Safe Harbor Sanctuary

05/01/2025

Meteorologist Western Toro with input on today’s weather forecast

02/01/2025

Happy birthday (January 1) to our thoroughbreds and Standardbreds! While 1/1 is the “official” birthday- we (also) celebrate on their “real” birthdays throughout the spring 🎊🥳

📷 Tech Fall and Strapping Beauty

01/01/2025

New Year’s resolutions, horse-style.

-learn new skills
-take more naps
-blaze new trails

Do you have a horse-related resolution?

31/12/2024

As we close 2024 and welcome 2025, we would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to all our supporters, friends, adopters, volunteers and fosters.

Please enjoy and celebrate safely and responsibly tonight - and remember your neighbors' livestock and horses if you set off fireworks 🧐🥳🥳🥳

31/12/2024

This is fantastic advice for (anyone) but especially retraining an off-the-track horse who is willing to work and used to a partnership with humans but does not have "balance," "softness," and "bend" as part of their skill set.

When working with a horse that tends to brace, remember that brace is often a protective mechanism. Your horse may be bracing to guard against real or anticipated pressure. Here are some tips to help your bracey horse:

Build trust and safety
Make it your first goal to have a happy horse who feels open to your suggestions. Be trustworthy - a relaxed, stretched topline is a vulnerable posture for your horse. Be aware of defensive behaviors and eliminate their source. A relaxed body and mind go hand in hand, so focus on creating both mental and physical comfort.

Use light, clear communication
Practice taking up contact in a way that doesn't cause your horse to brace. When you feel resistance, breathe towards your horse instead of adding tension. This allows your horse to find their own independent balance as you maintain yours. Remember, any pressure you feel through the reins is magnified in your horse's mouth.

Start with groundwork
Begin working with your horse in lightness on the ground. Establish the basics of connection, posture, and balance before introducing a rider

Choose equipment wisely
When introducing a bit, find the one your horse is most comfortable with. Let them practice carrying it without reins attached until they move the same as without it. Only start establishing rein connection on good days when brace is less likely.

Address the root cause
Any problem in the horse or human will show up in the reins. Heaviness in the reins can have many causes beyond just mouth sensitivity - lack of balance, stiffness, crookedness, uncomfortable equipment, or miscommunication about speed or direction. Identify and address these underlying issues.

Create positive associations
Motivate and inspire your horse by being a brilliant communicator and rewarding them well. Make sure they're happy to see you when you show up. This positive relationship will help your horse feel more open and less defensive.

Allow freedom within boundaries
Show your horse they can find total freedom within their body, so they don't feel the need to escape. Create "open doors" in their body through exercises that eliminate brace, opposition, and stiffness.

Be patient and consistent
Re-establishing trust takes time, especially if your horse has learned to brace as a protective mechanism. Stay consistent in your approach and celebrate small improvements along the way.

Remember, your goal is to have your horse willingly participate with a body free of brace. Listen to your horse - they'll tell you when they feel balanced and trusting. A relaxed, happy horse who feels good in their body is the foundation for healthy movement and a strong partnership.

30/12/2024

Give yourself the gift of knowledge for the new year!

TN Master Horse Program

27/12/2024

The stories are often hard, and are too numerous to list.

"I gave my unrideable horse to my neighbor and they sold her as sound."
"I sold my special needs senior to a riding stable who lied about keeping him and now I don't know where he is."
"I had to give up my horse that had a rearing problem and arthritis and I fear the worst."

The truth is hard, and so is being responsible.

That old horse standing in your pasture, the mare with the arthritic knee who your kids saddle clubbed on until they got cars and jobs and significant others. That horse you “rescued” from a “kill pen” that’s 26 instead of 12, with an old tendon injury and fusing hocks. That horse you “r...

27/12/2024

So much truth in this post.

Also, what lovely rider position over quite a scary fence!

Seat of the pants riding has its drawbacks, just the same way that seat of the pants course design is rough and ready, but I think that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

When I first got involved with eventing in 1961, the sport was in its infancy in the USA. The USCTA, now called the USEA, was just two years old, and we sort of invented the sport as we went along. So many of the early event riders had fox hunting backgrounds, and they were used to galloping over rough terrain jumping less than well designed jumps.

This photo of the Thoroughbred stallion, Core Buff, taken about 50 years ago over a badly designed and badly constructed table is an example of what was normal in back woods eventing. Dressage was tolerated by many because it let them get to “the good stuff,” which was the cross country.

We had an almost inexhaustible supply of cheap Thoroughbred horses, there was still plenty of open land to learn how to ride over, and, not surprisingly, those old USET squads, invariably taught by former military riders, brought home World Championship and Olympic medals with extraordinary consistency.

What snuffed out so much of that was population growth and real estate development. A kid has a hard time learning seat of the pants survival riding growing up in some tiny little enclosure compared to being feral and unsupervised. Kids back in the day weren’t particularly safe, don’t get me wrong. I remember lots of falls, lots of broken collar bones, and sometimes more serious accidents, so it wasn’t all fun and games by any means, but I also think that it made for some tough, scrappy and talented cross country riders, Mike Plumb, Mike Page, Kevin Freeman, Lana du Pont, Jim Wofford, Torrance Watkins being just a few of the more well known names of the times.

(and Bruce, of course, a little later.)

But those days are gone, just as the open land those riders learned how to ride over is mostly gone, too. Chicken or egg, egg or chicken? You decide.

https://www.pedigreequery.com/core+buff

27/12/2024

Who's available and who will be soon?

- Western Toro is still looking for the right fit. Under saddle, he is green but willing. Walk, gait, and trot, advanced beginner rider & up. Suitable for flatwork only, seems to enjoy trails. Driving, he is quiet and content to walk all day, but someone with some experience is recommended as he will "look" at things he is unsure of at first.

- Buttercup is seeking an advanced rider or sanctuary companion foster with horse experience. Visit our website for complete information.

- Native Speed will be evaluated under saddle soon after the first of the year (weather permitting); we do have an application on him depending on the outcome of this evaluation.

- Strapping Beauty will be evaluated under saddle soon after the first of the year. She is said to be walk-trot safe for most riders age 12 & up.

Visit https://www.safeharborhorses.org/adoptable-horses for bios, photos, information about adoption, and our application.

Adoptable Standardbred and rescue horses available in Middle Tennessee and South Central Kentucky

26/12/2024

Sponsorship opportunities for 2025!
- Presenting sponsor for Writers for Racehorses (+ additional levels)
- Printing sponsors: 2026 calendar and the 2nd printing of our coloring book
- A BRAND NEW program to be unveiled at the Southern Equine Expo
- Horses!

Reach out to us for more information: [email protected]

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from Safe Harbor!

24/12/2024

This is simply essential to understand. We keep sharing this information because it's a never-ending cycle. What if we could intercept those horses you see end up on the "kill pen" pages before they get there? What if we're building relationships with folks who really don't want to send their horses to auction, or see a load leave with X, but they have to make some profit to be able to purchase another? What if we spent half what those horses end up listed for when a bail and deadline is attached to their freeze brand as we make sure that doesn't become their fate?

We have sat at the auction and bid while the horse trader who brought the load bids against the other trader who will list the horse on Facebook, who both bid against us until they get their $975 - so it makes zero sense for us to do that. They are going to double their investment at the sale or in a sob story post, so they don't care either way. (FWIW, those horses that are 300 pounds underweight aren't shipping.)

Feeding this never-ending cycle hurts the organizations that stand in the gap. Feeding this never-ending cycle hurts the organizations that are there to step up to ensure a horse in need doesn't end up on one of those pages to begin with. We don't know what the answer is, other than the more we can share information about the reality, the more informed everyone can be about the situation.

24/12/2024

Santa's reindeer are cleared to fly!

23/12/2024

Today's lesson is on hoof care.

Some would glance at these feet and say they don't need to be trimmed. Hey, trimming every 12 weeks cuts your farrier costs in half over a year, let's do it! (NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!)

When you pick up the hoof and look at the anatomy of what's going on and the end goal of a sound, balanced foot, you have a different perspective.

See, this is a horse that's been in shoes most of his life. As a result, his heels are too far forward right now, his bars grow quite a bit between trims, to the point where he's walking on them, and he grows quite a bit more toe than heel. If you were going to continue to shoe him, you'd see the lines you'd follow to do so, and you'd re-set his shoes every 5-6 weeks.

That's not our goal here.

Our goal is for him to build a sound hoof which will lead to long term comfort and soundness, helping his whole-body comfort from the tips of his toes to the tips of his ears.

You can see the transformation as his hoof is starting to become concave and his weight is more evenly distributed. He has beautiful hoof quality and is not "sore" without shoes - he's a great candidate for living barefoot comfortably.

This is also a great lesson on why you keep your horse on a schedule, even if they don't "look" like they need to be trimmed. From the surface, he's not flared or chipped. But underneath, walking on those bars will absolutely cause low-grade lameness.

You'd reset a shoe after 6 weeks; trim their feet on a schedule!

22/12/2024

As an all-volunteer organization, we rely on EVERYONE to be involved. Our Volunteers of the Year consistently went above and beyond this year, and we deeply appreciate each of them for all that they do.

21/12/2024

Even Santa’s reindeer need a vet check!

🎅 Big News from the North Pole! 🎄

Attention, Tennessee! 🎉 We've just received some jolly good news—Santa Claus has officially been cleared to travel into our beautiful state! 🛷✨

After a thorough veterinary inspection, Santa's trusty herd of reindeer is all set and healthy for their magical journey on the big night. 🦌🎁

So, hang your stockings, leave out the MILK and cookies, and get ready for a festive Christmas Eve! 🎅🍪🎄

Spread the cheer and let your friends know the countdown to Santa’s arrival has officially begun! 🎉🥳

20/12/2024

If you attended our Writers for Racehorses event in the spring, you met this future star. Check out her new music video!

Written by : Lexi Lew, Nick Haynes, Sam Carey, & Greg Dixon.Filmed by: Recorded We The People Productions at the Spea...

20/12/2024

As a network of foster farms, we are always looking for like-minded horse lovers to join us. Maybe you have an only horse and want a companion without all the obligations of ownership. Maybe you're tired of looking at that empty field but don't want to "own" another horse. Maybe you enjoy rehab. Perhaps you simply have a heart for a retired racehorse in need of a second chance.

Our fosters are hobby farmers, horse owners, and professional facilities.

Our process is simple:
1) Review the information
2) Fill out the application
3) Look for an email from us within about 48-72 hours; we will check your references and then schedule a face to face meeting with you.

* Fosters should have 5 years of horse experience OR be willing to be mentored by another volunteer and take the TN Master Horse Course for basic knowledge.