Freya is inquisitive about everything. Here she’s checking out the newly hung carpenter bee trap.

Our first trail ride. Freya is a good girl and she knows it.

It takes a community to care for our horses. Being a non-profit, we are reliant on the generosity of  neighbors, friends, and donors to maintain our herd. Please considering supporting WSS by giving to this very special and beautiful work.

Welcome back to the Freya blog! Looking back, our summer here at WSS was one for the books- the largest summer yet. All our programs were well attended and our horse program was the star of our guest events.

And little/big Freya. She has truly come into her own. She loves the attention and is curious about everything. It’s quite typical to see guests gathered around her on the other side of the fence while she meets and greets everyone in the crowd. She loves being the star of the show.

And now things are going to slow down. For the next couple months, I will be stepping back from training. I’ve had a procedure done on my hip and need to rest it for a couple months. As hard as it is to step back, Freya is in a great place to age-up a little bit. She’s met all the basic building blocks. Honestly, it’s been just a fantastic adventure.

I also will be stepping out to the picture from Jan 31-April 15 for a 75 day sabbatical. This opportunity is offered to OCF full-time staff for each 7 years of service. I am entering my tenth year at WSS and thankful for where I live and serve. My husband, Mark, and I will be doing some traveling, visiting family and taking a break from the busy pace of life at the Springs. I’ll be spending the month of March in a treehouse in the Amazon. No joke. Also no cellphone, no Wi-Fi- nothing but letter writing, and a boat that goes to the big town occasionally. My prayer is to encounter Christ Jesus in a fresh new way. I am thankful for the upcoming rest and reflection. By the time I return, Freya will be 3 years old.

In the meantime, some of our staff will be spending time with her. She needs to have other hands on her for her development. Emily Hall, Kate Huggins, and our wrangler staff are already bringing her down to the corral for ride days -learning how to stand under saddle and accommodate to having the entire herd around her.
Please don’t hesitate to email with questions about her or my sabbatical. I will gladly reach out and connect with you. [email protected]

Signing off for now- Love, Susanne

Up close, she is a gentle giant. She probably weighs about 1,300 pounds