Safe Harbor Sanctuary

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Safe Harbor Sanctuary Our horses have competed in competitive trail rides, gone on pleasure trail rides and competed in Hunter/Jumper and Dressage competitions!

Safe Harbor is a non-profit, all-volunteer network of foster farms in middle Tennessee and south-central Kentucky dedicated to transitioning retired racehorses into new careers and forever homes. Our programs are divided into multiple areas of focus as follows:

- Safe Harbor Standardbreds After The Track: Horses who started their lives in the racing industry.

- Community Outreach: Community ser

vice projects, educational outreach, owner assistance, and more.

- Rescue: Law-enforcement assistance with horses who have fallen victim to cruelty and neglect. We are passionate about horses and devoted to making sure Safe Harbor animals get the best possible forever. Animals in our organization are never subject to time limits or age limits. To adopt, foster or volunteer, visit www.safeharborhorses.org and fill out an application today! Things to know about our adoption process:

- We are a foster-based rescue. This means that we don't have one central location. Instead, we rely on a network of people who care about horses to provide space and time for a horse in our program.

- We adopt within 200 miles of zip code 37048, Cottontown, TN, with a few exceptions.

- We require an in-person meeting to ensure an appropriate match between horse and rider.

- You must go through our approval process, including submitting references, prior to meeting the horse or ‘test rides’ – this is out of respect for everyone’s time. Providing complete and accurate information helps us process your application faster.

- Horses are up to date on routine care including vaccinations and Coggins, and complementary therapies if our team feels they are needed (IE massage, chiropractic, MagnaWave, acupuncture, etc.)

- PPE’s from adopter’s veterinarian are always welcome. We will work with you but do ask that vetting is done within 7 days of committing to adopt whenever possible.

- Our adoption agreement is a lifetime safety net with no breeding, no auction, no slaughter terms. We will always take back or assist with re-homing any Safe Harbor adoptee.

** Nearly every horse in our care is available for sponsorship. Full sponsors (at $150/month) have the option to meet their sponsored horse. Visit the "Adoptable Horses" tab for more information on our horses. Go here for sponsorship: https://donorbox.org/sponsor-an-adoptable-horse or email us at [email protected].

Got b***y? Ben ( ) is getting one!We're about 2 weeks away from having enough topline built up to fit a saddle, tack up,...
19/12/2024

Got b***y?

Ben ( ) is getting one!

We're about 2 weeks away from having enough topline built up to fit a saddle, tack up, and see what sort of under-saddle knowledge we might have. (Weather permitting/when it stops raining 🥴)

Ben already has an interested adopter pending the outcome of this assessment, so we look forward to updating you all!

Great points - that can apply across disciplines!
19/12/2024

Great points - that can apply across disciplines!

18/12/2024

Random thoughts on a rainy morning, following the wintertime fun of suiting up to do morning feed in the mud.

Things that are difficult for a rescue or welfare organization to read on social media:
1) The unpapered, unremarkable stallion with commenters rushing to defend the owner's desire to breed and purchase mares.
2) The unpapered, barely trained mare who has a foal at her side, is bred back, and is now for sale.
3) The stock horse offered as a breeding prospect with no genetic testing.
4) The outcross stock horse (IE Arabian-quarter, Arabian-Appaloosa, Appendix quarter), weanling/yearling/2 year old prospect for sale with no genetic testing.
5) The jack donkeys for sale that are either not halter broke, or barely handle-able, who are too much trouble to geld prior to sale.

The common denominator: Human responsibility.

Where do you think the products of these humans will end up? Breeding unregistered, unproven horses while auction lots are full of broken, teenage unwanteds is unconscionable. Do you have buyers beating down the door for baby horses of no documented parentage? Do you understand how expensive it is to raise a foal? There is absolutely no economic advantage to doing it poorly or so your kid can witness the "miracle of life."

Breeding untested stock in a day and age where we KNOW genetic diseases exist, and breeding positive to positive (and sometimes positive to negative) literally creates animals with behavioral/training issues that are expensive and sometimes impossible to manage. And then selling them to buyers who are unaware is simply disgusting.

Breeding untrained animals of any kind simply adds to a population with seemingly no thought process behind it whatsoever.

Balls are for trees! 'Tis the season ... if you are in need of castration for your stallion or jack, apply for a Charlie...
16/12/2024

Balls are for trees! 'Tis the season ... if you are in need of castration for your stallion or jack, apply for a Charlie's Fund grant today!

If you are looking for an end of the year giving option - or a unique Christmas gift - this program runs on donations (we can gladly create a thank you/certificate in someone's name :-x)

🤣🤷
16/12/2024

🤣🤷

We share a lot of information with the assumption that our followers have some horse knowledge and kind of follow along ...
13/12/2024

We share a lot of information with the assumption that our followers have some horse knowledge and kind of follow along and learn what we're talking about. You know what they say about assumptions, however....

So, with it being National -- what burning questions do you have? What term have you heard that makes NO sense? What piece of equipment do you look at and wonder, what the heck does someone use THAT for?

Tell us in the comments.

It's AND (and ) :-x Are you celebrating one, 2, or all 3? (Hint: for #2, click the "donate" button!)
13/12/2024

It's AND (and ) :-x Are you celebrating one, 2, or all 3? (Hint: for #2, click the "donate" button!)

Toward the end of the year, we always start reflecting on all the horses we've helped. Some of them you never see, and s...
12/12/2024

Toward the end of the year, we always start reflecting on all the horses we've helped. Some of them you never see, and some of them, we never meet.

The pony was networked through us and placed under our contract into an appropriate situation. We often find ourselves networking through word of mouth, for horses that are not in any danger and don't need traditional "rescue" but would thrive in a different situation. This is also why our Safe Harbor Sanctuary Friends Helping Friends - Rehoming Group exists; so that individuals can make these connections with like-minded people.

Our Charlie's Fund program is also a part of this. Through Charlie's Fund, we are able to impact the lives of horses and their people without putting a horse through the stress of intake, without using a foster's resources, and often enabling a horse to remain with its owner. We may not meet these horses (or owners), but we are thankful to be called upon to help in the way that we are able.

Horses need us to be better horsemen. That's why we offer a $100 credit on an adoption fee for graduates of any of the l...
12/12/2024

Horses need us to be better horsemen.

That's why we offer a $100 credit on an adoption fee for graduates of any of the listed programs.

The 2025 TN Master Horse Program begins January 16 and is currently seeking participants. Get an overview and register here - https://uthorse.tennessee.edu/tennessee-master-horse-program

11/12/2024

If your horse is on stall rest for an injury, and you're beginning a lengthy rehab process - 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀.

Following a long layoff, it’s crucial that you bring your horse back to work slowly. After not exercising for an extended period of time, your horse will be out of shape. 𝐓𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞-𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞'𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲.

Want to read more on this subject? Check out this article -->

https://horseandrider.com/how-to/injury-rehab-54014/

Thank you to the 37 households who support Safe Harbor through Kroger Community Rewards!
11/12/2024

Thank you to the 37 households who support Safe Harbor through Kroger Community Rewards!

Horses don't understand timelines and deadlines. They don't work on a 30-day or a 60-day schedule. Nor do the most under...
10/12/2024

Horses don't understand timelines and deadlines. They don't work on a 30-day or a 60-day schedule. Nor do the most understanding of trainers. And so, working on the ground under tack is where Buttercup's two week training evaluation concludes.

In Buttercup's case, there are layers upon layers of both trauma and 'feral companion life' to undo and address. She was started fine, but poor handling by force, followed by several years of 'companion' lifestyle mean that there is both fear and defiance to address. She is light years beyond where she started. She shows a desire to bond to a human, once they prove themselves worthy of her trust. She stands tied much better, she is excellent for hoof handling and farrier care, she is more confident when leading from one place to another, and she enjoys being groomed.

She is still nervous wearing tack, and while she seems agreeable to weight across her back, moving to carrying a rider is not quite okay yet. And that's okay with us. We asked for an assessment, not a push to put X number of rides on her within a certain number of days.

Breed mix? Well, watching her move in deeper sand, we are very confident that she is part Paso. And, anyone who knows the breed will see it in the very ways in which Buttercup reacts. You do not force them, and they do not forget when someone tries. This horse was betrayed by people who were supposed to protect her, and we will do right by her moving forward.

No, despite dozens of "likes" and "shares," we have had zero applications on her. No one willing to pick up the banner and invest in her.

And let's be honest - we live in the real world, despite Buttercup being named for the character in a fairy tale. There might be someone out there like our director, who will take a chance on an 18 year old little mare who wants someone to love on her terms and is totally fine with liberty work, ground work, or spending another few months until she is mentally ready to ride. And if there's not, she is safe. That's the bottom line. That is who we are NOW.

Coming soon…
10/12/2024

Coming soon…

, we are ISO something like the photo that we could easily repurpose into a "Little Free Library". An old newspaper stan...
09/12/2024

, we are ISO something like the photo that we could easily repurpose into a "Little Free Library". An old newspaper stand/dispenser would be great because it's already weatherproof, but we are open to other displays that would easily convert to this purpose.

FREE or bargain price, in the Middle TN area for us to pick up. Please let us know if you might have something!

with one-eyed wonder pony Strapping Beauty who settled into a longer-term foster home this weekend. She will begin gro...
09/12/2024

with one-eyed wonder pony Strapping Beauty who settled into a longer-term foster home this weekend. She will begin ground work/fitness routine immediately, and be evaluated under saddle (weather permitting) within the next month or so.

We wanted to take a moment in a stand-alone post to thank everyone who supported us in one way or another on . We canno...
06/12/2024

We wanted to take a moment in a stand-alone post to thank everyone who supported us in one way or another on .

We cannot always see your names on the 'fundraiser' tools, but we SEE you. We can't always see the individuals who shares our posts due to privacy settings, but we SEE you. We appreciate each and every one of you more than we can say.

06/12/2024

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease, and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

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Just your hours left!! Santa has arrived and brought some goodies!! Stop by! 3585 SR-76 Cottontown TN

Today is the last day! We restocked last night and have some more great stuff!! Come out today from 10-4 and shop till you drop! Silver Lining Stables 3585 SR76 Cottontown #horserescue #fundraiser #tacksale

Today is the last day! We restocked last night and have some more great stuff!! Come out today from 10-4 and shop till you drop! Silver Lining Stables 3585 SR76 Cottontown #horserescue #fundraiser #tacksale

Gliding along! Toro is looking for his forever. Could it be with you? #safeharborstandardbreds #adoptmyfoster

Ride along as Toro discovers the muddy trail #adoptable #safeharborstandardbreds

From challenging to catch to practically haltering herself, Buttercup has certainly come a long way. #rescuehorse #safeharborhorses

On today’s episode of Mythbusters: -Standardbreds don’t canter -Thoroughbreds are crazy Who’s who with Duke & Nuke

Bath day! #sanctuarysunday #safeharborsanctuary #paisley

Today (Sunday 4/28) 10am-3pm Tack sale benefiting the rescue! Hosted at Ascada Arabians 8606 Guthrie Ct Cross Plains TN #tacksale #newtack #saddles #bridles #horsebackriding #trailride

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