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Freedom Farm, Inc.
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| Spring Newsletter | March 2012 |
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Dear Friends,
We had an amazing month of horsemanship here at Freedom Farm and want to thank everyone who shared with us in February!
Included with this month's newsletter are some short recaps of the fun we had.
This month at Freedom Farm we will be hosting the following fun horsemanship activities:
- Playday and Game Challenge
- Women's Healing Circle
- Michelle Grimmer Dressage Clinic
- Jerry Schmidt Hoof Trimming Clinic
- Mini Beats Ride and Charity Drive
- Sandamar Schooling Show (Hoof Beats away show)
- Cow-Working Fun Day
- Freedom Farm Schooling Show
- Adult Horsemanship Workshop
Check your email Inbox for announcements and more details of these events. Sign up can be done online or by contacting Mary.
I'm looking forward to moving up the ladder of horsemanship with you.
Mary
CONTACT INFO:
Mary Gallagher
(360) 457-4897
freedomf@olypen.com
freedomfarms.net
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Hoof Beats Activities This month's Hoof Beats activities include:
Playday and Games Challenge
Saturday, March 3rd
10 am - 3 pm
Sandamar Schooling Show
Saturday, March 17th
All Day
Freedom Farm Schooling Show
Saturday, March 24th
10 am - 3 pm
Here are the results of last month's Playday and Games Challenge: | Fastest catch | Hailey Economy | 16:08 | | Longest back | Zoe Kuperus | 22' | | Longest back at liberty | Kathy Schmidt | 40' | | Longest sideways: | Emma Moseley | 75' | Most simple lead changes
on a straight line | Kathy Schmidt | 3 total | | Ride-A-Buck winners | Zoe Kuperus & Kathy Schmidt | | Fastest stick to me
around barrels | Fionna Cunningham | 26:40 |
Here are last month's Schooling Show Results: | Class | Class Name | Place | Rider | Horse | Points | | 1 | Lead Line | | | | | | 2 | Lead Line
Walk Trot | | | | | | 3 | Trot Pole
Eq. Flat | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 6 | | | | 2 | Kathy B. | Lily | 5 | | | | 3 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 4 | | | | 4 | Zoe | Annie | 2 | | 4 | Trot Pole
Eq. Rails | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 6 | | | | 2 | Maggie T. | Shiriah | 5 | | | | 3 | Kathy B. | Lily | 4 | | | | 4 | Zoe K. | Annie | 2 | | | | 5 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 1 | | 5 | Trot Pole
Opt. Time | 1 | Kathy B. | Lily | 6 | | | | 2 | Emma A. | Honey | 5 | | | | 3 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 4 | | | | 4 | Maggie T. | Shiriah | 2 | | | | 5 | Zoe K. | Annie | 1 | | 6 | Cross Rail
Eq. Flat | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 6 | | | | 2 | Hannah C. | Mikey | 5 | | | | 3 | Maggie | Shiriah | 4 | | | | 4 | Zoe | Annie | 2 | | | | 5 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 1 | | 7 | Cross Rail
Eq. Jumps | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 6 | | | | 2 | Hannah C. | Mikey | 5 | | | | 3 | Maggie T. | Shiriah | 4 | | | | 4 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 2 | | | | 5 | Zoe K. | Annie | 1 | | 8 | Cross Rail
Opt. Time | 1 | Maggie T. | Shiriah | 6 | | | | 2 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 5 | | | | 3 | Emma A. | Honey | 4 | | | | 4 | Hannah C. | Mikey | 2 | | | | 5 | Zoe K. | Annie | 1 |
Here are last month's Schooling Show Division Results: | Class | Division | Place | Rider | Horse | Points | | 1 | Lead Line
Walk Trot | | | | | | 2 | Trot Pole | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 17 | | | | 2 | Kathy B. | Lily | 15 | | | | 3 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 9 | | | | 4 | Maggie | Shiriah | 7 | | | | 5 | Zoe | Annie | 5 | | 3 | Cross Rail | 1 | Emma A. | Honey | 16 | | | | 2 | Maggie T. | Shiriah | 14 | | | | 3 | Hannah C. | Mikey | 12 | | | | 4 | Fiona C. | Dinky | 8 | | | | 5 | Zoe K. | Annie | 4 |
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Mini Beats Ride & Charity Drive
The next Mini Beats Ride & Charity Drive is on
Sunday, March 11th
Noon - 2 pm
Mini Beats is open to all riders under 100 lbs
This is a great experience for young equestrians!
Donations go to Peninsula Friends of Animals
If you're looking for a fun birthday party idea, then try planning your party around a Mini Beats Ride & Charity Drive. The viewing room is large enough for parties and the horse games make a great activity for all the children attending. All proceeds benefit Peninsula Friends of Animal; please give what you can.
Contact Mary for more information or to schedule a party. |
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Michelle Grimmer Dressage Clinic
Saturday, March 10th
1 - 3 PM
Michelle Grimmer is a delightful dressage instructor who is returning to Freedom Farm to share her talent with us. She is an accomplished instructor and clinician with many years of competition experience.
On her last visit Michelle instructed riders how to ride a simple Level 1 Test. After working with the students, each rider rode the Test and Michelle judged the rides, just as a Dressage Judge would. Horses and riders all seemed to enjoy the structure, and improvement was evident in everyone.
Join us again this month, and advance your dressage knowledge and skills. Put it on your calendar to attend this clinic each month throughout the summer.
Contact Mary to sign up. |
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Jerry Schmidt Hoof Trimming Clinic March 10th 12 PM to 3:00 PM
Jerry's knowledge and work with Equine Soundness is the reason Freedom Farm horses are successfully working and competing barefoot. Jerry has been trimming and educating students from all over the world for ten years. We are fortunate to have him with us in March. There are a lot of different methods about trimming a barefoot horse. We have spent years trying different approaches to satisfy all the problems with horses feet. The balanced idea has worked the best. We trim to the individual horses needs, keeping in mind what best fits the situation today. If you just want to keep your horse's feet maintained between trims or have the desire to know and do more, this is your chance to get training from the best in our area. Join us and learn what your horses individual needs are for a balanced hoof.
Are you interested in:
- General knowledge
- Hands on practice, on cadavers or live horses
- Anatomy overview
- Why it is important to understand Anatomy
- Maintaining your horses feet for work or the pasture
- Specific problems
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Healing Circle for Women
Horses have assisted humans for over 6,000 years, and one of their greatest gifts to us is the ability to propel our healing to the next level. Please join us at Freedom Farm for the second Horses for Healing workshop on:
Saturday, March 4th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Snacks will be provided
In this intimate circle of women you will have the chance to release energies which may be holding you back from your greatest good. With simple guided exercises, led by an expert - first with yourself, and then with the horse - you will have an opportunity to discover a renewed life force within you.
- NO prior experience with horses is required.
- No need to share your thoughts with anyone out loud if you choose not to.
- The only requirement is a desire to move toward being and feeling your best.
Give yourself a gift and join us for two hours devoted to your highest, most fulfilled self. Enjoy a cup of tea, feed the horse a carrot if you choose; enjoy renewal and rejuvenation.
For more details or to register, please contact Dr. Cristina Oliver at 360-504-2547.
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Cow Working Fun Day Our next cow-working date is set for March 18th Noon - 3 pm Working cows gives your horse a job to do.
Join us, and then enjoy the transformation in your horse
that becomes evident in all aspects of his or her training
just from this one activity! Contact Mary for more information, or to let her know you'll be riding. |
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ADULT WORKSHOP Sunday, March 25th Noon - 2 PM Adults are welcome to join us this day for an afternoon of fun with horses. We use fun activities and games to keep our adult student working on their horsemanship. Last month's workshop was an afternoon of fun and challenges as 11 horsemen and women found a new level of cooperation from their horses through calm, assertive leadership. The "Backing Game" complicated with memorizing items in a bucket was our first challenge. Everyone improved and Debbie James was nice enough to provide us with a demo horse (thanks Debbie & Echo). Break time gave us a few minutes to go over balance and correct seat and leg position on the blue seat builder before we got on for our riding games. Our riding games were a combination of Ride-a-Buck and Egg & Spoon Race, which provided a reason to practice what we learned on the seat builder. Mary gave pointers as riders tried to keep their bucks under their seats. The winner was finally decided when the Egg & Spoon Race was combined with the Ride-A-Buck, which left it up to the smoothest ride. Melissa Klein came out on top with all the bucks. Kathy Schmidt won the memory game and the bucket of goodies, and everyone went home with notes and reasons to practice for this month's workshop. Barbara Noble played along with her lovely, athletic warmblood mare, giving her great exposure away from home. Thanks to everyone for making this such a fun afternoon! For more details, or to let her know you will attend, please contact Mary.
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THE HIDDEN BENEFITS OF HORSES AND KIDS by Kathy Schmidt Often, when we're out on the trail, my fellow far-side of fifty teacher friend and I happily comment about how being on horseback makes us FEEL like we're fifteen again. But recently I found another benefit...
My second grade class was having a discussion about our animals. The children started asking about my horses, so I showed them a few pictures I had on the computer.
At the sight of Hazel cantering, one little boy piped up, "Is that YOU?" When I confirmed that indeed it was me he responded, "WOW, you look a lot younger!"
FEEL younger & LOOK younger - come play with the kids! Kathy Schmidt & Hazel |
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Arena Schedule
Here is a schedule that might help you schedule time in the Freedom Farm arena.
Sunday - Open all day unless we have to bring cows in for our cow working.
Otherwise expect the Sequim equestrian team to ride from about 3:30 - 5:30 pm.
Monday - Open all day. * Bridget Stambaugh 7 pm.
Tuesday - Open all day. Expect the Port Angeles equestrian team at 5:30 - 7:30 pm.
Wednesday - Open all morning. Afternoon reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats
from 3 - 6 pm. * Bridget Stambaugh 7 pm.
Thursday - Open all Morning. Afternoon reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats
from 3 - 5 pm. Evening reserved for Sequim equestrian team 5:30 - 7:30 pm.
Friday - Open all Morning. Afternoon reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats
from 3 - 6 pm. * Katie Salmon 6 - 7:30 pm, then Bridget Stambaugh 7:30 - 9 pm.
Saturday - Boarders and Hoof Beat members only 9 am - 4 pm.
Reserved for Port Angeles drill team 4:30 - 6:30 pm.
* Katie & Bridget come in the evenings. They are very easy to get along with. Don't hesitate to join either one of them if you are doing a similar activity.
If you have any questions please contact Mary.
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AUDREY'S CORNER 
As some of you know, I earned my certification as a fitness trainer last year. I'm at Freedom Farm quite a bit to trim horses, and I often have the pleasure of watching Mary ride her horses. Over the past year or two she has been consistently working on her own fitness, and the changes I have seen in her riding and her horses is nothing short of amazing. Mary has always been a phenomenal rider, but since she has been working on her core strength the ease in which she balances her horses is noticeable; which brings me to why I'm writing this.
Physical fitness plays a major role not only in our day-to-day lives, but in how we are able to interact with our horses. People have horses for a variety of reasons: for trail riding, competition, or maybe to work cattle. The horse must be fairly fit to perform any of these tasks reasonably well. If you, the rider, are fit as well, it makes your horse's job that much easier. You are able to move with your horse instead of being basically dead weight on his back (OK, that might be a little dramatic, but you get the picture). Horses like riders who synchronize with their movements and this takes core strength.
To be an effective rider you should have strong core muscles-these are the muscles in your torso and include all your abdomen and back muscles-and strong hip and leg muscles. A fit body is much better able to balance because the muscles are able to do their job. A better balanced rider can make a positive effect on the horse's balance.
Most people have fairly sedentary jobs and lifestyles, and busy schedules. This generally leaves little time for exercise-or so people think. But you would be doing your horse (and yourself) a huge favor if you exercised for just 30 minutes a day, five days a week. You don't need a gym membership to do this! If you would like some ideas of things you can do, call or email me and I can put something together for you. Try it! Your horse will thank you.
You can reach me at 360-797-3760 or email me at soundhorsesolutions@olypen.com.
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New Members:
TAKE 10% OFF
Your First Month's Hoof Beats Tuition!
(Current members may take advantage of this
discount by referring a friend to our program) |
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