Safe Harbor Sanctuary

05/09/2025

Today's is a special vet bill request day.

Next week is vet week for multiple horses. Maximus will have his intake exam and bloodwork. Lettuce is due for a Coggins and a chiro check. Paisley and Kix are having pre-winter senior citizen checks, as both have had some weight and pain issues lately and at 25, they are both at an age where things can go sideways quickly without attentive care.

Here's the reality of rescue. We aren't asking for your hard earned money to go buy a bunch of 'bail and deadline' trader owned horses and disappear them somewhere you will never see them again and never get any follow up. We aren't offering that adrenaline rush of SAVE HIM NOW.

What we're asking for is help with the very real costs of caring for animals who will never face that deadline BECAUSE we were there for them beforehand; because we were able to say 'yes' thanks to people like you who believe offering this level of care, daily handling, training, assessments, adoption or sanctuary, is meaningful work.

Can't give right now? Would you considering sharing this post with your friends?

PayPal/Zelle: [email protected]
By mail: PO Box 22, Cottontown TN 37048
Sponsor a horse: https://donorbox.org/sponsor-an-adoptable-horse
Chewy Wish List: https://www.chewy.com/g/safe-harbor-equine-and-livestock-sanctuary_b76111973 -list&wishlistsortby=AVAILABILITY

05/09/2025

Did you change your name, or what?

Not exactly. Buckle up for the long version of the story.

Back in January 2016, Safe Harbor was involved in a neglect case in Metro Davidson County (Nashville) involving 2 starved horses; one was DOA and the other, in terrible shape, had a freezebrand on his neck.

Several months later, we would partner with SOSS/Standardbred Retirement Foundation to assist with a couple horses they had intercepted and needed a nearby rescue's help to place.

In the years that followed, we would intake, vet, start the retraining process, and adopt more than 30 off track Standardbreds into new homes.

In the months before COVID hit, our board voted to shift the organization to focus more on off the track horses in need, but then our neighbors in need during the pandemic put a temporary pause on those plans. Once the majority of those horses were placed, we finally felt comfortable making it officially-official.

While we are not a "Standardbred exclusive" organization, our priority for intake-train-adoption is off the track Standardbreds.

These horses may come from a variety of backgrounds: directly from racing owners or connections, from post-track owners who don't want them to end up in auctions, or from Amish owners who want an alternative to the local sales. We may occasionally attend the local sale if our donors dictate support for doing so.

*We do not purchase from horse traders, nor do we support the broker flipping of horses from state to state.

04/09/2025

🐴 Today's mood...

▶️ Get yours here: https://www.bonfire.com/help-horses-shirt/?productType=1d7eda58-3af0-46b5-a3fa-1fe8158a9fbe

03/09/2025

Upcoming fundraisers!

Come see us at the horse show on September 20. We might even show a couple adoptable horses :)

We'll be doing another Panera fundraiser on Monday, September 22, at the Gallatin location. A percentage of sales will benefit Safe Harbor if we raise more than $150, so grab the code, grab a bite, and tell your friends!

And then our fall consignment tack sale will be late October/early November PLUS some special events including our second annual photos with Santa and the Standardbreds.

02/09/2025

From our conversation about sanctuary horses, we inevitably move into the "but what if he's NOT comfortable living in the pasture" type conversations.

And, it's a logical time of year to be having those conversations.

Winter can be especially hard on older horses and those with certain metabolic conditions.

Maybe you have the horse who doesn't do well in cold weather and you keep adjusting feed types to maintain weight.

Maybe the temperature swings of southern winter trigger painful PSSM attacks that you simply can't get under control.

Maybe your horse has some arthritis or other pain-related issues that make winter management increasingly more complicated.

Maybe your horse is becoming more and more resistant for the farrier, so you start giving him Bute, but even that isn't quite helping anymore.

Maybe cold weather triggers painful uveitis in his eyes, robbing him of sight at the same time.

When we talk about pasture soundness and quality of life, we look at what is reasonable to manage. There comes a point where weight loss is simply a sign of larger underlying problems in an animal that is being fed correctly. A bit of arthritis can be treated with supplements, injections, and medications - to a point. When those things no longer work, or yes, when an owner is having to choose between their own wellbeing and the money spent on the horse who is simply no longer comfortable and thriving, there is no shame in choosing a last good day and sending the horse to the Rainbow Bridge.

We look at whether the horse is still safe to be around. Often, a horse that has lost most or all of its sight may NOT be safe when asked to move out of its regular environment; this includes for veterinary or farrier care. The same goes for a horse who can no longer stand on 3 hooves while a farrier trims the 4th. It is unfair to expect professionals to continue to work on horses who endanger them - and their handlers.

Maybe you have simply had a huge life change: illness, job loss, cross-country move - and you are forced to look at options for the un-rideable horse standing in your field. Is it fair to expect a stranger to take on this animal and provide for her the way that you have? Or is it better, in this economy, in this world where people will tell a happy story only to run this special needs animal through an auction for the quick $300 she might bring, to put her at peace, and with it have peace of mind of never having to wonder 'what if'?

Having the euthanasia discussion with your vet is never 'wrong' and it's much better to have a plan in mind than to deny and wait for too long.

01/09/2025

Happy Labor Day, friends & followers! Enjoy the beautiful weather today...we'll return with our regular content tomorrow.

Send a message to learn more

31/08/2025

It's which means it's time to talk about another aspect of our organization - our Sanctuary program.

When we intake a horse, we go through a 'checklist' of sorts; initial vetting, behavioral assessment, hoof care, training evaluations. Over the next few weeks or months, depending on the horse's condition at intake, we determine if they have any limitations that may prevent them from being adopted.

A horse that is pasture sound only - that is, not sound to ride but perfectly fine 'being a horse' - is automatically considered sanctuary. This is after several years of adopting companion horses only to have them returned or to wind up "for sale" in violation of early versions of our adoption contract.

A horse that has specific needs but is ok to ride is placed for adoption and these needs disclosed, and believe me, we realize that these horses will not be 'easy' to adopt out. Once the horse has been with us and not adopted over a period of time (usually 2-3 years); or the horse reaches the age of 30, they join our Sanctuary herd for their own safety and wellbeing.

Some of our long-time foster farms are "sanctuary" farms - that is, they greatly prefer to house a sanctuary resident long-term versus hosting adoptable horses that leave for new homes more regularly.

Serving as a sanctuary foster can be a wonderful option for someone who brings their horse home but doesn't want them to live alone.

Interested in becoming a sanctuary foster or sponsoring a sanctuary horse? Visit our website to learn more!

29/08/2025

Hey Safe Harbor, why do you...

- Why do we call it a "lifetime safety net"?
Because we will re-intake, or help an adopter rehome, any animal we have adopted out per the contract you sign when you adopt. Our horses have either known horrifying neglect or have come from families where they were deeply loved. We take their safety and wellbeing seriously, and do our best to ensure this means they stay safe and loved for the rest of their lives. We also understand that an adopter's life circumstances may change, kids grow up, riding skills increase, and the horse that matches you today may not 5 years from now. That's ok - but we still need to ensure the contract YOU sign follows the horse for the rest of his life, through the next owner.

- People say you should always visit a rescue before you donate, but you don't allow it. What gives?
If we had a single farm with all our horses in one place, we would absolutely have visiting hours. But, we operate through the generosity of our fosters, who are privately owned farms across middle Tennessee and south central Kentucky. Our policy out of respect for everyone's time and privacy is that APPROVED adoption applicants will be connected to the foster or fosters of the horse or horses that match. Otherwise, look for our open house and on-farm events at our various foster farms who welcome us to host with them, and come visit during those times!

- I am interested in volunteering or fostering. How do I do that?
That's simple! Visit www.safeharborhorses.org and fill out the application linked to the home page. Our volunteer coordinator will follow up with information on attending our next orientation!

- I am wondering about your adoption policy?
Visit our website for FAQs and more!

Safe Harbor is a 100% volunteer rescue organization specializing in off the track Standardbreds and community outreach.

29/08/2025

28/08/2025

Defining "light riding."

Within the descriptions of our horses and when discussing training level and rider suitability, we will often say a horse is sound for "light riding."

So, what does this mean?

When we say a horse is sound for “light riding” we mean, walk and trot (maybe brief canters), generally an hour or less, on relatively easy terrain.

Basically, light riding is leisurely strolls in the field or arena - no performance events, no overnight trail rides of 8 hours a day, no intensive hill climbing. Most commonly for horses with previous injuries or arthritis that now prevent them from being comfortable doing such physically demanding sports, but occasionally for horses recovering from an injury that may eventually be able to handle increased workload with veterinarian approval.

We *don’t* mean, work the hellfire out of him once a month or twice a year and then wonder why he’s sore for a week afterward! - because you would be too, in that situation.

When we adopt a horse, he’s at a certain level of fitness for the amount of work he’s been used to and is sound doing.

Maintain the fitness, you maintain his ability to be a “light riding” mount. Much like a person, if he stands around for months, he’s going to lose that fitness. On the other hand, if he’s asked to do 25 miles when he’s been used to doing 3, you are most certainly going to have soreness (logically, so would you!)

And as in all things with a living, breathing partner, we welcome and encourage an evaluation from your own veterinarian if you wish to adopt a horse for a specific purpose.

27/08/2025

We love horses - do you?

Among our community outreach initiatives, our volunteers teach the "I Love Horses" or "Bit N Bridle" badge for Brownie / Girl Scout troops. We'd love to get your girls scheduled for a fun day at the farm and show them ground safety, grooming, tack, basic nutrition, parts of the horse and more!

Reach out to us for more information!