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.

The Last Week

Last week after Wednesday I didn't work with any of the horses. Thursday evening I went with my cousin to something concerning her business. Then Friday Tyler came up for the weekend. We had a wedding Saturday, did some different things Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening we were with my youth group. Sunday we were at my cousin's for lunch and some of the afternoon and then it was time for our parting again.

Rose Mary, Tyler and I had gone shopping for the wedding gift and we saw a wading pool. We decided to buy it for Lucy to see how she would like that since she so enjoys splashing in her water bucket. Well Friday evening she wanted nothing to do with the pool but then Saturday we put it in her pen and she was quite a happy dog standing in the pool. That dog makes me laugh so much!

Sunday Rose Mary and I took Freedom for a drive. I love that horse, he makes me laugh so much. He is such a pleasure to drive because he wears his expressions on his face and you can so see what he is thinking. He did quite well with being driven and I am hoping to drive him some more this week.

Monday I rode Mika. I have mainly been working with her and putting hours on her. I was really pleased with how she rode. We cantered quite a bit and she responded really well. Right at the moment I am working with her on going straight and not shying at everything and she definitely has come a long way since last month when I started to ride her. After I got back from riding Mika and had put her away, I got Daisy out to drive her. She did really well and I am hoping to ride her sometime this week yet.

Today I didn't work with the horses because I was helping my mom and aunt with canning. Tomorrow I should be able to work with the horses as well as the rest of the week :)

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.

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 :)

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 ;)

Driving Freedom and Ponying Mischa

This week so far has been great. Sunday I drove Daisy because I had a friend who was in the area and I had promised her if she ever is around, I would give her a cart ride. Monday was rainy so I didn't work with the horses at all. I did spend some time at the barn doing some odds and ends. Today (Tuesday), I vaccinated both my horses. Sarah asked me if I would give Mischa his vaccinations too since she had never administered shots before. She had been at the barn an hour or so before I got there, so I asked her what she wanted to do. She had already worked Mischa. I told her I would be into driving Freedom and then she asked if she could pony Mischa off the back of the cart. That is what we did. Mischa did great, he got exercise, and Freedom got a good workout. I hadn't driven him in a while because I had been doing a lot of groundwork lately in preparation to ride him toward the end of this month. So excited about riding him!! :) :) I did groom both horses but other than that didn't do anything with Daisy. Tomorrow evening I have church, but I plan to work Daisy hopefully on Thursday evening. Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!

A Dog and A Cart Ride

Another beautiful day here in Lancaster County, PA. I took the boys to the park again today, this time we walked there. I enjoyed being able to be out in short sleeves and soaking up the sun. I think one can really appreciate the feeling of spring in the air after such a cold winter!! I have made up my mind, I will not complain about the mud since it is a part of spring and it means warm weather is on its way here! :)

I hadn't walked Lucy this morning so I took her along to the horses. I wasn't sure how it would go but Lucy did well with everything. Rose Mary went with me because I wanted to drive Freedom but wasn't sure how it would go with taking Lucy along for the first time. Lucy did great and Freedom did great. Rose Mary even commented on how well he has improved in not spooking since the last time she had gone on a cart ride with me. Tomorrow they are calling for rain, so not sure I will get to work with the horses. It will be fine if I don't because I have some odds and ends I need to get together for my cousin Sarah and I's trip to VA for the weekend. :) I won't mind the rain either :)

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!!

Driving Freedom and Riding Daisy Bridle-less

I drove Freedom again for the first time in over a week on Saturday. Been in the process of getting over my cold. Before we went for a drive, I worked with Freedom a bit on groundwork. We were in the meadow and I got him to back away from me, then I told him to whoa and then I backed up. The idea was for him to stay where I told him too until I told him otherwise. It took him a bit to figure out that I mean for him to stand 5 ft away from me. I was really impressed with how he did.

When we went for a drive, I took him a different way. Instead of going left out of the lane like we have pretty much every time I took him out, we went right. He trotted off really nice. Not far down the road, a man came out of his basement, dressed in lightly colored clothing, had a mask over his nose and mouth, and was carrying a bucket. Freedom stopped and LOOKED. Talked to the guy a little bit. He asked me if I am the one who usually rides. I said yes but at the moment I am training him to drive and come April we will start some light under saddle work, that is the hope anyway. He wished me the best with working with Freedom and by the time I was done talking to him, Freedom was over being worried. Not to much farther down the road there is a bunch of wood to the side of the road. Freedom snorted at the wood and was a bit wary but trusted me to keep on past. We went down to the road where I usually ride Daisy a lot and turned around on that road. Headed back, we had no things Freedom was scared of. I really am excited about starting him under saddle. Thinking maybe this week to throw my natural ride saddle on him and lunging him with it on, to get him used to the feeling of the stirrups and such. Since he is use to the girth tightening with the harness I am not worried about that. We shall see.

Once we got back from driving, I unhitched Freedom and groomed him. Took him out into the pasture and grabbed Daisy. I wanted to ride but since it was quite chilly and I still wasn't quite feeling the best, I decided to just do some bridle-less work in the arena. Now we haven't done any bridle-less work since August. I wasn't sure how Daisy would do, especially with not having ridden for a little while, but I was excited to see how it might go. It went really well especially for not having done it for a long while! We cantered for a bit and did some stops and starts. Also got her to back up. I always forget how much fun it is to work a horse like that. Maybe since I am not such a huge fan of riding in the dark I could do some more bridle-less work with her this winter :) We shall have to see! Once I was done working with her in the arena, I groomed her and put her out with Freedom. Overall I felt like I got a nice amount done with both horses yesterday.

On a totally different note, for some reason been thinking a lot of my trip with my sister, Rose Mary, out to WA this past summer and that it is definitely something I wan to do again:) I just love the scenery out there....Someday I would love to go to Alaska!

 Lisa and I

Rose Mary (my sister and traveling companion) and I

 Lisa on Aly and I am on Julio (Lisa's very TALL Dutch warm blood)

Just LOVE this picture

Driving Freedom

 A photo of our return from line driving on the road for the first time

 

Yesterday I wanted to drive Freedom again because it had been a week since the last time. I would have driven him sooner but the weather was too cold and too snowy for me to be able to drive him. So yesterday after the snow we did get, melted, my sister Rose Mary went with me and we drove him. We hitched him up and then took him out of the lane. I wanted Rose Mary along so if we happen to run into anything scary I can have some help if needed, just as a precaution. She walked out the driveway since it is so steep and I figured he would do better pulling two people on the flat. We didn't go as far as the last time, about half as far but Freedom did great. On the way back we did meet a truck coming toward us, just like we had the last time right after our truck going around us scare. Anyway Freedom did freak out a little bit but not near like the last time. I was really happy with him. I have a feeling if I keep driving him once or twice a week, not too far, just enough to condition him a little bit, and if we keep meeting trucks he soon will get over his fear :) I am very pleased with how he has been doing so far. Once we got back to the barn, I groomed him again and then put him out. Since it was getting dark, I didn't have time to ride Daisy too, so I just groomed her as well then fed them. Hoping to ride today but we shall see!

 

 Driving Freedom on the road with the cart

What one does when the driveway is steep and too snowy and slippery to drive down to deliver the hay to the barn :)

p.s. All I have of driving Freedom are phone photos :)

Happy New Year, Riding and Driving my Horses

Freedom 

Daisy

 

Hope everyone had a good New Year's Day. :) I was able to spend mine with my Mom's side of the family. It was great seeing cousins that I don't see much any other time of the year.

 

Thursday I worked for two hours. It was great seeing Cameron and Jackson again. I enjoyed having off for Christmas break and spending time at home with my family some, visiting a friend who is at Mountain View as volunteer staff, and being able to ride during the day but it is always nice to go back to work. Monday, Lord Willing (and if the weather cooperates), I will go back to work for full days.

 

After I got home from work on Thursday, I changed into riding clothes and headed to the horses. I decided to drive Freedom first. I went a little farther than the last time I had driven him. Instead of turning right out of the driveway like we always have before, I turned left. I wanted to take him over the turnpike since it is something he has to get used to anyway and I figured what better day than today. Everything went well. We trotted to the bridge and right before the bridge I allowed him to walk. He really looked at the bridge and the cars going underneath but walked over it no problem. Halfway across I asked for a trot and he trotted off really nice. We turned into the little road that I work Daisy along sometimes at night and went the length of that and back. Then we headed back toward the barn. We crossed the turnpike once again, no problem. Well just as we finished crossing the bridge, this truck (I kinda glanced behind me and I thought it was just a big dump truck) came up behind us. We were right on the corner and I was kinda hoping the guy waits to pass us till  we are in the straight stretch. But no, he starts to pass us. Freedom starts to freak out, and starts pulling toward the middle of the road. He has seen big trucks and has had them pass him when he is with Daisy but never like this. Since the truck turns out to be a big cattle truck with a trailer, he takes some of our side of the road since the corner is so sharp and it turns the right which is the way we were heading. I asked Freedom to stop and he does almost immediately, but not before we had almost collided with the cattle truck (since the truck was so long and on our side of the road, the corner so sharp, and Freedom not being totally alongside of the road like he should have been since he was freaking out). I pretty much just reacted along with lots of yelling WHAO. I stopped Freedom and got him to back up a bit and then we just stood there till the truck passed us. If  Freedom would not have responded to me like he did right away, things could have turned out much differently. I am so thankful to God that we arrived back safe and sound and in one piece. Although Freedom is now scared of trucks because right after this happened and we had gone a little ways, a small box truck came our way on the opposite side of the road and Freedom pulled to the side away from the truck. He never has freaked out like that about cars or any other trucks we have encountered. But we arrived back and I unhooked the cart and unharnessed him. :)

 

After I got back from driving Freedom, I rode Daisy. Since it was so cold I decided to just hop on her bareback and go for a nice ride. I believe the French link snaffle has made such a difference because she behaves so much better with this bit. We rode for about half an hour and we did some cantering. On the way back, Daisy walked like a good girl instead of trying to trot when I didn't ask her to. Overall I felt like my day with the horses was quite profitable.

 

 

 

It snowed as I was finishing things up. I am not sure how much snow we got but I am hoping the roads will be clear enough to go to the horses this evening. Hope you all are having a blessed New Year!

This is my mentality for the new year: Don't Let Circumstances Intimidate You. I read this in my devotions a while back and it made an impression on me! :)

Driving Freedom on the Road and Riding Daisy

 

Thursday I didn't do anything with the horses because it snowed in the morning and in the afternoon I was hanging out with my cousin's. Friday I was able to drive Freedom again. I took him on the road with the cart. I hopped in the cart for the ride because he trots quite fast that I have to run to keep up. He didn't mind the weight at all. We weren't gone long at all but long enough to see how he did. He really enjoyed himself! He only really looked at some trash along the road and a wood pile but other than that he went trotting on by. I was really pleased.

 

I went home for lunch and then came back to ride Daisy. I rode her for a little while in the English saddle and the French link snaffle, which she loves by the way. She did really well. I honestly think the bit made some difference. She responds a lot better to it than she has to almost any other bit! I am so pleased with how both my horses are doing. Over the weekend I didn't do anything with the horses because I was visiting my friend Elana in Virginia. Hoping to go work with the horses later today.

Busy Time of Year

Ok I know I haven't posted in a while and I apologize. Been busy with getting ready for Christmas and such. Last Tuesday (the 17th), Daisy, Freedom and I went down to Sharon's barn and met up with a bunch of others to go Christmas caroling on horseback at Fairmount Home (home for the elderly). I ponied Freedom off of Daisy because I thought it would be a good experience for him. Both horses did well. I was quite pleased with how the evening went. Well the lights on the trailer that my cousins were going to trailer my horses home in, didn't work so they stayed the night at Sharon. They did come home the following day. The rest of the week I spent busy with work and other odds and ends.

Friday evening I was able to drive Freedom in a cart for the first time. It is a light pony cart and I added no more weight than the cart itself. He did wonderful and acted like he had done this all his life. I had gotten Sharon to help me start him since she had done it more than once already. Then Saturday I drove him again this time with me behind the cart driving him. Once again no problem. I want to keep working him and just build him up to pulling weight eventually. At the moment I just want to have him pull the cart and go from there. I haven't done it since Saturday. Sunday I rode with my cousin Sara. I rode Daisy in the French link snaffle with the English saddle. I was pleased with how she behaved. It almost seems she does better when riding with another horse or in a group. Not sure why but anyway. Then I rode her again today with my sister and she did even better than Sunday. The snow that had been on the ground for about a week, all melted with in a day and a half because of the warm weather we had. So that meant a sloppy mess which also meant no working with the horses. Hoping to work with them almost each day I am off from work over Christmas :)

A Week Long Update

 

This blog post has been a long time in coming! I have been wanting to write about driving Freedom as well as working with getting Daisy to bow and Freedom to lay down but just never had the time. I have been busy since Monday revamping my pricing on R A Photography and that has occupied my time. Just ask my family and some of my friends, I have been wearing their ears out with my questions and wanting their input. I believe I have everything ironed out now though! Anyway enough for that.

A week ago on Thursday I didn't get the chance to ride but I did get to work with Daisy a bit on bowing and with Freedom on laying down. My sister, Rose Mary, was along and so she was watching. I asked Daisy to bow and she did really well. I think she had done better on Wednesday evening when I was working more on it but I definitely think the connection with my voice cue and leg cue (tap her leg with my toe right above the hoof) is sinking in and she is understanding what I mean and she is to bow. I want to work with her some more on that! Then I got Freedom out and worked with him a bit too. I asked for him to lay down and he did really well. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had gotten him to lay down but he did amazing. I just love that about him, I can do anything I want, pretty much anytime I want, and he will remember how to do it :) And do it well :D

I didn't work with the horses on Friday evening but Saturday I drove Freedom. I had made up my mind that one of these times I want to line drive him along the road and Saturday I thought was as good of a day as any. It took us some time to get up the drive way because Freedom kept wanting to turn around whenever I asked him to turn. Not sure what was up with that because he knew what I was asking for. Anyway we got up to the end of the driveway and it was like all of a sudden he realized, "Whoa, I am all by myself here!!!!" Daisy was in the barn and there are no horses in the front meadow so to him he was alone. And every time we have gone totally away from the barn, Daisy has always been with us. So he realizes that he is by himself, and he stops, looks around, and takes a step back. Then he wants to turn tail and walk back to the barn. I didn't let him. I stopped him and tried to get him turned around to head back out. He thru a bit of a fit about it and then got over it. After he thru his mini tantrum, I was able to get him to walk out the lane onto the road. Then the most hilarious thing happened. We were walking along and he realized, hey this isn't to bad. Then a car came in the opposite direction and he kinda hops in the ditch and is like, "Wait, what was that?" and I just talked him thru it and after that it didn't matter about the traffic or anything. You could literally see him puff himself up and be all proud about the fact that he is doing this all by himself and was quite proud of that fact! He totally enjoyed himself. He was looking around and checking everything out. A couple of times he heard noises and I could tell he was about to hesitate but I just urged him on and he was fine. I then turned Freedom around and headed for home. He actually didn't walk faster on the way back than he had on the way out. When we turned in the driveway and the whole way to the barn I was praising him for doing such a wonderful job!! I am so pleased with how his first time out by himself went. I am hoping to do it some more. Especially after seeing how much he enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing how he responds the next time!

Once we came back, I praised him a lot, I unharnessed him, hosed him off and then put him in a stall. I got Daisy out and we went for a really, and I stress really, short ride. I talked to a neighbor about riding in his field and he was showing me his steers. While I was talking to him, my mom called for lunch, so Daisy and I headed back to the barn. Overall I had a great Saturday!!

Then Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week I didn't do much of anything with my horses. I went away with my family Monday evening, Tuesday evening had a party at a friend's house, and Wednesday I had church. So each day I pretty much fed the horses, loved on them a bit and left again. I was hoping to ride tonight but the weather has foiled my plans. It is raining and has been all day so no riding here. If the horses aren't too wet, I might groom them. If they are too wet, I will just love on them and spend time with them that way :) I have a long weekend ahead because I believe I have off Monday so I should have plenty of time to spend with them then. At least I hope so! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Riding Daisy and Line Driving Freedom

This evening I had wanted to take pictures with my horses but it didn't work out. So I put the bridle with the snaffle bit on Daisy. Since I didn't put the saddle on her, I laid her down, then got on her. I just rode her around, bareback, right behind the barn. I just worked her on stopping, backing, moving her hindquarters and forequarters around. She did so well. She was soft and very light on the bit and responded quite well with everything I asked of her. Once I was finished working with her, I brought Daisy into the barn and gave her grain. While she ate her grain, I harnessed Freedom up.

Sorry for the not so great picture...it was getting a tad too dark for pictures :)

I called my sister Rose Mary to help me. She came up and helped me by walking by Freedom's head so when I asked him to walk forward, she could give him the cue he already knows and in the way associate my cue with walking forward. Also that way when I ask him to go left or right she can be there to guide him along so he does it correct. We got some nice pictures of him and I together as well as him by himself all nicely harness up ;) He looks quite cute! I will hopefully post more pictures in the near future. Recently Freedom has had a growth spurt and instead of just coming up to my chest, his back comes up just a little below my neck. He is taller than Prince now too. I believe he will be growing quite a bit this summer. At least we hope anyway!