One year ago, I saw a trembling mare in a trailer, afraid to come out of her shell. In a year's time we've went through my mom's stroke, my knee broke again, my dad's shoulder got torn and we got kicked out of our barn.

A year later and my mare has become confident, beautiful and strong. She has taught me compassion, determination and most of all endurance. Thank you all who has supported us on our journey. :) We're now at Edge of the Woods Stable if you want to come visit!

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.

Well, today is New Year's Eve! Yahoo! I dragged daddy to the barn today-almost against his will pretty much when I spotted....SANDY and CHERYL! I was so happy to see them, so I gave them both hugs and handed Sandy the check for the boarding for January. 

I was so excited! It's New Year's Eve! I'm going to train Freedom! WHOO! How couldn't I be NOT excited? I ran to Freedom's stall and happily got her out on the cross ties, quick to brush her when.....

The Farrier and his Assistant came by....


I mean, it was fun to see them both; but they seemed in deep conversation about something with Sandy that involved a lady and buying something for a hundred dollars from her. I have no idea what but seriously...Anyhoo.....I attempted to brush Freedom's tail with the Absorbsine horse spray that I gave to Mar awhile back, but it was not happening. That mat seemed to have loosened some, but still hard as a rock. It wasn't going to budge. 

Well, fine. 

So, I taught Daddy how to tack up Freedom completely and Freedom, bless her heart....She tried to fool me by holding her breath! Hahaha...Nice try, not happening! I made sure to tighten the girth and then move it more comfortably and then waited until she breathed and readjusted it again. No worries, she had three fingers between the girth and her chest. She was fine-and the saddle would stay on firmly.


So, the reins were tied onto the saddle and I lunged Freedom. Much to my amazement....Freedom went bucking! She kicked, made noise and threw a fit. At first, I thought it was because of the bit or something being tugged because she kept throwing her head to and fro, and then I thought it could have been the girth....But no...I remembered. Her stall. Her stall smelled heavy of ammonia. 

Which meant....

Freedom was moody...And pregnant. And she didn't wanna work. And still moody. 

Well! This....Changed things a tiny bit....I would have to be a bit more harder on her to get her to listen, and to get her to get that energy out! She must have been so pent up!  She kicked her heels high up in the air, threw her head and didn't hesitate to keep bucking every few steps around me for a while. 

"Come on, Freedom! I know you're mad, this is to burn off your energy! Come on!" I spoke with her. For a brief moment,she looked me in the eye and then snorted, bucked again and ran around. 

I kept talking with her every so often, but after a while, I gave her a challenge. 

Go ahead and keep bucking and kicking and screaming....I'll just be here to make sure you keep the pace you set for yourself.

Did she fulfill it? Oh yes....I tried "Whoa"-ing with her and she didn't listen and walked around me. I used this time to have my back to her, and tug on the line a bit to get her to come to me. She came when I told her "Walk" and slowly did she touch my shoulder in which I gave her a nice scratch on her very favorite spot.

Then came Dad's turn! 

He lunged her very well, but I couldn't help but notice something...Freedom kept SLIPPING in the arena when she was being lunged! She kept losing her footing! This never happened before her hooves had been trimmed. It seemed like now she was losing her balance because of being unfamiliar with hooves properly trimmed...That boggled my own mind. Maybe her hooves were cut a tad short?  Who knew? I am going to talk to the Farrier though about this.

But we tried lunging Freedom on her right side, and I used an old gold gift bag to shake and make some noise with and well...Freedom freaked out and dragged dad across the ground like a rag doll. I tried not to laugh. He thought it was easy? Maybe now he'll think twice when I say it's no walk in the park. It's wrestling with a thousand pound, moody mare and she was not happy. 

Did that work? No, it did not! So-I went to my original plan that me and Tracey Goforth had been talking about....Taking a plastic bag on the end of the whip and trying it that way. I found an unopened black trash bag and tied it onto a short lunging whip and cracked it and made the whole noise maker with it. She kept getting skittish and dragged dad back to the other end of the arena like a doll once more. 

I followed, wiggling the whip in the air at her hindquarters and eventually after a few times around....We got a rusty circle! Freedom went around on her right side, stopping here and there...(Me waving and wiggling the bag in the air....) but eventually she knew I wouldn't go farther than making scary noises and she got the idea of what we wanted and went around by herself. 

It was about the tenth time around when I told dad it was enough and up close...Freedom was panting hard, covered in sweat. You could see steam coming off of her neck almost as easily as you can see cobwebs on a black wall. That easy. I was in shock. Her belly was moving as if she was panting at her last inch of breath.

"That's enough." I whispered as Dad came over and his jaw dropped. 

"Whoa! She's so hot!" He exclaimed. "No more for today." 

I had to glare. No kidding...So, we put her on the cross ties and immediately placed a cooler sheet on her back and let her rest there for a bit as we fed her about 30 or so peppermints and tried to feed her hay. 

Did she want the hay? Oh no. She ignored it and waited patiently for more treats. Not hay. Not water...Peppermints. Well...

Fine....


We waited for about 15 minutes, maybe more and she slowly cooled off. Then a nice lady came by and asked if she could turn her horse out first. I told her that was okay. Freedom needed to cool off some more. And while I waited...I tried out the blanket our Secret Santa gave us! 

It's too small. WAY too small. About 6 inches or so was exposed from her tail and down. Her entire bum was exposed to the cold. I know that if I don't want a cold butt...She probably won't want a cold butt either. So, I turned her out for about 30 minutes and by then, the guy delivering the saw dust was there. 

Time to go...Well before he had come by, I'd cleaned out Freedom's stall myself and was happy that it no longer stinked of urine or such. So yay! And then I put her up and we left....Sadly, but we had to go.

Included here are my 5 things I am surprised that happened this year:

1.) Freedom and finding out she's pregnant....(SURPRISE, SURPRISE!)


2.) Having my toenail removed because of severe infection. (I've never had that happen to me, EVER)


3.) My dad being able to find work again.


4.) Me having to take more meds than before...

5.) Making so many friends....

Well! Today was the day! And I do mean THE day. It was the day for Freedom's first Manicure and Pedi. Well....A horse version of course. The farrier was there to trim and paint her hooves. So...

I was not so happy about the weather because it was raining heavy and the wind was ready to blow us to the other side of the country practically...Making it very cold and wet. But, once we got on the bus to the stables, I accidently hurt dad's hand because I was so EXCITED! I mean, why wouldn't I be so excited?

FREEDOM WAS GETTING HER HOOVES TRIMMED AND I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD THE MONEY AND PAID FOR IT MYSELF! MY PARENTS DID NOT ASSIST IN PAYING THE FARRIER WHICH MAKES ME SO PROUD! I was like...*floats in dreamland briefly* 

Anyway....I let dad take off Freedom's blanket and BIG MISTAKE! He went AROUND, BEHIND HER and didn't take off one of the leg straps which got caught on her leg and Freedom freaked out, rushing forward on the crossties. She gave a half rear on those cross ties which scared the bejesus out of me.


So, I went a head and switched the tom thumb bit off the head stall and put on the other large snaffle bit from the other bridle onto that one and put the headstall and bit on over her halter so I could teach Freedom how to turn. She EXCELLED at that. Next came lunging! 

Today, Freedom for some strange reason  freaked out with the whip, which was highly unusual since with me, before-she was fine with it. But yes, she did lunge mostly alright, even though she didn't obey my commands. Today as well, Freedom seemed to want to lean on me, and stick very very close to me. I told her whoa, and No. She really must learn about personal space. 

Anyhoo...A girl came so I took Freedom to the crossties where right on time did the Farrier come! Right on the dot. So, I gave them the money in advance and we went to do her hooves. I told them NOT to hit her at all because she is pregnant-AND a recovering rescue horse. She couldn't be on the cross ties-so I had her on the lunging line again but Freedom pitched a mini fit with her front hooves. When I moved, Freedom jerked her leg back and stomped firmly on the ground. I became determined to pet and pat and baby Freedom as much as I could while dad did the same on the other side of her. It worked.

Until. 


"Have you picked up her back legs yet?" The farrier asked. 

"Yeah, and I got kicked on the leg for it." I replied. 

He grinned. 

Bro...You do not know who you're messing with. Freedom's a one woman army. You better be nice or else. Because I will kick your butt or Freedom will. Today...Freedom kicked butt. More specifically...The Farrier's butt. 


So, the farrier (the poor farrier) tried to reach down to get Freedom's hoof when...She kicked him, barely missing hitting anything. He looked back like...'Whoa!' 

"She's fast!" He said, chuckling. 

So he brushed his hand on her hip and she kicked him again. He tried to touch her hip a few more times and each time he tried to, Freedom kicked him on the spot.

Well...That's one way to tell the Farrier, HANDS OFF.

Time and time again, Freedom wouldn't let him touch her back hooves at all. So, he got a lead line from the tack room and used it as a rope to catch her hoof on and lift her leg so he could trim it. Bad, bad, very very BAD idea. Freedom kept kicking worse, which threw the rope from his hand. 

Bless the farrier's heart. 

He inched over very very slowly with his foot, trying to drag the line over with his boot far enough away from her leg. The farrier was quick to tie the rope around her leg before she objected-but Freedom didn't mind the rope around her leg. Just didn't like picking her hoof up. At all. 

It took me, dad, the farrier's assistant and the farrier himself to hold her still long enough for a minute's worth here and there to trim her hooves. But even then, Freedom was very nervous and moved around alot. We moved kinda like this:

 Began at where the cross ties were, her facing the barn door pleasantly.

Kept moving down...Down...

OH! We're suddenly against the right side of the barn. --->

No,...Maybe not...Now back down again...

We moved forward again.   

<----Now to the left side! 

Crud...Freedom decided to give her butt to the barn door! 

<-----Back to the left side! 

Dad was holding her chest with one hand and the hip they were working on with the other, gripping onto her hard. I was holding onto her neck in a hug, petting her and holding the line in the other. The farrier's assistant was holding onto the rope for dear life as the farrier trimmed her hoof in about forty seconds flat. 

Freedom has guts though. She stood perfectly balanced on three legs and still kicked with the one leg that was up in the air.

"You've got to admit-she's got the guts and the glory!" I laughed, and they did too.

"I've never had a horse do this before." The farrier laughed. "Never had a horse stand so still and perfect on three legs and still try to kick me with the other one available!" 

I was flabbergasted, At least we knew Freedom really knew where her boundaries were.

When they were done with her hooves, both rested against the barn walls, obviously tuckered out! I stood there with a very unhappy Freedom who was still pinning her ears back like..."Touch me again...." Oh, I was kind of between a rock (the farriers) and a hard place (Freedom)!

"Are guys done with her?" 

The farrier waved his hand at us. "Yeah, we're done."

"What about the oil on her back hooves?" 

He looked at me like...'No.' "She doesn't need oil on them." 

Well....Okay. 

So, I took Freedom to have fun in the arena by herself, giving her a flake of hay after working on pointing and going with her. Only to notice...The girl and the farrier were both watching Freedom! Even after kicking the farrier, Freedom was still popular. Amazing.  My girl. The popular lady. Well, what do ya know? 


Freedom's ribs are starting to show again, and her coat has lost it's luster which makes me very very angry and makes me wonder if the people at the barn are feeding her the supplements. When she was on it, Freedom's coat was very bright, shiny and silky. Now, it's not as silky and it's becoming dull. I'm seriously thinking of buying my own hay and feed from now on. She's getting WAY too thin too fast. 

On a side note: Duncan's eye is getting worse. I saw and so did my dad saw pus, or what looked like white and yellowish discharge coming from his eye where they stitched it at. The skin around it looks very dark and infected, almost as if it's beginning to rot in my opinion...But then again, I'm not a vet. I'm an amateur. 

So, summary of today! Freedom learned the touch N go from the farrier, and made it obvious that she does not like to be manhandled. (The irony there!) And that Duncan is very sick, and I'm wondering if they are even giving him an ointment, or some antibiotics of some kind...

Sorry guys, I didn't get a chance to take pictures yesterday. I only had an hour to work with Freedom much to my horror. Why only an hour? Well...Apparently this morning my mom informed me that my aunt was coming with my two toddler cousins to go see Santa! I was like...'Well...Alright.'  

She told me to be home before or by 4:30. 

Well, hell. It was 12:44 by the time I got to the barn, and if I wanted to make it home before 4:30...I had to catch the 1:45 bus. Alright well. Let's make today snappy, yes? 

Went to the barn, there was no one there. It was deserted, but Freedom's neigh rang in the stillness and I grinned as I placed my stuff in the arena. I could see as I walked by Freedom's stall, my girl's eyes eagerly watching me. She knew I was here and if I was here, that meant..Food. But also work, but more of food. 

So, I unstrapped the blanket, and she did side step until she realized what I was doing was simply undoing it and taking it off and she was okay with that. Then, I brushed her quickly, and hooked her up with the lunge line-but this time I took the chain over her nose and tied it to the right side close to her ears. The reason was simple. 

I needed to let her feel the pressure I was trying to place on her nose when telling her whoa. When she resisted pulling, the chain would put more pressure and when I got her to move, the chain would ease up and released the pressure-the reward of it.  Yesterday, Freedom lunged like a charm, stopping when I said whoa and trotting around me (but she kept stopping so I had to make some scary noises with the whip, hitting the ground. It got her to maintain her pace.)

She was doing so well lunging on her left side, that you could see her muscles forming! But I know that muscles only on one side isn't good so I tried to lunge her on her right side. She wouldn't budge....Not even an inch. I tapped her on her butt, her legs, her belly and side. All I got from her was flinching. 


Wooooow. Freedom's either getting not so scared anymore-or she's getting cocky. Not sure which. But-we will find out soon! In the process of rubbing the whip on Freedom, I rubbed it on her head, between her ears, on her chest...And I noticed...

FREEDOM WAS FALLING ASLEEP! 

My first thoughts were like: 'Really, Freedom? Really? You at first hated the whip, now you're gonna fall asleep on me? Really?'

So, I stomped on the ground and she jumped to the side, obviously spooked. I tried again and again and again-all I managed from her was a lazy walk to where she walked right up to me and stood at my shoulder. I had to laugh and walked to rub her back and she backed up to stay at my shoulder. 

I walked forward. Freedom did too. Good girl! 

I let her off the line and walked. She followed me most of the time and then she stopped. Fine. 

So now we began to work on the pointing. I pointed in the air with one hand and with the other, I waved at her and told her to GO. Freedom got that pretty fast. She took off running to where I pointed and when she tried to go somewhere else other than where I pointed, I chased after her. 

I let her go on her own for a while and while I was visiting Duncan, I saw something horrible. His one good eye...Was all stitched up. He had to wear a blinder that made sure he couldn't see behind him and only in front because it appeared as if he must have bumped into something and ripped his eyelid open-a good 4 or 5 inches at least, but it was a bit hard to see the wound completely. Duncan looked like he was in so much pain though. 

I gently petted his cheek and nose and he slowly closed his eyes, ears forward and then they moved to the side. He didn't bite me like he usually does. 

Duncan began to fall asleep. And as I turned to see how Freedom was doing....My sly girl was sniffing and interacting with the gelding next to Duncan's stall, the horse that seems to hate me and she knew it. When I turned to look at her, all of a sudden, both Freedom and the Gelding moved away from each other as if they didn't want me to know they were friends. 

Well, I'll be. My girl is seeing someone behind my back! Maybe she saw me interacting with Duncan like some would a herd, and thought that the gelding was also apart of the herd and mimicked me. But I could be wrong. I could be wrong. 


Some of my thoughts are to get on Freedom again and teach her the whoa from her back and the walk. But this time, I want to see if I can borrow someone's western saddle. I need something to hold onto if she gets scared again. Also-we need to work on the dismount and mounting. She really needs to be taught ground manners. 

Onto other news...

Last night, my aunt, mom and cousins and I all went to see Santa-then went Christmas shopping...And then happily went to Chuckie Cheese! I...I'm sorry to say but I didn't have fun at all there. I was more annoyed that I had to watch the two troublesome toddlers who thought it funny to throw basketballs at each other. I mean, really? Basketballs? REALLY?

But on the fishing reel game where you can win 125 tickets...I told myself since I have no luck with the game...If I win it, it would totally make my night. And guess what?

I FREAKING WON IT! ALL 125 TICKETS! WHOOO!  


In total for the entire night, I got 270 tickets, but I used the entire thing to buy just junk for my cousins since all they had were things just for them. I wish they had some airhead candies. I love airheads. 

By the time we got home-it was 9:30 pm and I was tired. 

Another sad news...The stables was and are having a Christmas party tonight but I can't go...My ride ditched us. Which goes to show...We desperately need a truck. Not a car. We need a...

TRUCK. 

As long as it runs good with very minor body damage and can haul a horse-we want it. We're willing to pay monthly like in payments because there's no way how we'd get 1,000 bucks all at one time to pay. Actually, about 1,000 is all we get a month to live on and that include's my dad's paycheck too. 

And that is why I need to get on the payroll ASAP so I can help out more often. 

What a horrible week it was this and last week, me being sick with bad bronchitis that the doctor said was bound to turn into pneumonia-and I've been stressed out like nuts. I've been having complications getting signed up for work since I didn't have a State ID (and went out with mom in a thunderstorm to DMV to get one...I had an ID before but I had to throw it out because they spelled my name wrong.) And then I'm trying to look for a farm, and my family has become either stupid or crazier than usual. 

Not quite sure which. And here begins the 12 days of Wishmas. The 12 days of wishes. 

Anyhoo....

Today, we brushed Freedom and guess what? She let me brush the top of her tail! :D That was after she tried to kick me but then was like...*snorts* "Fiiiiine..." And so, she was pretty much okay after that. When I picked up the blanket-Freedom FREAKED OUT! She pulled against the ties as far as it would go, and stretched the leather halter as hard as her little head could handle

It took quite a few moments before Freedom figured out that it wasn't gonna hurt her and she let me place the blanket on her with relative ease. It looked so good on her and when I asked Ali for help-she placed the terrifying leg straps between Freedom's back legs and snapped them on. At first, Freedom side stepped, obviously worried-but Ali held on. 

Then....Came the terrible lunging! I lunged her with my own long lunging whip (only holding it up. I never, EVER would hit Freedom. EVER.) and she really freaked out a bit. It took a few more times around before Freedom was able to lunge with me just holding the end of the line in one hand held up. 

She wouldn't lunge at ALL on her right side, even when I poked, tapped her and even made scary noises by hitting the whip on the ground. Freedom just stood there, flinching and looking at me like; 'You're not gonna hurt me...Are you?' Eventually-I gave up and rubbed the whip all over her, even her BUTT, under her BELLY and all over her LEGS! Freedom started to fall asleep. 

Apparently according to her...It felt good. 

Eventually, I taught her whoa with placing BOTH hands up. And she actually got it! So happy! She's learning still but yeah. When I let her loose, I started teaching her the directions by pointing in the air with one hand and waving wildly with the other hand and telling her to "GO, GO, GO!" Well....

It worked.  

Freedom was so beautiful though. Her tail was up like a flag, her head was up high, ears perked and alert as she galloped around without a care in the world. That was the first time ever that I saw her run like that. She looked so happy. 

And then we tacked her up, the western head stall and bit on top of the leather halter. I tried to drive her and....Epic fail. Just...Fail. So then, I decided to lunge her. 

PERFECT. Freedom calmly trotted around me, obeying my signals to keep up her pace and to whoa. She was an expert by the end of the day of lunging! I was like WHOO-HOO! 

However, in the process of today...I tore the side of my finger, ripping the cuticle and it bled. That folks is why you wear gloves when lunging an un-lunged horse. 

Also, a little detail about Freedom's blanket! I ironed on a horse studded pattern and it looks absolutely marvelous! Hard to believe that mommy got the blanket for me for Christmas for only 49.99! 

Another funny thing is, I never measured Freedom for her size, and it fits perfectly, a snug 76-and I knew that black and red would look so good on her! I'm having a mental party right now in my head about my achievements with help of God and my parents!

On a side note, as we came home on the bus-this is what we saw. To me....It looks like a Stairway to Heaven. It makes me wonder, to who ever is dying or died then....

But I am sure, they were ushered home in peace. 

I am so sorry to everyone who has been following Freedom's story! I've been busy thinking about alot since last Thursday when we went to Green's Feed and Seed and went on a shopping spree! We went absolutely nuts to my awe. I thought we were just there to check on prices-not to buy anything on that day. 

But Mommy had other plans apparently! I merely chose out a leather halter (which was only 16.95 and the Nylon halter they had there was 27.90) So since I've always wanted a leather halter and it was cheaper than the nylon one-I placed that in the cart. 

MEANWHILE....

My mother, having very little experience and even lesser knowledge of horses than my Dad grabbed all the treats she could carry from the shelves and plopped them into the cart. My eyes have probably never been so big in my life. I'd found dewormers, the EXACT apple flavored one for 3.50 when they were normally 9.99 each-and Mommy had gotten salt, mineral blocks for about 2 bucks each along with a 10 lb jug of horse treats. I was so happy to have found the EXACT Tom thumb snaffle bit for Freedom that I've been looking for ages to get at the same price as it was online.  So...We bought it all. Only costed what we got from the feed store 37.70. Impressive, no? 

We bought apples at Aldi's for 2.99, 4 bags of 1 lb baby carrots for 2 bucks even and corn oil there for 1.99. (corn oil was for the bit mostly) So in total-everything didn't cost more than 50 bucks. I was so excited to have went on a shopping spree for my girl, Freedom and my lovely boy, Duncan. Most girls go nuts for boys or clothes....

Well, let's just say I'm the more unique cowgirl. I go nuts for an awesome shopping spree at the feed or tack store! I like Alabama, some rock N roll like Kiss or Queen-and yes, I don't mind one bit getting down and dirty in the mud with the horses. Just ask Sandy Preston and Marlena. They saw me trying to haul a wheelbarrow of manure up the hill and I slipped on muddy poop and got covered in it and simply got up and tried again. In fact-it was kinda fun. 

Note to self: I must try to get back to basics someday and have myself a mud pie with my 2 and 3 year old cousins. Mud seems fun now that it's winter and dull. Anyhoo...Back to the topic, yes? 

I didn't go to the barn on Friday because I got a call from my 'future boss' and I GOT THE JOB! I start this upcoming friday at T.J Maxx in Riverwalk Plaza. So excited! Whooo! 

On Saturday-I went to the barn, only to find that at 10:30 am, it was crowded as hell. There were people EVERYWHERE! Much to my demise, there was alot of confusion and a girl there thought that Freedom was my lesson horse. (since I had all the tack on her and was ready to train her when the lessons were going on and had to wait instead.) And that girl placed the bridle on her with no problems and I was like. 'WHOA, WHAT THE HELL?' But then they said there was a break-so I could train her but then lessons started again and well, yeah that's the conflict. 

Another conflict on Saturday was that it appeared that Freedom has become SO popular that pretty much EVERYONE loves her! People wouldn't stop coming up to her, and they petted her and fed her treats and asked me all about her. It caught my attention that Sandy told them Freedom was from Huntington and she seemed proud to tell about me and Freedom. I was shocked. I mean, when was the last time Sandy seemed proud of me or Freedom? ...That's right. I don't remember a single time. 

So it was a mixture of awe, shock and glee. Mostly glee until I began to realize WHY I liked to come to the barn on the weekdays in the morning when there were little people there. Freedom was the popular girl, and everyone called her beautiful or cute (I agreed completely. Freedom is adorable.) We dewormed Freedom on Saturday with no problems whatsoever. It was a classic textbook deworming. 

And onto more pressing news....On Sunday-my friend came with us to train Freedom and he asked if he could sit on her. I was like...'Well, alright.'

So he sat on her. Freedom was very calm, very patient and at first was skeptical of the mounting block but soon was fine. He got off of her REALLY carefully and Freedom didn't even flinch. 

When he got off-Freedom and I stood this way. Looking at the photo now, I can see that Freedom would EXCELL at Halter classes as soon as I can teach her a few standing manners as well as leading manners and get her working out to build some muscles on her small form. 

(Don't mistaken me! Freedom is so ADORABLE in her cute, compact size! But as a Quarter horse, she needs a tad more muscles. So, we'll exercise together!) 

I am so happy though for her! YAY! <3

On a side note-I miss Duncan so bad. :( I wish I could be allowed to work with him like I work with Freedom. He's stuck in his stall 24/7 unless it's for lessons...I mean, it's so sad and I love him so much!

What a day! My very own daddy came with me today and it was fun! I brushed Freedom on the cross ties, did her feet and tacked her up. Today-I planned a step ahead! 

I coated the bit this time with corn oil from the feed room and brought a coffee can of feed into the arena for when we got there. I knew she'd need to get used to the bit and all that and eating treats would encourage her to-when my hand is on her nose to open up for the bit at a later time.

And so came the next stage of our training...I went a head and put my foot in the stirrup to get her used to my weight when...Daddy asked-; 'Why not get on her?' 

I was like...'Well, I'm not so sure she's ready for that just yet. I'd like to-but I don't think she's ready.' 

Daddy said. 'You won't know unless you try.' 

Fine. I stopped dead flat at Daddy and looked at him. "If you want to get on her-be my guest." I told him, letting him get on. 

Now look at this, my father got on her-she was fine-walking with her was a different story. The difference of weight on her back made Freedom want to rush forward, prance sideways and get skittish, but I did the 'whoas' and 'walks' again. It worked-UNTIL.

A horse in the stall beside her decided he wanted to make some noise in the party and she side-stepped really fast, and my father..(who has only ridden a horse maybe 4 times in his life....And only knows the basics of horse care...) My father slipped off of her back and Freedom stood quietly for a few seconds as there was no movement from him at all. 

For a moment-I thought he was frozen, hands gripping the cut back part of the saddle but no...He slipped off, no problem and she was okay too. That was interesting. So then we went back to the mounting block and this time....I got on. 

A few times, Daddy walked and led Freedom with me on her around the arena-stopping a couple of times. But then after the photos-I told dad, it was enough for today. 

Daddy said; 'But's not alot for her, you've only been doing this for an hour!'

I told him; 'Yes, but we don't want to put too much on her at once.'

'Just ride her for a while your self.' And Daddy unhooked the lunge line....Biggest mistake ever. 

Freedom took off running, bucking like she usually does when she gets playtime-obviously forgotten that I was still on her back and went straight for the corner where she stopped. I was like...Okay, well... 

TIME TO GET OFF. NOW.  

I had my left foot in the stirrup, ready for an easy slide down and my right leg swinging around to dismount when I accidently brushed her right side! Freedom took off like a bullet-throwing me on the ground and I fell, hitting my knee (my right one which recently had a surgery on it last December) full force. 

I got up, my knee hurting and not far away Freedom was looking scared, shaking-her behavior was like she was saying; 'Sorry, Ma...I got scared! I'm sorry...' I wanted to get back on her but then when I saw up close how scared she was, I knew.. That was enough for today. 

She is a rescue. 

She has been abused. 

Freedom has an untold past that we don't know about-so how can I force her if I don't understand? So, I went on as if nothing had happened-fixing the saddle so that the reins weren't like normal and were tied onto the saddle instead. I watched Freedom. She knew what she had done wrong. 

So, We took her to the cross ties with some trouble (especially since part of the hallway-we didn't turn the lights on so there was alot of shadows.) But brushed her, untacked her without further incident. Once in her stall-Freedom didn't go straight for the water like she usually does, this time she was alot more slower and calmer now that we'd called it a day....

Freedom is greenbroke now-but yeah; she still has some quirks we need to work out.

Today was pretty crazy, missing 3 buses and not arriving at the stables until 2:40 in the afternoon-the latest I have ever arrived there. Well-it was mostly because of Mommy came with me and well since we missed the first bus, we got hungry and decided to go to...

The Five-Guys Resturant! They recently built it in our mall, so we thought; 'Why not? We've never been there!' And it...Was. AMAZING. The food was so fresh, and it was GENEROUS portions and actually cheaper than if you bought a combo at a place like McDonald's 

The place had all fresh food, ingrediants where you could see them HAND-MAKE IT before your eyes and you could see that they bought from local bakeries for hamburger buns and from local farmers for the vegetables. I mean, what business is as good as that?! 

ANYHOO. As I first entered the barn and got everything set up for training with Freedom-my lovely girl nickered to me-a deep grunt at first and I was so happy. I took her out and placed her on the cross-ties. And she stood...Quietly. She very rarely pushed and when she did-I told her to back up. 

Even Ali helped out! She worked with Freedom by raking around her, talking on her right side with mom and signing, even parked the wheelbarrow and two pitchforks in front of Freedom's stall (which was right behind Freedom where she was on the crossties-you guys know how much she HATES having things behind her.)

Slowly, I brushed BOTH sides of Freedom, even brushing her RIGHT side! You guys remember how much she HATES her right side being touched! She even let me clean out her left front foot, but not her right one. Then, ever so slowly; I tacked her up with little difficulty on the cross ties...But the first time I placed the english bridle with the twisted wire snaffle on her...I was so scared.

But Freedom accepted it the first time no probs then we went to the arena and figured-the bridle was too big and the bit was hanging on her teeth so we went back to the crossties and switched to a second bridle which is where Freedom started putting up a HUGE fit, but eventually let us put the bit in her mouth and all that. So yeah. 

Went to the arena and tied the reins on her saddle and my poor girl just stood there like...'What am I supposed to do?' So, I walked her around the arena and let her go where Freedom began to eat hay off the ground before I got treats out and she went crazy for them. 

I ran, and my quarter horse mare chased me down, trotting and cantering behind me before I gave her a treat. But then time was up and I placed her back on the cross ties, and took all the tack off of her-slowly brushing her... That's when I cried. I bawled because I didn't mean to hurt her and I didn't WANT to hurt her at all! I was afraid she was never gonna forgive me for this. I brushed her, petted her and put her blanket back on Freedom before placing her back in her stall to munch on tasty hay.

One thing that got me was that when Freedom had freetime, she stood like this-the PERFECT stance of a show horse! She stood so politely and quietly in a square with her legs neatly together. I was in awe when she did this. 

My girl, Freedom-is bound to reach limits unknown by any horse before her....