Riding Freedom and Daisy

Wednesday evening I asked my sister Rachel if she wanted to go with me to the horses. I planned to drive Freedom and wanted some company. I drove Freedom around the block which is a bit longer than I usually drive him but he is built up for it. I was really pleased because he drove really nicely for me and did really well with the extra time. When we got back I took two of Anthony and Lori's children for a very short ride up the road and back.

Today I had off from work because Jimmy had off today and tomorrow but tomorrow I still have the boys. Anyway I cooked and put the salsa in the jars that I had put together last evening. We had some extra tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos in the garden that needed using so why not make some salsa. After lunch I went to the horses.

iphone photo of the salsa

I knew that this week I wanted to give both horses a bath at some point and I figured I would do that on Saturday if no other time worked. Since I knew I had the time I figured I might as well work the horses then give them baths. I decided to work with Freedom first. I had planned that I would wait till Sept/Oct to start riding Freedom. Today I lunged him first and then got on him for a short bit and rode him around. He did really amazing. I just used my voice cue that I use to tell him to walk and off he went. We did a few turns around the back of the barn and then I got off. I was so pleased with the first ride. Probably won't ride him again till next week but I plan to drive him again later this week. I want to take it slow with starting him but I am so excited to be riding him though it will be for short periods here for the first while.

riding Freedom

After I rode Freedom, I gave him his bath. Then I left him dry while I rode Daisy. I took Daisy down the road and we just went on a leisurely ride. I enjoy riding her and she did really well. Tomorrow I want to drive her or Freedom but if it works out, I want to work both horses. When we got back, I gave Daisy her bath too. Overall I enjoyed spending a good part of my afternoon with my horses and I feel like I got a nice bit done.

Odds and Ends

Last week on Wednesday my mom and I canned 8 boxes of tomatoes which meant we spent all day canning tomato ketchup, pizza sauce and v8 juice. It was a profitable day but meant I didn't work with the horses. On Thursday evening I went shopping with Rose Mary for Rachel's birthday gifts and my evening went much different than planned so no working with the horses. Then Friday I went for supper with a friend and Tyler and I talked on the phone. I was able to work with Mika a bit in the arena earlier in the afternoon and she did really well. From riding her in there it really seemed like that is what she was used to over riding out on the trail. Saturday evening Sarah came to my house and we took Freedom for a drive. Before hooking him to the cart, I got him used to an umbrella. He did really good with being ok with the umbrella. It was drizzling a bit but Sarah and I decided if we have the umbrella we should stay dry enough. :) We had a good drive and Freedom did really well.

Sunday Rose Mary, Rachel and I went for a drive in the cart with Daisy. Both horses have been doing excellent with all the driving they are getting in the past while. I am really impressed with how they have been doing. Then on Monday I rode Daisy for something different. She was acting up a bit at first but then for the rest of the ride she did great. I want to see about riding her some more this week but we shall see. Then Monday evening the Rivera's rode Mika to decide if she can be for their girls to ride. We decided that though she is ride-able now she is not really a child's horse. She needs a rider who has experience riding but she is a great horse :) Tomorrow evening I have a meeting and Thursday evening I am not sure how it will go since a friend of mine is staying at my house for the weekend and not sure what time she is coming. Tomorrow I go back to my nanny job so I will just have evenings and weekends to ride but I am looking forward to going back to my normal job although I have enjoyed working for Dad this summer. Hoping to work with at least one if not two horses tonight.

Driving Freedom, Riding Daisy and Training Mika

Yesterday I drove Freedom for the first time in a while. It felt really wonderful being able to drive him again. He did amazingly well but I definitely could tell that it had been a while. It was a really gorgeous evening for a drive and I am hoping to drive Freedom again tomorrow. I also worked with Mika a little. I worked with her on the ground and I was pleased with how she responded.

Today Rose Mary rode Mika while I rode Daisy. Mika over all did really well. She rode in front, beside Daisy on both sides, as well as cantered in front of Daisy. I can see improvement in her and am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the month goes with riding her. I didn't drive Freedom tonight due to it almost being dark but I was pleased that Daisy had been driven twice over the weekend and then worked today again. I am hoping to work with Mika, Daisy and Freedom tomorrow before going to Chincotegue Thursday.

Gelding Freedom and Riding Daisy

 

Yesterday was my last day at work as a nanny till fall. It was bittersweet leaving work but I definitely can say I was excited to start working for Dad. I am really looking forward to working here at home and being with my family this summer. Today was the day I started for Dad as well as the day Freedom got gelded. The vet came around 12. The procedure went well and at the moment Freedom seems to be doing quite well. He is in a stall for the night and just came home from checking on him. He definitely is not happy about being stalled but he will be fine till he gets to go out.

 

I didn't work with any of the horses last evening. I had Lucy out for a while in the evening while I was talking to Rose Mary. By the time I was headed to the horses, a thunderstorm had started to roll in. So I took care of all the animals and headed home. Then I spent the evening talking to my dear friend Elana who is at Mountain View.

 

Today I went up a little while after the vet had left to check on Freedom. I rode Daisy since I was up there anyway. I worked her a bit there at the barn then took her for a ride. She didn't do as well as I had hoped she would but I was able to get her to do really well till the end. I was thinking probably some of her issue was that Freedom was in the barn and she was out in the meadow and she was not pleased about that fact in the least. Hoping to ride tomorrow evening before going to my cousins for the night since I am going canoeing on Saturday with their youth group. I didn't work with Mika this evening either but tomorrow hope to do that as well. I believe it will fit into my day no problem but we shall see. :)

Training Multiple Horses

Mika

 

I feel like I was able to accomplish a lot this evening. I got to the barn and brought Mika in first. I did some groundwork with her first.  Since she seems a bit spooky at times I got the tarp out and lunged her over that on the line. She is also nervous around the steer so I lunged her past him too. I wanted her to stop on the tarp before we finished up and I was able to get her to do that. She did excellent with the lunging so I took her into the barn and saddled her up. Once I had Mika saddled up, I thought it would be best to lunge her under saddle first before I hop on so I have an idea how she behaves with the saddle. I know she has been ridden before but not for a while. Mika is an older horse (not sure her exact age) but I wanted to cover my bases before hopping on her myself. She didn't react to the saddle so I got up on her. I walked her around a bit and then asked her for a trot. She went right into the trot. She is larger than Daisy by a bit and she is broader. I posted with her and then asked for a canter. I loved her immediately. If I actually needed/wanted another horse I so would want her. I guess I just have a soft spot in my heart for older horses especially after having Navajo :) Anyway since I had done all this work right behind the barn in a fenced in area I decided to take her out front so I have more room to work her. I worked on trotting with some cantering mixed in. Mika responded to everything I asked. I know I want her to be a bit more responsive to some of my cues and other things but I am so excited to see how she does the more I work with her. I really like her a lot :)

 

After I worked Mika, I hosed her off and then put her out in the meadow again. I brought my horses in and with Brooke and Cali's help (Anthony and Lori's 5 and 6 yr olds) I brushed Daisy and Freedom. I worked with Freedom a bit on the ground and he is really getting quite good at doing a move on the forehand and hindquarters. I think within the next couple days I want to see about teaching him to sidepass. I really want to get my cart fixed so I can drive him because I know he would really benefit from that!

 

I put Freedom out and tacked Daisy up with the French link snaffle and saddle. Tonight she did the absolute best she has ever done in a bit. I am really excited to ride her again and see how she does! She was so responsive to my cues to transition up to a trot and then down to a walk and stop. Going the one way, she kept wanting to break her gait but I worked her through that and was able to get her to trot consistently for me. I actually didn't work her very long but for the length of time I did, she did amazing. Not sure if I will get to work with anyone tomorrow because it is my last day of work and it looks like I will be working late. I also have piano lessons in the evening. I do plan to work the horses Thursday and Friday.

Catching Up

Its been quite a while since I blogged. Its been quite a busy month so far and I don't really see my summer slowing down. It will help that I will be working for my dad after Wednesday of this week. It is hard to believe I only have two more days of working as a nanny for this family for this school year. I plan to work for Dad for the summer and this family asked me back so I plan to work for them next school year. :)

 

Last week I had Bible school every evening so I didn't work with the horses at all. Friday I had off from work so I gave both horses a bath. I had worked with Freedom first. I was going to drive him and I did for a little bit before my tire on the cart went flat. So I need to fix that :) I didn't have time to work with Daisy but it was good to give both horses a bath.

 

I wasn't planning to go deep sea fishing with my youth group on Saturday but it ended up working out. I caught a star fish (which I kept), a sea creature that looked like a miniature sting ray, and a fish that was too small to keep. Overall our group caught 30 fish though. It was quite an enjoyable day!!

 

 



I had asked Anthony if he would show me how to run the weed whacker so I could do all the weed whacking around the outside of the meadow as well as along the dividing fence in the meadow. So I got there this morning before he left for work. It wasn't working so he left and I messed with it a bit more and got it running. I was able to get all the weed whacking done in 2 hrs. I came home and walked Lucy. I ran some errands with my family this afternoon then, this evening, I was able to work with my horses. First though, I worked with Mika, Anthony and Lori's horse that I am going to be training. She is an older horse who hasn't had work in a while so they want me to get her ready to ride for their children. I believe she will make a good child's horse. I worked her in the round pen tonight and I could tell she knew what she was doing. I was quite impressed with how she did. In the end she joined up with me and then followed me. I also got her to back up and do some other groundwork. Then I gave her a bath and put her out.

 

Mika

 

I then worked with Freedom. I lunged him and got him to do some work at the canter. I am very pleased with where he is with his training. Thursday the vet is coming out to geld him so not sure how that will all affect our work schedule but we will play it by ear. I actually didn't ride Daisy myself but Anthony and Lori's two girls, Brooke and Cali rode Daisy. I called my mom and asked her if she wanted to bring Rachel up. She did so, I let Rachel ride Daisy as well. :) Tomorrow evening I am hoping to ride Daisy and work with Freedom a bit.

Brooke and Daisy

 Rachel and Daisy (cell phone photos :)

Lots of Groundwork

 

Above is another one of the photos that my mom took on Saturday. I am just amazed at how tall Freedom has gotten. He is looking quite nice :) So this week I haven't done so well with working Daisy every day like I wanted because between helping my parents get ready for the show and my funny work schedule, I haven't had time to work her. I did get to work with Freedom every day since Monday though because I am just doing groundwork with him. I have mainly been working on a turn on the haunches and on the forehand, and he has greatly improved. He has been doing pretty amazing and I believe very soon I will be ready to teach him to sidepass. The rest of this week I won't get to work with either horse because I am going to be heading up to meet my family at the show they left for today. So I will be busy with the show. Next week we have Bible school and I am teaching 1+2nd grade :) Depending on how my week goes I am hoping to still work with Freedom even if I don't get to work with Daisy. Then the week following Bible school is my last week of work and then I should have more time to work with the horses. Hope that you have a wonderful rest of the week!!

 

sunset a week or two ago

Tarps, Laying Down, Groundwork, and Riding

Freedom

Freedom

Daisy

Daisy

Since it is June and this summer I am hoping to have more time than I have had in a summer for a while, I have written out a weekly schedule for what I want to do with each horse. They might get ahead or behind but the idea is to have a better plan than what I have had in the past.

Monday evening I worked with Freedom first. He was being a bit of a mess coming out of the meadow so I took him through the gate a few times till he behaved the way he usually does. I had decided to work him in the round pen this evening and then work with him using a tarp. First I free lunged him. Different times he asked me if he could stop but I just asked him to keep on. After he was consistently doing everything I asked (which didn't take long), I asked him to stop and face me. I then allowed him to come to me. I praises him. I had brought a plastic bag in with me and after I let him process the lunging, I rattled that at him. He could have cared less about the bag. I also ran it all over him and again showed no interest. I put it over his ears and eyes. He wasn't happy he couldn't see, but otherwise was ok with it.

So I then brought a tarp in. I lay it on the ground for him and he was snorting at it but wasn't overly concerned. After I let him get used to the tarp I asked him to stand and I shook the tarp and put it over his back. As you can see in the first picture, he didn't care. He was just quite curious about this strange and somewhat noisy object on his back. After he showed so little concern for the tarp, I was curious if he would allow me to put it on him when he was laying down. And he did. I really praised him for doing so wonderfully! I really wasn't to surprised but it made me so proud of him. After I took it off of him he just walked off :) Over all, I felt my session with him went wonderful!!!

After I finished with Freedom, I got Daisy. I wanted to work her over the tarp too but knew I should do the riding work I want to do first and if I have time I can play with the tarp. I already knew she stood with the tarp on her, I was curious if she would go a step farther. So I put her bridle on and worked her a bit. My goal with her is to get her better in-tune with my seat and leg cues. We worked on her stop and back up. I was really impressed with how she did. After working her a bit with that, I got off and praised her. Then I put her halter on again, put the tarp over her and she stood there and just looked at me. So I praises her, took the tarp off and asked her to lay down. She did. Then I got the tarp and put it over her again. No problem. She laid there like we did this every day. I praises her and took the tarp off and asked her to get up.

 

Tuesday evening I went to the chiropractor. I had been having issues with my one knee bothering me for a while now. Driving to GA a couple weekends back really bothered my knees. My chiropractor put it in place and then taped it to support my knee cap. I think he said I have Chondromalacia Patella. Whatever the correct terminology is, I am not supposed to go down stairs or hills more than I need to, or kneel. Not sure how this all works with riding yet. I went to the horses after coming home. I put flyspray on both horses and fed them. I also worked Freedom a little bit on doing a move on both his forehand and haunches. Didn't work with Daisy at all.

 

Wednesday evening I worked Freedom a little bit as well. I free lunged him and in the end he followed me around. I also got him to lay down for me as well. I didn't work with Daisy at all. Thursday evening I didn't do anything with the horses besides feed them because I was in a lot of pain with my knee.

Today I had off. I spent most of my day working on pictures from the rodeo in May. Got those finished and then after supper I went to the horses. I rode Daisy and worked her at stopping when cued all by body language. She did excellent at all three gaits. :) I was really pleased with her. Since she was doing so well, I got her to do a turn on the forehand both ways. Daisy did excellent with that too. I also got her to do a lot of turning all by leg and upper body cues and not using the reins. Now she knows all these things but I want to fine tune it a bit more. Tomorrow I am hoping to work her again. After I worked her, I got Freedom out. I did some in-hand work. I then worked him at both a turn on the haunches and the forehand. Turning toward the left he was being a mess but I just worked him a bit more and he did it well without a fuss. I also got him to stand nicely as well and he did that nice as you please. Looking forward to working him tomorrow as well! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Lunging Freedom and Riding Daisy

I didn't work with either horse like I had wanted to this week. A few evenings it rained but I hadn't been feeling to well all week. Last evening I just went to bed early instead of going to sleep out with the youth girls at my youth leaders house. I did feel a bit better this morning.


I went to the horses this afternoon. I worked with Freedom on the lunge line and afterwards I worked him a bit on moving his hindquarters. This evening I am going to be writing out a training schedule for him. I know he might not stay on schedule but it will help me keep my goals in order for him. I want him to be trained as good as I am able to get him on the ground for when I get ready to ride him come fall. After I had worked with him, I hosed him off and put him out in the meadow again.


I brought Daisy in. I had planned to ride her and decided to ride her bareback with the bit again after having ridden her with the hackamore the last few rides. We went around the block which was about an hour ride. She did a really good job but I want to do some fine tuning work with her this week. I am hoping to work with the horses every evening this next week but we shall see how the weather and other things work out. I am excited to see how far I get with the horses this summer because I feel this summer I will have more time than I have had with the horses in a while :)

Working Freedom, Children Riding Daisy, and The Cabin

 

Thursday evening I worked with Freedom a bit. I got him to move his feet and then after a bit allowed him to come to me and he came and followed me. Friday I had planned to work with the horses but instead went to help my family set up at the show in Kinzers (half an hour from our place). Rose Mary and I came home around lunch time and did the chores and packed to go to the cabin. We left to meet everyone at 2.

 

I had a relaxing weekend at the cabin. I was able to chat and spend time with friends and get to know some people better. We came home Sunday afternoon. I spent my evening listening to Radio Theatre's "Billy Bud, Sailor" (dramatization of Herman Melville's story) as well as spending time with my family. Monday I did a lot of different things. I had planned to ride Daisy and work with Freedom but instead mowed the meadow. :)

 

Today I brought Cameron and Jackson to my house (the two boys I babysit). Before lunch I took them to the horses and let them both ride Daisy. My mom had gone with me so she could watch the boys and make sure they stay on Daisy nicely. I was impressed with how sweet Daisy was with the boys. I let Cameron guide her with me standing by her head and she listened to him quite well. I want to see about letting Rachel ride Daisy a bit and see how that goes with her. This evening it rained. I had planned to go to a graduation but haven't been feeling all that well the last bit so stayed home. Tomorrow I hope I feel a bit better. If I do, then I hope to ride Daisy and work with Freedom. We shall see.

A Trip to GA, Riding Daisy, and Working Freedom

Project I have been working on to hang on my wall

Last week I didn't do much with the horses. Thursday evening I had piano lessons so I didn't work with either horse. Friday it rained most of the day and so I spent the day inside as well as getting some fly spray, some of my feed, and a few other things at the feed store. Saturday I was away helping a friend with her horse (going again tomorrow evening so I most likely won't work with my guys) and spent some time with my cousins doing errands as well as doing our Bible study of Hebrews. In the evening I was able to ride. I rode Daisy and Rose Mary walked Freedom along behind Daisy and I. Both horses did pretty good although Freedom was acting a bit full of himself. When we got back, I worked him on the ground a little bit because he was being a bit pushy. Sunday, two friends of mine and I went to visit one of my friends in GA. She is getting married in July and after she is married she will be living in GA. We went down for the bridal shower that they had for her down there. Then on Tuesday we came home.

This evening I worked with Freedom. I decided to round pen him tonight and then just do some more groundwork hopefully later this week. He did excellent with the round penning. After he joined up with me, I turned around and walked away to see if he would follow. We did that for a bit and then I wanted to see if he would do good if we went out into the fenced area behind the barn. He did really well with that then too. Since it was actually quite warm, I hosed him off and then just gave him a bath. Now he is quite clean. Hoping to give Daisy a bath with in the next week or so.

Riding and Groundwork

 

Today I got off from work a half an hour early so I was able to do all the things I wanted to do this evening. I walked Lucy for a while. I had taken her for a short walk this morning but then for a longer walk this evening :) After I fed Lucy, I headed to the horses. I rode Daisy first. I was really pleased with how she behaved this evening. I believe we had the best ride tonight than we have had in a LONG time. We had gone up the road a little ways and then turned onto a side road that I usually ride along. She wanted to trot without me asking for it; we just worked through that and I got her to go nicely at a walk first and then after she walked nicely for a bit, I asked for a trot. I was really pleased how nicely she trotted as well. On the way back, she did the absolute best she has ever done as far as trotting. I am really excited to work with her later this week and see how she does!!

After I got back, I brushed her and then put her away. Got Freedom out and worked with him a little bit on some groundwork. Did some backing, doing the moves on the haunches and forehand both ways. We also worked a bit at his walking and trotting off when I did as well as stopping when I do. I was really happy with how he did. Hoping to maybe drive him later this week.

Riding Different Horses

 

I had a busy week so I didn't get to ride till this weekend. I rode Daisy bareback and bridleless a little bit on Friday evening. I mostly did some walking, turning and backing but we did canter a bit. I didn't have much time to work with her on Friday as I had planned because I was helping here at home with the garden and some other odds and ends. I had fun planting our garden though. It is always fun working with my family!! I did get to love on both horses a bit and say Happy Birthday to Freedom. It is hard to believe (I know I keep saying that) that two years ago he was just a little baby!!

 

Friday evening I ate supper and spent the evening at Sharon's. My cousin's were there and then just Sarah and Maryrose and I stayed the night. Since Sarah and Maryrose had plans to go to garage sales around 7 this morning, Sharon and I decided we would go for a ride since we were going to be up anyway. We ate breakfast around 6 and then Sharon and I headed out. I rode Sugarfoot (Freedom's half brother. He is a year older than Freedom). I had ridden him last Saturday and he had behaved decently then. This morning he decided to spook at everything. I had fun working him through the things he was scared with. Really makes me look forward to working with Freedom under saddle. I haven't worked him much lately but I have done some more thinking and I plan to maybe just stick to groundwork and light driving over summer and then come this fall and winter (when he is 2 1/2) start some light riding and next spring do a bit more. We shall see how all things go. After I left Sharon, I came home and rode Daisy.

I was really impressed with how she did today. I brought her down here to the farm again. I came home right over lunch. She listened quite well on the way here. Once here, I tied her till after I had eaten my lunch. Then I decided to work her a bit in the field out behind the hay shed before heading back up to the barn. I didn't run her because she was giving me a hard time about walking. She knows how to be light on the bit but she is a horse that likes to test you to no end. Well I just worked her through it by stopping, backing, turning circles, making her weave and anything to keep her feet moving. I had to laugh at her because I could tell she was not happy that I wasn't allowing her to go as fast as she would have liked but in the end she accepted what I said. On the way home, she walked very nicely without me having to remind her to behave. I am hoping to ride her more this next week because I am not so busy but we shall have to see how it goes. Hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Easter and a Ride

Hallelujah, He is risen!!!! Thank you, Lord, for what you have done for me!!!

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

 

It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
Its about the cross
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nwwwOW8eyj0

 

This song has been running through my mind the last few days and it was perfect for Easter weekend! The verse above is what really hit me and once again, I am so thankful for what Christ has done for me and that by His dying on the Cross and rising again, I may have new life in Him!!!

 

I didn't work with Daisy and Freedom on Thursday evening because I had my first piano lesson :) Friday, although I had off, I didn't spend much of it with the horses. I spent some time with my one cousin I don't get to see much in the morning. Since my parents had gone away for some of the morning, I did some cleaning and helped out around home here. I did take my youth leader and her two children for a cart ride with Freedom mid-afternoon. I didn't do much else Friday then. I did have an amazing Easter weekend. I was able to be with some wonderful people all weekend long. I went for a ride at Sharon's place Saturday morning. Really enjoyed that. In the morning  before going to Sharon (Saturday), I went to the barn to grab some things for Sarah I had forgotten to grab the evening before. Since I was up there anyway, I decided to love on the horses a bit as well as maybe work them just a little. I laid Freedom down and also got him to do a move on the forehand both ways as well as back up. Then I hopped on Daisy bareback with the rope around her neck and worked her a bit. She did pretty good ;)

I didn't do any riding on Sunday but then today I did ride Daisy. I rode her down to the farm here. She was a mess the entire ride, with the exception of about the last 15 minutes of the ride or so. I am hoping to work with her another evening this week but I know I am working till 5 the three days I work this week, which is a blessing :) I know I keep saying it, but I guess I will say it again anyway. Freedom turns 2 Friday :) :) :) Not planning on riding him hard but I do plan to start doing some under-saddle work with him. Next week I won't have my sister's school program and a few things like that so I should have more time to work with the horses ;)

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Ok so no riding on Saturday. We had a rainy day so instead, I spent my afternoon resting and doing not much of anything :) I had my youth activity in the evening. Spent a good part of it chatting with my friends and catching up with people. Sunday afternoon I spent inside because of the rain. I finished a book and started another one. Also just enjoyed spending the evening with my family.

Today (Monday) was sunny. :) It was really nice. I spent the evening working with the horses a bit. I had wanted to ride but since my knees have been causing me lots of pain. If it continues as it has been I shall go back to the chiropractor. So since I didn't feel up to riding, I just worked on some groundwork with both horses. I am planning to just improve on Freedom's turn on the haunches and forehand and maybe even having him side passing before riding him :) I am pleased with the progress I have made with him so far! We shall see how the month of April goes. It seems hard to believe that two years ago I was anxiously anticipating his arrival and this April he will be TWO. I was thinking how all good things take time and that I am really excited to start working him under saddle.

Some pictures of the day he was born and the next day:

First meeting

2nd day

2nd day

 

Freedom and Daisy this past December.

 

These pictures make me smile for lots of reasons. I had so much fun the day after he was born, spending time with Daisy and him. I must say raising a baby from day one is the best!! Freedom was a dream come true for me. I always wanted to raise a baby and then train it. So glad that God has blessed me with the opportunity to raise Freedom!

 

Anyway, I also worked with Daisy a bit as well. Not quite as much as Freedom but I am hoping to maybe ride tomorrow. Overall it was a great evening!

Working with the Horses

Its been a busy past few days. Thursday evening I didn't work with the horses but Friday evening Sarah came. We discussed vaccinations and some of our feeding schedule for the horses and then Saturday morning we went for a morning ride. I woke up around 7 and we got to the barn around 8:30 or so. It was fun being able to ride for an hour and still having a good part of the day left to do things. In the afternoon, my mom helped me put a fence up to make a corral in the meadow. The idea being to help preserve most of the grass and then give it a chance to grow before the horses really get to be on it much. I need to get a few more posts and then I will be ready to do the dividing fence line going down the middle of the length of the meadow. Freedom of course, played with it because I didn't get a energizer for the fence till today (Tuesday) but we won't set it up till tomorrow.

Sunday and Monday evenings I had other plans. Sunday evening I went to church and Monday evening a group of friends went to sing for someone. Today I didn't have work so I had the chance to work both horses. I saddled Freedom up and put the bit in his mouth. Worked him a bit from the ground on backing up, doing both a turn on the haunches and forehand, and walking forward. I was really impressed with how he did. Friday is exactly a month till he turns two!

I then worked Daisy in the bit from the ground on doing a turn on the haunches and forehand as well. Then after she did so well with that, I hopped on her bareback and worked her on walking off, trotting and then stopping. :) She did amazing. For me what I did was short and sweet but I felt like I really got somewhere with both horses.

Warm Weather and Working the Horses

Hope you are enjoying the longer evenings as much as I am. Tonight I got to walk Lucy, drive Freedom, and ride Daisy. I am not planning to be able to do this every night but was thankful I had the chance to do so today! I spent a nice amount of time outside even at work. Took the boys to the park and we ate a picnic lunch too. I was so glad it was warmer today :)

I got home from work and went to walk Lucy. I hadn't walked her this morning, due to leaving for work an hour earlier. She did excellent at not pulling on the leash and I also did some training with her. :)

After supper, I headed to the horses. I drove Freedom for about half an hour. He did an excellent job and he hardly shied at all. I think he was just going thru a phase and I don't think the scare with the truck helped at all as well as the snow being on the ground making everything look different. Either way, he did wonderful and I really enjoyed driving him. Sarah rode Mischa out to meet me since she wanted to talk to me about something. She hopped off Mischa, climbed in the cart and ponied Mischa that way. Freedom wasn't too sure what to think about the idea of a horse following but he soon got used to the idea.

When we got back to the barn, I put Freedom out in the meadow and got Daisy all ready to ride. By the time both Sarah and I were ready to ride it was still slightly light out but we knew it would be dark before we got back to the barn. We put the reflectors on the horses and ourselves. Soon it will be light the entire time we ride and we won't have to worry with reflectors at least for the horses. ;) We rode for an hour and just had the chance to talk and work with our horses. I am so glad the she moved Mischa here for this last part of the winter because it has helped motivate me to ride especially with the really cold weather we have had. Once we got back to the barn, Sarah kept going past the driveway after I let Daisy turn in. While I waited for her and Mischa a bit, I worked at Daisy's turn on the haunches from the ground. She did really good both ways. :) I am really looking forward to keep working with her on that and then hopefully this summer having her know side pass. We shall see!

Hope you have a great evening! Enjoy the warm weather!!

A Full Weekend and A Busy Start To The Week

Thursday and Friday I didn't do anything with the horses. Friday I had planned to drive Daisy in the cart and see how she does but then it was foggy so I didn't drive or ride either horse. I ended up just doing chores and getting the horses stuff ready for the weekend. I had youth retreat this weekend. I always look forward to youth retreat.

Last year I didn't go because I had been dealing with severe headaches. Looking back, I was still working at Pellman Foods icing cakes, and it was quite noisy there and I believe I was just getting nasty noise headaches. Anyway, this year was amazing. I really enjoyed the topics we had and I loved that I was able to have my sister, Rose Mary there, as well as my cousin Sarah. I also felt that I got a lot more out of this year than I did some years because I feel I am closer to God than ever before. I love that about God. You think you are close to Him, and you go thru some more trials and tests, and you realize that you only had a small taste of closeness to Him. :)

Sunday afternoon, I went for a drive with Sarah before supper. Rose Mary and Sarah had gone riding. I had plans in the early afternoon but I told Sarah I still want to go driving after that. We drove Freedom and he did pretty good. He acted up a bit going out the lane but did pretty good once on the road. He still shies at some stuff but he seems to be getting better. We only drove for about half an hour and after we got back, I fed my horses and went home.

after we got back! I just love how she looks all hooked up (cell phone picture)

Monday, I had off work, because Jimmy had worked the weekend (meaning I had off Friday and Monday). My day was quite full. For some reason I couldn't sleep past seven, so I got up even though I was quite tired yet from the weekend :) I headed to the horses. I decided to drive Daisy first. I hooked her up to the cart and she didn't mind the cart in the least. I started out the driveway and she acted like she did this all the time. I don't remember the last time I drove her single. We had trained her via double hitch and then gone single hitch one or so times. It was at least two years ago. Anyway, I was by myself and I knew with it being Monday, and the road I was on, I wasn't going to face much traffic. I drove her for about half an hour and she did absolutely perfect. She tried to canter a time or two, but I always asked her to go back to a trot and she listened very well! I was so pleased with her!!

Daisy (cell phone picture)

Once I got back from driving Daisy, I got Freedom all hitched up. By that time, Sarah was there. (In case you all wondered, we do have jobs and such, but sometimes it works out that we are able to do impromptu things). She hadn't planned to come till Tuesday evening but some things changed that made it able for her to come. She went with me when I drove Freedom again. He did so much better than Sunday. He shied a time or two but definitely was better than on Sunday.

I had put Daisy in the stall till we got back with Freedom, and when we got back with Freedom, I put him behind the barn. I got Daisy, and saddled her up. I thought it would be good for her to be ridden for a short bit since she had been driven and that was something new. Sarah and I rode for about half an hour. I had plans to go down to Sharon to ride all afternoon cause she knew I had off and wanted to ride with me for a couple hours :)

So after the horses were all put away, I came home, got some food and headed to Sharon. Once at Sharon I just threw my stirrups on Lightning (the horse I was going to ride) and we headed out. We were going to be going on a 3 hour ride. It was good to ride with Sharon again, especially since we haven't for a while. Abby was along as well. She is a person that boards her horse there at Sharon and I haven't seen her in a while so it was good riding with her as well! Once we got to the place we were riding to, we unsaddled the horses and then hung out with the people we had gone to visit. We ate supper there. Earl Dean (Sharon's husband) came with the truck and trailer to trailer us and the horses home. I didn't get to the barn where my horses are till 9 and then home here till 10. It was a long day, all spent outside, but it was good!! I loved that I was able to spend it with friends and an added benefit was riding and working my horses :)

Tonight I am not doing anything with my horses besides feeding and loving on them a bit. I need to get to bed a bit earlier to catch up on sleep. I was blessed to be able to see the gorgeous sunset this evening (pictured above). Hope you all have a blessed day tomorrow!

President's Day, Riding, Driving, and Laying Horses Down

Today was quite the day. I had off from work because of it being President's Day. I needed to get the back tires on my truck changed, so I went to the tire place and got that done first thing this morning. I grabbed a late breakfast because I figured I would be spending most of the rest of the day at the barn. Walter and I both got to the barn around quarter of 12. We did some cleaning in the barn first. I was planning to drive Freedom and Walter asked if he could go along. I said sure. We walked out the driveway behind the cart since the driveway is a bit slippery yet from the snow. Freedom did really well with driving but he did have a few times of spooking. I was pleased though with how he listened to me despite being a bit scared of things. I drove him longer than I ever had, but he wasn't tired or worn out after driving him. Freedom did really well and I was pleased with the outcome.


When we got back, we decided to lay down Walter's pony, Tokyo. He laid down very nicely and since I wanted to see how Prince would do, I laid him down. Prince was quite stubborn about the whole thing but he did give up and lay down :) We had talked about driving Tokyo at some point, but never had the time. Today we had the time, so we drove Tokyo. We line drove him, saw what he thought about the cart, and then drove him in the cart. Tokyo is so much like Freedom (an older and smaller version). He took it all in a stride and could have cared less about the cart or about the whole idea of driving. He really enjoyed it! :)


Once we finished driving Tokyo, we made a run for some more hay and some shavings. By the time we got back from that, we got some supper. After supper, Sharon came to bring the harness I bought for Daisy, and to figure out if we were going to trade out the harness I have for Freedom for one she had. We just did some switching on the harness so that the one I have for Freedom will fit him better since he has grown so much. We fit Daisy's harness to her and what I like about her harness is once Freedom gets bigger it will fit him too. She also brought the cart my cousin, Sarah, bought and it is big enough to drive Daisy in. So, I am really hoping to start line driving Daisy this week again and then see about driving her in the cart, on Monday. She has been driven single but wow, it has been a good year if not two years since the last time. We shall see how it goes!! :)


Sarah got to the barn around 6:30. Sharon left after helping us get everything figured out with the harnesses and cart. Sarah, Walter, and I then went for a ride. Walter rode Harley, Sarah rode Mischa, and I rode Daisy. It was a fun and relaxing ride. :)


Overall it was a full but fun day. I am so thankful for the people God has brought into my life. They may be different and not like me, but they each have taught me something about myself, as well a more about how to love each and every person, no matter how different they are from me! :) I know God will continue to teach me how to relate to those He brings into my life!!


Tomorrow I plan to work (if the snow doesn't make travel impossible) and maybe line driving Daisy in the evening. Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day as you probably already know. Personally I have been thinking of the love Christ has for me. As much as I was hoping on going to work today, that isn't happening because the roads are really not looking the best this morning and the school where my boss works, is closed :D Since I was awake anyway to see if my boss had told me if I working or not, I saw that the sun was coming up. I checked to see the exact time of sunrise and decided to head out and take some morning pictures. The snow was quite deep where it hasn't been plowed yet, no surprise since we got a few more inches last night again.

sunrise this morning

 

When I got in from taking pictures, no one was up yet because Rachel's school was closed too. Everyone slowly got up and moving and after breakfast I went out with Rose Mary to take care of the dogs. We got Duke and Kelsey each out to play with. They both seemed to really love the snow. The roads weren't really clear yet so we just were together as a family. I was tired so I took a nap. I am not a person that really likes to take naps but my cold has been making me drag so a nap felt good. Around 2:30, Rose Mary and I headed to the horses. I wanted to drive Freedom.

 

We got to the barn and Lori had been working at clearing the driveway so I was able to drive Freedom!! :) I was so excited because I haven't had the chance to drive him for a bit. I drove him for about 20 minutes and besides spooking 3 times, once for an unknown reason, and twice by the same dog. Once we got back, I put him out behind the barn.

 

We brought Harley in and I brought Daisy in. Since Rose Mary was using my natural ride and I don't use my western saddle (which I plan to sell at some point) and I didn't feel like using my English saddle, I decided to just ride bareback. Rose Mary and I rode for about 40 minutes. Daisy did really well. We even cantered twice and Daisy responded well to my aides when cantering. I must say there has been improvement! :)

 

Once we got back to the barn, I was giving Mischa and Harley their hay and grain. Well before we had left I had given Freedom some hay so he would have something to munch on and not decide to destroy anything. Wouldn't you know, instead of eating his hay, he goes and digs in the snow and finds hay that had been put out but not all eaten for other horses. Silly goof. Some days he just makes me laugh. I was happy though that he did so well with driving. I am really excited about starting him under saddle in almost exactly 2 months. I think it will go really well but I guess time will tell. He is definitely a character.

 

The weather forecast says we might get 2-4 more inches. We got a whole bunch on Thursday, some last night, and more tomorrow :) Hope we are able to still do our youth thing (the youth group is doing in home babysitting for families from our churches). Guess we shall see. Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day! I had a great one spent with my family, having fun and being together!!