Foster Homes Needed

[schwung]

We are looking to add a foster home or two to enable SAFE to help some horses coming in from an AC situation.

Requirements are:
- Preferably in the Snohomish/King County areas
- Must have adequate, safe shelter
- Safe fencing
- Minimal mud/mud management in place
- Ability to feed horses separately
- Ability to feed quality hay at least twice a day, grain if needed
- Minimum committment of 3 months, with 30 days notice of intention to stop fostering

SAFE can provide all vet and farrier care, special supplements, medications and blankets.

The horses we are looking to foster out are horses that have already been rehabilitated in order to make room at our main facility for new intake(s). We are mostly interested in fostering out the non-ridable horses - either the babies/youngsters or the older/companion horses. Riding horses are occasionally available for fostering to experienced foster homes who will continue to work with and improve the horse's training. Current status of each SAFE horse:

Annie - at SAFE, not available for fostering
Delilah - at SAFE, not available for fostering. Will be going into training once Sampson is weaned, provided she is not adopted.
Lexi - at SAFE, available to experienced riding home only
Dexter - at SAFE, available to experienced riding home only
Zanadu - at SAFE, not available for fostering (will be going to training soon)
Calamity - at SAFE, available to experienced riding home only
Sinatra - already fostered
Lola - already fostered but available starting October 1
Bucky - already fostered
Summer - already fostered
Deeds - at foster home in Monroe, needs foster after SAFE show
Goliath - at foster home in Monroe, but available to experienced riding home after SAFE show
Baxter - already fostered, will be returning to SAFE by Aug 4th, available to experienced riding home only
Aiden - already fostered
Lucky - available for fostering through September (no riding), must be experienced with OTTBs
Sampson - possibly available for fostering after weaning Aug/Sept, to home experienced with handling young horses
Honeycutt - already fostered, will need new foster starting in October
Bubbles - at SAFE, available to foster for home with experience handling youngsters
Dusty - at SAFE, available to foster after recovers from gelding to experienced riding home. Will need to be pastured separately from mares.

Please let me know if you can help!

[schwung]

I should also add that Sinatra and Lola get along really well together and are currently sharing a paddock and 12x12 shelter. They will eat from the same hay pile and do not need to be separated to be fed, so an ideal situation would be able to take both of them so that I can free up the paddock they are sharing.

[sherry]

I am willing to foster a horse or two, I have a large pasture and lots of feed. Let me know if I can help with any horses. I have several of my own and do pasture some others. I can have more and would like to help

[cardicorgi]

Hi Sherry - thank you for your interest! Whereabouts are you located?

If you're interested in fostering, go here: www.safehorses.org/about/policies.html and click on the Foster application (and have a look at the foster contract, too).

[schwung]

I have also updated the first post to show what our current and future fostering needs are.

[horsewatcher]

Hi Jaime,

I do have the ability to foster a horse starting in September since my boarder bought a place over in Eastern Washington. I believe you have all my information but let me know if you dont.

[schwung]

Really Sandy?? We are DESPERATE for foster homes come winter. Lots of foster homes over the summer (when its not a major issue, as we have tons of pasture), but most are telling me they can't foster after September. We have 19 horses in our care and I can only take 7-8 here in winter. I'll catch up with you after things settle down after the show and we'll see what we can work out!

[schwung]

I have also once again updated the foster need list at the top of this page.

[Sara]

Jaime, how does safe feel about fosters boarding horses? I shouldn't even be asking this question...

[shekaberry]

Jul 30, 2010 21:54:04 GMT -5 Sara said:

Jaime, how does safe feel about fosters boarding horses? I shouldn't even be asking this question...

Any horse in particular???

[schwung]

Sara - as long as the boarding facility passes our site check criteria, yes. Let's discuss tomorrow.

[cricket]

Jul 30, 2010 22:54:42 GMT -5 schwung said:

Sara - as long as the boarding facility passes our site check criteria, yes. Let's discuss tomorrow.

I had actually wondered that myself. I don't have the time right now, but several months ago I had contemplated asking if I could foster someone at Flying M. Then I could be putting riding time on someone. My trainer works from there and she always gives pointers when I'm riding. It's like free lessons (I don't think she can help herself).

Good to know for future reference...

[Sara]

Jul 30, 2010 23:03:18 GMT -5 cricket said:

Jul 30, 2010 22:54:42 GMT -5 schwung said:

Sara - as long as the boarding facility passes our site check criteria, yes. Let's discuss tomorrow.

Then I could be putting riding time on someone

Yep, basically my thoughts exactly. I am still mulling it over. I'd have to find a place near enough to me that I could ride regularly. Ideally where I could also do the occassional lesson. thinking...thinking...thinking...

[coconut]

Lola is at a boarding facility and it's been a great experience for the folks there. It's really good public exposure for SAFE and gives a face to the plight of Equine Rescue!

We love having her and Jasmine was surrounded by many loving people in her final days/hours. I think she felt like part of our Barn Family.

I've been thinking for quite some time that I wish that EVERY training facility and boarding barn would make room for ONE rescue horse through SAFE and when they get adopted (probably through their own contacts) then we can move another one in.

[mswan]

To anyone who thinks they might want to foster a SAFE horse......DO IT!!!
I fostered several of the SAFE horses and I must say it is rewarding and a lot of work. The work part just goes along with having a horse, any horse. The reward is endless. Each SAFE horse I took in needed some thing food,care and a lifeline. I would spend many hours with each horse and offer what they most wanted. Building their faith and trust in people. With each horse I had/have a special bond. I would teach them some horsemanship to give them the tools to interact with people.
Sorry to ramble on. If you enjoy working with horses, try fostering.