I haven't posted on the blog for a long while, simply because I ran out of muse and why bother when most everyone only reads it on my Facebook? So, I'm playing catch up right now before I lose my spark of inspiration. Me and mom went and saw Freedom at least three times since the last time I posted. Not much, I know because I have been looking for work, helping baby sit my sick cousins, and I had to wait for my order of things for Freedom. ♥ 

Me AND my mother rode Freedom. This is the new tack set that I bought, then decorated for Freedom. I got medicated shampoo, therupatic hoof conditioner, conditioner, Strongid paste, a halter name plate and a new hoof pick for me! Thank you, Lucy for buying my DS and games to pay for all this! 

Also, more recently I haven't seen Freedom in a week before today because I had the flu and bronchitis-turning-pneumonia and I knew that Freedom and no one else needed to be sick because of me. Although, I think I got Sandy sick by accident. Sorry, Sandy! 

This image, taken today-was priceless. Dad was right about today. Today was the happiest I've seen Freedom in a while. And I'll tell you how it started off as. Today, I woke up strangely happy and awake despite my 4 hours or so of sleep. (I was worried about coming to the barn and finding Freedom in a bad shape. I really was on the verge of murdering someone if she was hurt.) Then, walking with mom to the bus stop-I found a BIG hole in the side of my boot.

And because of said hole, my sock got wet and cold. But then, me and my mother had fun taking our time at Heart and Hands when the bus came and dad immediately volunteered to take me instead of mom since he was there. That amazed me. So, off we went to see Freedom!

At the bus stop, we saw what...?  A HAWK! It caused alot of commotion by it's presence under the bushes! I was surprised to learn that the hawk had in it's talons the corpse of a squirrel.

Well, I will admit I had a hard time finding Freedom but after asking Mar-I was SO HAPPY to learn that she had been moved into Duncan's old stall! The horse next to her was that grumpy Hackney gelding...At least he doesn't bother her. But when I first went in, she was startled and backed up away from the door as I came in and once Freedom sniffed my hands...She relaxed. I took her out and we took off her blanket and was very happy to find she was much more warmer than she had been before.

Then came lunging. 

I lunged her first, without a lunging whip to make some noise-and Freedom was slow trotting and still struggled with her right side again. So then dad wanted to try. Bad...Bad idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH2PkTvyap8&feature=youtu.be    <----- Is the link to the video of dad lunging Freedom. 

She, in the video obviously looks to me while lunged, she DID NOT at all, like my dad lunging her.

After our trials, we went on to brushing Freedom in the old crossties next to her old stall. We brushed her well, in fact-so well that her coat was SHINY and GLEAMING! Freedom even allowed dad to place hoof polish on BOTH back hooves! And she only pulled away twice! (Maybe it was because I was petting her and babying her....) She allowed me to pick up her hooves, after alot of trouble with her left front hoof. I think I accidently touched a sensitive spot. I hope not....

Then Sandy asked me to move Freedom to the other aisle cross ties in which we did...But I was nervous. Freedom had never been on the cross ties there. It was next to Abby, Cheryl's horse. Morrow, one of the other lady's horses was right in front of Freedom on the opposite cross ties. 

While this was going on, the main barn's hallway was being used for exercising and training with the whip on Steel, one of the other horses. Morrow freaked out, kept rearing and screaming out of fury or more like irritation.

His display affected Freedom greatly, causing her to become antsy, skittering and prancing nervously on the ties-she shoved me, becoming aggressive and paced walking forward then backwards and even threw her head against the tie! I was becoming frightened that she was going to hurt herself! 

So, I took her off the ties and placed her on the lunging line in case she freaked, but no...Freedom continued going backward and forward.

Then it came time to let Freedom turn out in the hallway! 

It was fun to see Freedom walk all the way down to the end, then walk back right on the stall mat and just plop down. She didn't paw the ground! She PLOPPED on the ground and rolled. Then got up, and plopped down and rolled again...Then Freedom for the third time plopped and rolled! This time, however...

Freedom was stuck half way on her spine, half way on her right side-her back legs were up in the air against the wall; her right front leg was pinned under the stall door but her left was barely free as my lovely pulled and pulled but couldn't get free! I walked forward, slowly and nervous in case she did get up or kicked in an attempt to get loose but no...Freedom threw her head around wildly as I came and petted her forehead, my other hand on her neck to calm her. 

Bless my dad's heart, he pulled on one of her legs, (getting the one free from the door) and no dice-he then gripped the broad side of Freedom's folded front legs and guided her, rolling my 800 lb mare over onto her other side. And just like that..Freedom got up, shook her self and looked back at the same spot before walking away; tail swishing.....

You've heard of COW ROLLING...Well...My dad just invented HORSE ROLLING....

After that, I was amazed to see that the other horse, Steel had to be on the cross ties to get the blanket on him...Me and dad got the blanket on Freedom without even needing to hold her. Freedom just stood there, quietly, patiently and was like herself again. 5 minutes later and Freedom was walking calmly into her new stall, calmly at home much to my surprise. What a day, what a day....♥ 

Well-I have to admit. Today went better than how it started off as. With my loving mother's help-I rode Freedom today again for the second time ever. And I'll be honest. I was TERRIFIED. I was scared she was going to get scared over the smallest thing and throw me once more. 

I got on. She stood there patiently and walked beside my mom on the lunge line and when I told Freedom 'Whoa', she stopped. 

When I clucked and told her 'walk' she walked on and was careful to go slow after I began clutching my legs on her side for dear life. But the slower she went-the more relaxed I was and loosened my grip on her mane and became very happy. 

Every once in a while, we stopped, even backed up once! She turned her head in the direction that I pulled on the bit with and she did have problems giving into the pressure of my foot against her side-but she got the basic idea of what to do.

Before we got off-I did rub my boots ALL OVER BOTH SIDES of her! She was actually fine with it. And to the last and most terrifying part...To get off...

I got on her on the left and dismounted from her right side. That way, I didn't hit her 'sensitive spot' and she was actually calm. The entire time, my wonderful mare....

...Was calm. 

The horses in the stalls didn't even bother her. If she was in free-time, she'd have freaked out! But once I was on her, Freedom knew that she had to focus on me and do a good job. 

And without a doubt, Freedom did so! Today, it was funny to see me trying to lift one of her front legs when mom decided to give out treats and it was AMAZING to see this mare HOP over to my mother and get the said treats. Well...I never thought it possible but Freedom managed.

I have noticed though....The last times I went to see Freedom, I wore a different coat but not today. Today, I wore my usual sweat shirt and not even ONCE did she give me trouble like hesitating, not wanting to come out of her stall. In fact, Freedom today walked backwards so that I would actually be very close to her bum and she didn't move around when I brushed her tail. She stood quietly, watching and made sure that when I tugged, she moved over so that I was closer to her. 

She let me brush her legs today with a normal brush, let me tighten the girth SEVERAL times since I caught her holding her breath...(sly girl) and didn't threaten to kick or hold her ears back. In fact-Freedom seemed EAGER to go! What a day!

I also took back the shampoo I bought for her, because I'm going to get some medicated ones instead hopefully on friday. 



Today....Me and Freedom conquered our fears. I conquered my fear of being thrown and she conquered her fear of trusting. Today....We made a step forward at last.