Wise Horsemanship at Freedom Farm: Remembering Snickers

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Remembering Snickers

Snickers earned a special place in our hearts at Freedom Farm as a veritable “Swiss-army knife” among horses—we could call on her for lessons, cow work, kiddy rides, ponying, you name it. And she’d already been a terrific first horse for her owner, Kathy Schmidt, who recently reminded us of just how versatile and indispensable Snickers was, from the get-go.

Kathy bought Snickers, a 13-year old, experienced pack horse mare, in 2004. Kathy had recently been given Hazelnut, a troubled but promising 4-year old filly, and needed a nice, steady horse to ride while Hazel came along through years of

training (eventually, Hazelnut turned out to be equally awesome, earning her own blog post a couple years back!). Snickers was all that, filling her new role with characteristic aplomb. Kathy and she were natural horsemanship trainees together. Snickers joined Kathy for lessons, miles and miles of trail rides all over the Olympic Peninsula (with Kathy’s friend Linda and her horse), cow work, and importantly, ponying young Hazelnut, for whom she was a steady trail buddy, teacher, protector and guide. When it came to cow work, Snickers was fearless, and aced many a 5-day cow working clinic, which Dave Ellis was giving at the time. She was happy to step up when Jerry needed help with cows on the Farm.

As Hazelnut grew into her role as Kathy’s main riding horse, Snickers found new employment as an occasional lesson horse, first with two young disabled women, and then as part of regular lessons. All the while, she was Kathy and husband Steve’s trail horse and farm work helper through years of evening feedings. And when Farm events called, Snickers was there to help: Summer camps, Beach camp, Easter Egg hunts, Farm Tour skits with the Hoof Beats kids, and miles of pony rides for the young’ns. Always happy and spunky, she did whatever was asked of her. And when Steve could no longer ride or do farm work, Snickers became a full time lesson horse for young and old, until age caught up with her and we retired her a few years back.

Snickers died peacefully in her field, age 35. We miss her already, and wish her rainbows and fields of plenty to wander in. We love you, dear Snickers, and thank you for being so good to us those many years.