFE property. She may be small in stature, but this beautiful, fluid mover should not be passed up!

This summer she has been on a few adventures: the SAFE Benefit Horse Show (several first place ribbons!), a clinic with Joel Conner near Salem, Oregon, and a clinic with Buck Brannaman in Spanaway, Washington. At the clinics, she caught the eye of many auditors and everyone was impressed with her personality, try, and training. This is not your “typical” rescue horse. She is athletic, sensitive and has an amazing foundation and will go as far as her rider wants to take her training.

Stella was adopted in October 2020.

 

Six Years a SAFE Horse

Six Years a SAFE Horse 

After SIX YEARS as a SAFE horse, we are thrilled to announce that Stella has found a HOME!

Lisa came a long way to meet Stella and we are sure glad she did! This is a perfect match and we are so happy that Stella has found her family. It is always a great day when we introduce a horse to an adopter and you can just see all the pieces falling right into place. If the smile on Lisa’s face as she rode Stella for the trial wasn’t enough, how relaxed and happy Stella was sealed the deal for us!

Stella has settled well into her new barn and Lisa reports she even has a boyfriend! We do miss her sweet calls around SAFE saying hi to all the other horses but knowing that she is where she is meant to be brings joy to all of us. Lisa has a wonderful trainer who thinks Stella is a very smart mare and is helping the two get to know each other through groundwork and riding lessons.

We are very thankful for the years of dedication to Stella’s training that our volunteer Casey had donated. Stella’s growth and maturity into the well started riding horse she is today is a direct result of Casey’s attention and love. It is hard to say goodbye to a long-time member of the SAFE herd but knowing what a great life Lisa is going to provide for her and the dedication she has to giving Stella what she needs to thrive is a blessing. It took a while to find Stella’s perfect match but we are so glad Lisa came into her world. This little mare is worth it all and this adoption is what the SAFE mission is all about: giving well deserving horses the foundation and best opportunity to find loving families that can support them in the next phase of their lives. We can’t wait to hear wonderful updates and see what adventures Stella and Lisa share on their journey together!

Joel Conner Clinic Update: Stella

Joel Conner Clinic Update: Stella 

Written by SAFE volunteer Sue C:

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Stella for 4 days at the recent Joel Conner clinic. Stella has been well trained by Casey, which helped so much since I was the one learning the mechanics of how to ask for moving forward on a circle, hind quarters and front quarters. After some directional fits and starts on my part the first day, we had some success at this.

Learning to keep Stella focused on me, and to move her off my feel were more difficult for us. She is a sensitive mare, and it was a challenge for me to find the right amount of pressure, followed by a release to keep her responding with a happy expression. I needed frequent reminders to apply enough pressure to get a change if she didn’t respond to my first offer of a “good deal”. I wish I could report that I found the key to this consistently, but I did achieve some changes. Joel reminded us all that change comes incrementally, and a 1% improvement is still progress. I am so excited to practice and improve further.

Stella is a great teacher, and I feel fortunate to have worked with her. Joel is also a great teacher, always patient, and always focused on the horse. I come away from the clinic with my head spinning on how much I have learned and how much more I want to learn. After many years of riding, it opens so many doors for expanding and improving my interactions with the horse. Thank you to Joel, to SAFE, and of course to Stella for getting me started on this path.

Stella Photo Update 

Stella’s Busy Summer

Stella’s Busy Summer 

Stella’s regular rider Casey had this to report:

Stella had a busy and productive summer! We had the great fortune to ride with Buck Brannaman in Ellensburg, Nick Donahue in Arlington, and Joel Conner at SAFE. Stella did well in all settings, and, of course, we learned a lot. The last month has been a real period of growth for the two of us, and I’ve made some significant changes to the way I approach our work. With more clarity around significant braces on the ground and under saddle, I’ve been able to excavate some of the trouble that I’ve been feeling. With this new insight, I’ve gotten some big changes in her canter, and she’s really let down at the trot as well. I’m excited to see where the next couple of months take us. Stella has been a great and predictable partner in clinic settings, and I am grateful that SAFE supports taking the horses on intentional outings so that they can gain experience that will promote adoption.

Stella Update and New Videos

Stella Update and New Videos 

Casey has done an exceptional job helping this sensitive mare direct her energy in positive ways. Just watching her, you can’t fully appreciation the amount of skill and tactful execution it takes to support this talented mare. We jokingly referred to Stella as a little sports car when she was started. But honestly it’s not a bad metaphor. If you’re used to driving a big ol’ honking truck and then you jumped into a race car and didn’t adjust your feel, you would probably be lucky not to wrap the car around a pole. You have to be a thoughtful driver with Stella and adjust to her, while keeping her balanced and feeling free to move. It is important for adopters interested in Stella to understand this point. She is sensitive. She can get troubled, so having a thoughtful rider who has experience with professional type forward horses is essential to her remaining a successful riding horse outside of the SAFE program. That said, we are hopeful that this petite mare will find a perfect partner, who understands her needs and is able to adjust to her. 

Here is what Casey had to say about their work over the past few months:

 

Stella had a busy and productive summer! We had the great fortune to ride with Buck Brannaman in Ellensburg, Nick Donahue in Arlington, and Joel Conner at SAFE. Stella did well in all settings, and, of course, we learned a lot. The last month has been a real period of growth for the two of us, and I’ve made some significant changes to the way I approach our work. With more clarity around significant braces on the ground and under saddle, I’ve been able to excavate some of the trouble that I’ve been feeling. With this new insight, I’ve gotten some big changes in her canter, and she’s really let down at the trot as well. I’m excited to see where the next couple of months take us. Stella has been a great and predictable partner in clinic settings, and I am grateful that SAFE supports taking the horses on intentional outings so that they can gain experience that will promote adoption.

 

Who’s Your Fave? It’s Stella!

Who’s Your Fave? It’s Stella! 

Recently we asked our volunteers if they had a favorite among the SAFE horses, and if so, what it is that they love about them? The answers we received gave such wonderful insight into who our horses are and what they mean to us, so we wanted to share these words. After all, who knows these horses better than the people who care for them each and every day?

Stella is such an amazing horse. She is sweet, sensitive and loves to have fun. She may be small, but she has a big personality. Her training is exemplary and she’s very responsive, in my experience. I love our sensitive horses and Stella always puts a smile on my face. Last Saturday she was trying to help the babies eat their food when I noticed she had not finished her grain. I called her name and she came running to gobble up the rest. Absolutely adorable. She’s not a cuddler, but when I get the opportunity to stroke her neck she’s soft as silk.”

by Jennifer

Stella and Cameo Meet the Cows and Fancy Gets Started!

Stella and Cameo Meet the Cows and Fancy Gets Started! 

We enjoyed an amazing 3 days working with Joel Conner in Ellensburg. Our goal was to get the first rides on Fancy and give Stella and Cameo experience off property. We did that and so much more.

I’m impressed by how well-prepared Fancy was for her first rides and what a peaceful and understanding experience Casey gave to her. She was relaxed and accepting of a rider without issue. She made big changes each day and it was a perfect way to introduce her to carrying a rider. She going to be a phenomenal mare with a very bright future!

Stella blew us all away with her mad cow horse stills! She’s a natural, brave and took right to it! Huge changes in her soft feel and finding a serious stopping power in her hind end!! She is gets right to work off site and settles in to it like she’s at home. Such a gifted mare and Casey has done a fantastic on taking her through the snaffle bit…I dare say I can see her going to the hackamore by the end of the summer!!

Cameo lived through the cows and with Joel’s help got close enough to move them on her own. So much to still sort out for this mare but the experience was perfect to help her issues with leaving and disconnecting. She looks and feels like a completely different horse as this Horsemanship work helps her let down. Balanced, connected and content this mare is going to make it!

We can’t thank Joel enough for his guidance and encouragement. Joel, your support of SAFE, our mission and our horses in inspiring and is such a gift to our community. Thank you for helping us create better lives for our horses and changing the way people see a rescue horse!!

Joel Conner Clinic Report: Stella

Joel Conner Clinic Report: Stella 

Casey had a few things to share with us about her rides on Stella in last weekend’s Horsemanship clinic. The pair continue to look amazing and Stella has matured into a beautiful mare that stands out in any crowd. Casey has done a lovely job bringing her along and continues to put more of a shine on this special girl! Here is what Casey had to say:

Stella had another great clinic! As usual, she was unconcerned by the horses around her and stayed tuned in to my feel. We worked on circles using just my leg and no rein, haunches in, sharper, more engaged canter departs, and moving the forequarters. Overall, she continues to improve in all areas.

She is also beginning to be less touchy about the cinch, saddle strings, and my legs, which has translated to less reactivity and increased responsiveness on the ground and under saddle. However, she is so incredibly sensitive that even the slightest tension in my legs continues to impact her energy as she searches for the correct answer. This is something that I appreciate about Stella, and something that a potential adopter will need to take into consideration. Stella may be petite, but she is a seriously fun and hardworking partner who is ready for her forever home.

Stella Rides with Buck Brannaman

Stella Rides with Buck Brannaman 

About five years ago Terry invited me to audit a Buck Brannaman clinic in Enumclaw. I had not heard of Buck, but I was eager to see his style of horsemanship and continue my education. I am so grateful that I took that opportunity because it resulted in a fundamental shift in my approach to horsemanship, and has informed SAFE’s approach to rehabilitating horses. At the end of October, after auditing clinics over the years in Ellensburg, Spanaway, Dayton, and Fort Worth, Stella and I participated in his Horsemanship I class.

We decided to head down the night before the clinic started so that we could get settled and organized. Stella hopped right onto the trailer, and when we arrived at the Tacoma Unit she quickly relaxed into her stall, even when the horses around her were troubled and calling. We got out the night before the clinic for a short ride, and it didn’t take long for her to relax into a great ride. During the clinic it was much the same, as she was relatively untroubled by the other horses in close proximity (25 in total) and always looked to me to keep her out of trouble. She was so unconcerned that she would doze when we took a break from working! By the end of the clinic we were walking united circles just off my leg with no rein, had gotten all four methods of moving the hind quarters, improved our turn around, and met a lot of like-minded horse people. Stella is a very sensitive horse, and it was so cool to see and feel how relaxed she was in a new and busy environment. It was an invaluable experience, and I was incredibly proud of how well Stella did. No one would have guessed she was a “rescue”-a testament to the strength and support of the SAFE community we are both lucky enough to experience.

Joel Conner Clinic Reports: Stella

Joel Conner Clinic Reports: Stella 

In August, Stella and I had the good fortune to travel to Oregon to participate in Joel Conner’s horsemanship clinic at Northwood Farms. Though she hasn’t traveled off the SAFE property often, she was awesome. She loaded right into the last space on the trailer without a problem and handled herself safely for unloading. When we got out to the arena, she settled right in to work. Though she has a tendency to get troubled by the back cinch and stirrups, the exercises both on the ground and under saddle really helped bring her to a place of peace fairly quickly. She was unconcerned about the other horses in the arena, and was safe when they got close. She did get a bit herd bound when she was in her stall, and would call if a neighbor left (this happens at home, too), but it wasn’t an issue while we were working.

Joel came to SAFE this past weekend, and Stella continued to show growth. Her walk-to-halt and trot-to-halt transitions were consistently solid and soft, and she was less troubled at the canter. This weekend we got a couple of walk-to-canter transitions and halt-to-canter transitions. However, she’s very sensitive, so it will be important to make sure that she doesn’t start to anticipate these transitions and get tight or start to pull. We also have some exercises that we’ll be working on to improve haunches in. Stella is a talented partner, and she’s certainly ready for her forever home!

Stella is Ready for a Home

Stella is Ready for a Home 

Stella has had a busy summer! She is going beautifully in all gaits and has been on a few adventures with Horsemanship Volunteer Casey. This year was the first time Stella competed at the SAFE Benefit Horse Show at Donida Farm. She was an absolute star for everything. She trailered, bathed, and was ridden at the show with absolutely no issues! And she took home several blue ribbons, winning large and competitive classes!

Last weekend Casey and Stella traveled down near Salem Oregon to ride in a clinic with our friend Joel Conner. It was great to see Stella so relaxed, unfazed, and ready to work in an unfamiliar place. We were stuck in hours of traffic on the trip down but Stella was a champ, patiently riding in the trailer over 6 hours. She caught the eye of many auditors and everyone was impressed with her personality, try, and training.

Casey has developed such a good relationship with Stella and the support and consistency of their work has set this mare up for success. Don’t be fooled by her size: she is still a little powerhouse that without direction could be problematic. But with a good rider aboard, this mare shines!

Stella has come a long way from the little filly we met back in 2014. She has grown up into a beautiful and talented young mare. Her size makes finding her a perfect match difficult but we are confident that the right home is out there for her. Meanwhile she is getting excellent training under Casey’s tutelage and is developing many skills that will ensure her a bright future.

Stella: Horsemanship Clinic Report

Stella: Horsemanship Clinic Report 

Stella and Casey took part in the June Joel Conner Clinic and had this to report about their experience:

I worked Stella during the groundwork sessions the first two days of the Joel Conner clinic. I had noticed that Stella was very troubled about changing eyes, the flag, having things touch her legs, and having the back cinch and saddle strings touch her sides. This trouble was apparent both on the ground and under saddle, and I needed help developing the skills to support her. Over the course of the two sessions, I made gains in making sure I was supporting her from the correct angle, getting a balanced hind quarter movement, and releasing when her feet were truly freed up. Stella is so athletic that she can really move her front quarters and hind quarters, even when she’s unbalanced or braced, which I didn’t fully realize prior to this clinic. Over the course of two days, we made huge gains in flag work and rope work, so we participated in the riding session on the third day. She is much less troubled by the saddle and my legs on her sides, but we still have some work to do. With Stella’s work ethic and my newfound awareness, I’m confident that we’ll work through this trouble pretty quickly. I really enjoy working with Stella because she is so sensitive and responsive to a feel.

Don’t be Fooled by Stella!

Don’t be Fooled by Stella! 

Stella is a forward and willing young mare with a lot of try and personality. She is currently in training and going well in her riding work. She stands nicely when tied, she’s good for the vet and farrier, and trailers with no problems. She’s is a good companion to other horses too. She needs more miles on the trails but is a confident girl on her walks around our property. Don’t let her little size fool you, this mare has a lot to offer! She is best suited for a small adult or confident young adult working with a trainer.

Stella is Ready 

SAFE owes a very big thank you to volunteer rider Casey for all her efforts and steadfast devotion to Stella through her rehabilitation and training. This little mare is full of life and has a BIG heart. She is more than ready to find her special someone and a family to love her forever! Here is an update from Casey about Stella and their work together: 

Stella has been doing very well on the ground and under saddle. After her rehab I noticed some regression in some areas, including being bothered by the flag, particularly when switching eyes, and by things touching her hind legs. These areas of regression make sense because she was stall bound for months, and due to the nature of her injury, we couldn’t really work around her hind legs in a way that would cause much movement. We’ve been working through these issues now that she is sound, and she has shown significant improvement, but I suspect that these areas will need to be continually revisited.

Though there were a few areas of regression, she has really maintained her softness and responsiveness. She is always ready to work and readily cues in to my feel, which is something I’ve always loved about her. All of the exercises that we had worked on prior to her injury have served us well while she was rehabbing and while rebuilding strength in her hind end. There are days where she is more spirited but overall, she is very pleasant and well mannered.

Happy Just to Walk and Trot 

Once again, Stella was a rock star for her rehab process after the injection of her sacroiliac joint. Once we were able to ride her again she was looking a feeling great. We started to add canter work and for a few weeks it was looking better than before. But after some time, she began again to feel unbalanced to the right and swapping the canter lead in the hind. Overall this procedure sadly did not solve her problem. Dr. Fleck said that without a bone scan and the unknown, there is not much we can do to fix the canter. Now she is comfortable to remain a walk/trot horse, so that is the direction we are taking her in. We are working on strengthening her with trot work and exercises over poles.

Stella’s Rehab 

Stella has been a very good patient during her rehab work! She is calm and relaxed and has taken this all-in stride. Her volunteer rider, Casey, has been doing canter work as part of Stella’s strength building program. Unfortunately, she is showing some discomfort at the canter. Casey reports that she is swapping her leads and feels unbalanced.

Dr. Fleck came out to examine her in April and thinks that she may have injured her sacroiliac (SI) joint. The only way to confirm this would be to have a bone scan performed, which is an expensive procedure. He said that treatment would be an ultrasound-guided injection of cortisone into her SI joint, followed by stall rest and a hand-walking regimen. We chose the option given to us by Dr. Fleck of skipping the bone scan and having her joint injected to see if that solves the problem. She was hauled to the clinic on May 1st for the injection and home the same day.

Stella is a sweet mare. We’re confident that she will once again be a good patient for this go-round of rehab, and hopeful that we can get her back on the path to soundness.

Training Update: Stella 

Stella is now 9 months in recovery from her left hind peroneus tertius tendon rupture. She has, to say the least, been a ROCKSTAR for the entire rehab! She is now back up to full saddle work and Casey, Stella’s volunteer rider, has started to add the canter into their workouts. Once she is cantering regularly we can add turnout into her daily routine and we will be removing the medical hold and offering her again for adoption. Here are some sweet pictures of Stella from our last open house.

 

Health & Training Update: Stella 

Our wonderful volunteer rider Casey has been dedicated to Stella’s rehab work and a tremendous help to getting this mare onto the road to a full recovery! Here is what Casey has to say about the progress she is making with Stella:

After four months of strict stall rest and three months of walk and trot in hand, Stella is officially back to work under saddle! I was a little concerned that there would be some regression after seven months off, but she was great for her first saddling and ride. This week we will be up to 20 minutes of trot under saddle. Stella has handled this set back impressively, especially when considering where she started when she arrived at SAFE Harbor. Throughout this process she has been safe in her stall for the volunteers to clean daily and for her handlers on the ground at the walk and trot. This is a testament to the solid foundation and start she got with Joel Conner and the horsemanship that the training team has been implementing with his help.

Stella Medical Update 

Stella in her stall with Anakin and the minis  keeping her company.

Stella in her stall with minis.

On March 24th, Stella came up completely lame on the left hind leg. Dr. McCracken came out and diagnosed her with a peroneus tertius tendon rupture. This tendon is part of the apparatus in the hind limb that coordinates flexion and extension of the stifle and hock. Rupture of this tendon is usually secondary to hyperextension of the hock joint, so we suspect she slipped and injured it while in turnout.

Treatment for this injury is strict stall rest, and Stella has been prescribed 3–4 months minimum. She will have recheck ultrasounds to monitor her progress. So far she is handling stall rest like a champ, and she is enjoying her new neighbors, Sunny D and Shasta, who have moved in next door to keep her company.

Although recovery for this injury is a long process, we are hopeful that she will make a complete recovery and return to being a riding horse when it is safe to do so. She was going so well under saddle, this is a sad setback. She is being a very good patient even though stall rest can be frustrating for most horses, she is taking it in stride.

Stella_03_20_2016_01

In normal horse, if the stifle is flexed, you cannot extend the hock. Here you can see Stella’s reciprocal apparatus is ruptured.

 

Wrap up from Joel Conner Clinic Dec. 12–13, 2015 

Great group of Volunteer Riders!

Great group of Volunteer Riders!

We had a great time hosting Joel again at Safe Harbor. The horses and volunteers had an amazing weekend and everyone progressed in their feel and training. Here are a few accounts from the volunteer participants about what they learned about the horses they were working with during the clinic:

Jolene D:Khianna- At the time of the clinic Khianna had a total of 4 or 5 rides on her since her return from foster. She was nervous, but did so well! She tries so hard. She is coming along nicely and I believe will develop into an incredible partner for someone.

Sara E: Jewel — Jewel was an all-star for the clinic, Claire has done such a great job with her. She felt flawless going from hind-end to front-end turns. I learned so much while riding her during the clinic. She is going to make someone a really great horse.

Sara E: Khianna — Did ground work with Khianna and at the beginning she was a nervous trotting mess, but Joel came over and helped me get her front feet moving and she calmed right down. She is so loving and tries so hard. Once she figures out you aren’t going to eat her, she just wants to please you and be loved on, I don’t know if I have ever worked with a horse that tries to give you 150% all the time.

Lisa G: Ben- I can’t say enough about how the horsemanship that Joel has helped bring to SAFE amazes me. I had Ben in all 4 sessions, GW and riding, and I was honestly just hoping I could get him to stay focused on me with all of the excitement, maybe get some nice serpentines down in the riding portion, and work on soft feel and stopping/moving forward off of the seat. Well.…. He did all of those things and SO MUCH MORE. Every exercise that Joel moved the participants through, beginning to advanced, Ben tried. And SUCCEEDED, at least on some level. I am so impressed with the effort this big guy puts into everything; as long as he understands that there are no consequences if he doesn’t understand, and he knows that I will wait for him to figure it out, I believe this horse would be willing to try anything under the sun. In the few days since the clinic, Ben had maintained a quiet, willing attitude, with TONS of deep, relaxed sighs, even during the riding work. SO proud of the progress he has made and so grateful that this work was brought to the SAFE horses.

Sara S: Khianna- I worked with Khianna for the first time doing GW on Saturday morning, and was so impressed by her “try”. She does get a little nervous about the rope and flag coming at her while moving (though not at all while standing still in the comfort of the “herd” (me)). I particularly enjoyed the backing exercises, and she was so in tune with my feet and body language it felt like we were dancing partners! She is such a sweet girl.

Sara S: Phoenix- I did GW and rode Phoenix on Saturday afternoon. He hadn’t been ridden in weeks, and it was raining on the tin roof, so he was extra “special” to start, but after just a bit of GW he calmed down and started paying attention to me. Riding, he was great. He’s getting very good at backing circles, front and hind yields (he’s so bendy!). Over the few months I’ve been working with Phoenix, I’ve noticed he tries very hard to anticipate what I want (if he’s in the mood), but as soon as I push too hard and/or he doesn’t understand what I’m asking, he shuts down. On Saturday, I didn’t feel him shut down at all which is probably a combination of both of us getting better at this!

And many thanks again to Joel and Terry for putting on such an inspiring clinic!!! I wish I could come out to SAFE every day, but I’m glad to be even a small part of this great community and cherish this opportunity!

Claire C: Mesquite- It was my first official time working with Mesquite, and I think we made some really good changes. He is super sensitive so it was interesting to experiment with him and see how much pressure he needed. I only did the groundwork session with him and it was fun learning to time up with his feet better.

Claire C: Phoenix- For the afternoon session, I rode Phoenix, who I have not done a whole lot with either. He was also good; we worked a lot on more forward motion and keeping him focused on what I was asking. We did lots of bending and yielding, which was so good for him. Overall, he did very well.

Casey A: Stella- I worked with Stella, who is turning out to be a great little horse. We worked on slowing down and developing balance on both the ground and under saddle. We were both so much lighter by the end of Sunday, and I know we got a big change in our partnership. She was so relaxed through the entire clinic, even when horses around her were nervous. She’s also pretty resilient and forgiving of my mistakes. She has taught me so much, and she is going to make someone really lucky!

Erika S: Maggie- I worked with Maggie for all 4 sessions, and she did fantastic! She’s such a smart, willing mare, and we connected early on. One idea that I heard this weekend was that eventually it will feel like your horse is reading your mind… Well, I’m here to tell you that that’s the truth! Maggie remained tuned in for everything we learned about, and worked in sync with me. It honestly helped me more than I think it helped her!

Ann A: Bridgit- Bridgit is a friendly girl and likes getting attention. She is a bit on the lazy side and I had some trouble getting the life up in her while doing circling exercises. She just wanted to come into the center and hang out with me. She made good progress under saddle in the afternoon sessions. She was learning how to pick up a soft feel at the walk by the end of the first day and we had some nice walk/trot transitions. She needs more work backing straight and in a circle both on the ground and under saddle. She also needs more work reaching with her front foot and disengaging her hindquarters under saddle. She felt much more balanced to me than she did when I rode her last summer.

Jane M: Oscar- As a relative novice to practicing Joel’s horsemanship skills, the greatest lesson I took away from GW and riding Oscar during this most recent Joel clinic is the impact GW has on riding. Yielding hindquarters, circling to achieve bend and balance, it all makes such a difference when aboard the horse. I’m able to apply lessons learned under Joel’s guidance to my regular riding lessons. It’s quite remarkable to me, and I look forward to Joel’s next visit and my next “aha” takeaway!

Stella: Training Update 

Just for a little fun, I decided to work Stella in a Dressage saddle this week.  She did very well and was comfortable to sit the trot and canter in the English tack.  She is learning to keep a nice rhythm and cadence in her gaits.  When she gets troubled, it takes just a little re-balancing work to bring her into a soft gait.  Throughout her time under saddle, Stella has kept a positive and willing attitude.

I don’t like to school her every day because it is important that training stays fun for her, especially since she is just over three years old.  We keep things light hearted and add in some fun with trot polls, work on smooth transitions and some leg yields.  Stella is a quick study and a pleasure to work with and handle.  Here are a few photos Jessica took for us working in the English saddle.  Stella is ready for adoption and looking for her forever person!

Stella is one FUN ride! 

Teaching Stella to put her own halter on

Teaching Stella to put her own halter on

Stella has been a doll to work with in training at Safe Harbor this past moth. I have been her primary rider but recently I asked volunteer rider Casey to ride her a few times a week. Stella was absolutely great for her new rider. This was a really important test to see that her disposition and work ethic doesn’t change with a different rider. Even though our aids maybe slightly different, Stella thought about what was being asked and looked for the correct answers. She was kind and had no attitude about someone else asking her to work for them. This consistency is lovely to have in a young mare and we are all very impressed with her amount of “try” she gives during our training sessions.

Stella is currently being ridden 3 to 4 days a week. She gets a few play days with groundwork or other fun things like bath day! She is a wonderful little mare and going to make someone a great partner. Since she’s still green, she does a little difficulty keeping a steady rhythm and balance but these are things that will improve with time and consistent work. She needs time to grow up so keeping the work light and playful is a good thing. Stella is quickly becoming a favorite at the barn!

Pretty Stella 

Stella is home from training! 

Stella all dressed up in her western tack!

Stella all dressed up in her western tack!

Stella is home from 45 days of training with Joel Conner. I got the chance to ride her in the clinic when Joel was at SAFE and it was a blast getting to know this spunky mare. She is a very sensitive and smart girl. She handled being in the arena with ten other horses without too much fuss and we really started to get to know each other well.

Stella's Selfie!

Stella’s Selfie!

It is wonderful to have her so well trained right from the start. She definitely has a go button but some pretty nice breaks too! She is VERY light in the bridle and off the legs. Stella is only 3 1/2 years old and is still extremely green but with the right foundation laid everything from here is easy. It will take time and miles to get her ready for anyone to jump on but for now is a really fun ride for a more intermediate rider. We hope to get her and a friend out on the trails in the next few weeks to see how she does outside of the arena. She is ready to start showing to potential adopters and find the right match for this little sports car! I missed having her around the stables and it was fun to see that she still remembered how I had taught her to put her own halter on. She is such a cutie!

Stella!!!!!!! 

Baby girl is back at Safe Harbor! I would say that we missed her but I’m not sure the neighbors were too happy she was home. She spent the first two days (and nights) calling for her bestie Jewel, who was stalled in the other barn. It was a bit of an adjustment being separated from Jewel but she got through it and is now settling into the routine of the barn. Our volunteer rider Sydney is working Stella as part of her senior class project. She’s started with the basics of groundwork and Stella seems to be remembering the work, so things are going nicely. Stella is pretty sensitive and quite inquisitive in nature, and that can help when teaching her new things. As long as she is prepared for the next steps, she is a smart mare and should be relatively easy to get started under saddle with a rider. 

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 brave filly! When she is unsure, she thoughtfully looks at new things with interest and quickly relaxes when she realizes that the scary thing isn’t dangerous. We are working on bridling a little bit, including having straps pass over her ears, and accepting a bit in her mouth. She’s also been introduced to a surcingle, and is getting more relaxed about having it put on and taken off. All in all, we’re pretty excited about this brave little filly! We may be looking for a foster home for her over the winter where she can spend some more time growing up before we start to think about starting her next year. We’d also consider adopting her as a prospect to someone looking for a young horse who has a clearly defined plan for starting her under saddle when she is physically mature enough to do so.

Stella learns to halter herself! 

I have been working on catch and release games with Stella. She is a very timid girl but is coming along nicely. We have been practicing with the halter and her putting her own nose down into it. Finally got someone to hold the camera for me so I can show you all. She is really funny about it now. She see the halter and literally shoves her head into it. She was so afraid of people approaching and trying to put the halter on. Now she is throwing her head in as if to say: “See I did it!” I love her personality!

Stella is learning! 

Stella is learning to pick up her hooves softly without kicking. The rope allows us to desensitize her and get her used to picking up her feet at a distance where the handler can stay safe. She’s come a long way in the two weeks we’ve been working with her. By the end of this session today, I was able to pick up all four and put them down softly.

The way to Stella’s heart 

​Here’s SAFE volunteer Lisa doing some expert scratching on the (formerly) shy Stella. Apparently the way to this sweet mare’s heart is through her withers!

Pictures of Stella 

I had a chance to visit with Stella and Terry today. Stella is the prettiest little thing! 

Stella’s education begins… 

Terry has started working with Stella at liberty in the arena, giving her the chance to stretch her legs and learn a thing or two about approaching people. Fortunately she loves scritches, and that makes this introduction period a lot easier!

Stella Intake Photos 

Stella was signed over to SAFE today by Snohomish County Animal Control. She’s a tiny thing, still thin, but otherwise looking much improved from the photos taken of her a few weeks back by SCAC.

Stella was one of two horses seized by SCAC in early May 2014 due to starvation and neglect. She was thin (BCS 1.5/9) with lice and a fungal skin infection. She spent six weeks in the care of SCAC before being signed over to SAFE. Here are photos that were taken about four weeks after she was seized:

She was signed over to SAFE about two weeks later, once her fungal infection was completely cleared up and the vet gave her the okay to travel. Here are some photos taken on the day she arrived:

She’s a little unsure about people, and is reluctant to allow her head to be touched, which makes haltering a little bit of a challenge. But with consistent handling, she should come around quickly. She appears to be a very sweet little filly.