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Vol. 3, Issue 12
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December 2013
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Dear Friends,
With the late Thanksgiving holiday this year, December has snuck up on everybody, I think! It occurred to me, with our first winter storm soon to arrive and many folks hunkering in, that this month's newsletter might be a good one for reflection and appreciation. I thought about the many people who make Freedom Farm so special and for whom I am so grateful! And I went to the newsletter archive and reviewed the issues so far in 2013. I was impressed all over again with the wit and wisdom among us. Each month has brought gems of horsemanship and health in the form of short articles by members of our community.
So, this newsletter includes, along with the usual calendar info, a look back at 2013 with appreciation and thanks. I have also included a bit of a commercial for our newsletter archive and a partial list of article topics by month below. There is a lot more in each issue than I can list here, in the way of pictures, trip reports, and other highlights that I hope you'll enjoy as well.
Thanks to all who made 2013 another year of community, learning, and fun at Freedom Farm!
A warm and happy holiday season to all,
Mary
Freedom Farm-related links for your bookmark menu:
DECEMBER DATES:
- 1: Mini-Beats, Noon-2 pm
- 14: Hoof Beats Schooling Show practice
- 15: Cowmanship Class, Noon - 3 pm
- 22: Adult Horsemanship Class, Noon-2 pm
Be sure to Like us on Facebook!
CONTACT INFO:
Mary Gallagher
(360) 457-4897
freedomf@olypen.com
freedom-farm.net
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Schooling Show practice
Saturday, December 14
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Mini Beats Activities
Mini Beats, noon- 2 pm
Sunday, December 1
Questions? Email Mary or call (360) 457-4897
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Appreciations
By Mary Gallagher
Truly speaking, it takes everybody who enjoys the Farm to make it work as well as it does. Many thanks to all who helped out in ways big and small, all year. I am deeply grateful for all the good energy people share.
Particular thanks and gratitude go to those who lend their talent and expertise to keeping the day to day operation of Freedom Farm running smoothly in so many ways, and representing the best of what we are about to our clients and guests:
Jessica and Hannah Crouch
Lester Hardy
Kathy and Steve Schmidt
Kathy and Benny Benson
Joe Edwards
Nathan Schmidt
Shelby Vaughan
Sarah Bradley
Chloe McGee
Katie Vogel
Jerry Schmidt
Also, thanks to Grace Lambert and Mary Tulin for media support, and helping Freedom Farm meet the world through the Web. Photographers Rick Crimmel and Kip Tulin have captured so many special moments this year, we are blessed.
Special thanks to Jerry Schmidt for the many great improvements, including: adding sand in the round pens, enlarging the roping arena and new new round pen, yet more new pens, expansion of the cow area, new trees around the border of the play ground, new shelter, fencing and a feeding area for the horses in the trees.
 | | Thanks for everything! |
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Welcoming...
2013 brought us wonderful new folks and horses:
We were very happy to welcome Marilyn & Rick Crimmel, and soon after, Dallas, who was destined to be Marilyn's horse; Mary & Kip Tulin, who met and bonded with longtime resident Magnum; Carolyn Guske and Remy, Carrie Sunstrom and Tanawa, and new Hoofbeats families Annie and Kaden Heupel, John, Kimi and Ben Robinson, and Ryan, Connie and Emma Howard. Other new equine arrivals include my own Pecan, and boarders Nicholas and Robin Hood (Comet's new friends).
 | | Salty, official greeter... |
... and a few farewells...
Our horse friends who passed on this year were the much beloved Dinky, Annie, and Royal.
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The New Year: Looking Forward
We've got a fair number of projects for the new year. Over the next few months, you can expect to see:
- Our yearly schedule (soon!), published on the Freedom Farm website Calendar page and later this spring, summer camp and beach camp dates.
- Our Freedom Farm Summer Camp Instructor's Manual and Student Work Book.
- Development of an outside course in the trees (east side of property), including a year-round riding and jumping track, with water obstacle.
- More Freedom Farm videos!
 | | It's going to be a fun year! |
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The Freedom Farm Newsletter Archive
is calling you...
Looking for natural horsemanship and horse care advice in pithy doses, to remind and inspire you? What better way than to review the past year's issues, all together in a handy archive, always accessible from our website!
Topics from 2013 included:
February
Why horses' legs are long; the concepts of immediacy and relaxation
March
Reframing problems as changes; reflections on natural horsemanship, respect, and leadership
April
Michelle's first article on inspiration; saddle fitting; what matters to the horse
May
Trail walking; balance in equine dental health
June
Degrees of collection; colic; how horses and donkeys make friends and what we can learn from them
July
Achieving goals and having fun; teaching horses to give to pressure; great coaching
August
Taking time to play with your horse; variety for horse and rider
September
Working with where your horse wants to go; having a program with your horse; all about parasites
October
Motion and commotion; refections on rider fitness; mixing up riding activities; vitamin D for horse and rider
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Riders Recommend: Favorite Retail Websites
Last month's newsletter offered rider reviews of favorite equine product websites. Mary Tulin adds a couple of others you may want to consider:
Riding Warehouse is a West Coast purveyor of English, Western, and Endurance tack and tastefully chosen riding togs, and more! Owned and run by active horsewomen. Competitive pricing, a narrower range of high quality brands, and free shipping make it a good site to include when shopping!
Mary's Tack and Feed is another site to check, with a broad inventory tack, togs, pet supplies. Located in Georgia, shipping times a bit longer.
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Discover Friday Classes!
Ground Work, 10:30 am; In the Saddle, 1 pm
Got time on Fridays? Come join one or both adult horsemanship classes happening every Friday at the Farm! It's a great way to connect with your horse and grow your relationship through various coached activites. (Nice way to start the weekend, too!)
Contact Mary for more information, or to let her know you'll be riding.
(360) 457-4897; freedomf@olypen.com
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Sunday Classes!
Cowmanship: November 17, Noon - 3 pm
Working cows gives your horse a job to do, and is so much fun! Join us at this monthly class, and then enjoy the transformation in your horse that becomes evident in all aspects of his or her training just from this one activity!
Adult Horsemanship: November 24, Noon - 2 pm
This monthly class varies between groundwork, games, and riding exercises. It's a great chance to share an always fun, always educational afternoon with other riders and their horses.
Email Mary or call (360) 457-4897 for more info and/or let her know you'll be riding.
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Fitness for Riders Classes!
Get fit and build core strength to ride your best!
Join the Rider Fitness Workout on Mondays, Rider Bootcamp on Saturdays!
Every Monday and Saturday at 7 a.m., Anytime Fitness, Corner of Old Olympic and Sequim-Dungeness
Questions? Email Mary or call (360) 457-4897
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Arena Schedule
Here is a schedule that might help you plan your time at the Freedom Farm arena.
Sunday: Open until 11:30 then again after 3:00.
Reserved for Pony Club after 4 pm.
Monday: Open all day.
Reserved for Port Angeles Drill Team 6-8 pm.
Tuesday: Open all day. (Lessons ongoing, space is shared.)
Reserved for Port Angeles Equestrian team 6-8 pm.
Wednesday: Open all morning.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Thursday: Open all Morning. Dressage class 1-3 pm.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Reserved for Sequim Equestrian Team 6-8 pm.
Friday: Open all Morning.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Saturday: Boarders and Hoof Beat members only 9 am - 5:30 pm.
If you have any questions please contact Mary.
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New Hoof Beats Members:
TAKE 10% OFF
Your First Month's Tuition!
(Current members! Refer a friend and get the discount, too!)
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