Freya taking her first breaths

Belle – heavy with her foal

Freya- a horse arrives in the world (part 2)

As written by Renee Krider– Freya’s dam- Belle, was a good mother, but I saw little grooming and licking- basic bonding behaviors. As a result, Freya learned to focus very quickly on her human caretakers and friends. For that reason, she was touched and loved on daily. Freya became the great curiousity of family, friends, and neighbors. Some people drove or walked past the pasture often to see her and interact with her.

My mother lives on the farm and was 92 when Freya was born. 2022 was the first year my mother was living on the farm alone after my father had gone on to his reward. I saw how this big baby created something for her to focus on daily and talk about with people she met. I thanked the Lord often for the joy and excitement Freya gave my mother daily.

Another horse in my pasture, Windsong, my elderly Appaloosa/Arabian mare, became a grandma to Freya. They all, Freya, Belle and Windsong, became comfortable with their place in the pasture hierarchy. Neighbors often shared with us about the funny thing this big baby would do. Often they laughed about how far she had to spread her front legs in order to graze. One day I saw her coming to me -carrying what I thought was an old black strap of leather, until I saw it move. Freya had found something new to play with, a small black snake!

I began to work with Freya regularly to prepare her for leading. I put a halter on her often led her with a neck rope and picked up her feet. I took her in the barn so her attention would not be on running to her mother to nurse. Our barn, an old dairy barn, holds lots of things for desensitizing a foal – that helps teach them to trust their handler. For example, noisy items, things that fall over, things with odd smells, gates that swing, buckets that can be kicked, plastic that crackles, unknown scary things, etc. Our barn walks made me think of how we walk in an uncertain world learning to trust our Father in Heaven. Our faith grows as we experience things that look evil -but our good Shepherd turns them into something good. Redemptive Love – who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father Galatians 1:4.

Our horses are a community affair. Would you consider donating for hay, farrier care, repairs to tack, medication, or even sponsoring Freya or your favorite horse? Please join us on the the horse adventure!