July 15, 2009
Another day in the chute and I see such a BIG difference, not nearly as nervous even with my husband getting on the off side of him and talking with his hands making noise against his blue jeans! WAY TO GO FLASH!!!!!!!!!!

FLY SPRAY

July 14, 2009
we worked in the chute again today, just brushing, "talking" and generally touching. The deer flies have been buzzing around Flash every time we got into the round pen causing him to loose concentration focusing on "them", so I decided to see how he would react to the fly spray. I nearly fainted and passed out......he didn't even move! He was a little ticklish near the flank and under belly, but not near what I half way expected out of him!!! I was so excited I sprayed him several different times and still the same. He lets me play with his ears too! A few more days of this and we'll see if I can get on his side out in the "open".

July 13 2009
Decided to spend some time in the chute just brushing and loving on him today. That went really well, he wasn't nearly as nervous as before and relaxed very quickly.....both sides! He also now accepts me looking "at" him without getting upset!

Here's the update, worked with Flash Friday, Sat and Sun. Each day he got progressively closer, he still has a tendency to "flight" when uncomfortable or startled. He recovers nicely though, so I know we can work through that. Sunday he was standing so close to me when I was leading him and did our "whoa" that he was breathing on my shoulder and arm! Now that's progress!! Of course I decided to give my photographer girls the weekend off! :( so no pictures to show it, but hopefully he'll continue and I'll get a couple. Oh and we also had a lot of "busy" going on outside the round pen when he did this! A very young stud colt was pulled from his mother for weaning and of course the pasture he was sent to was the one with the round pen in it! So he spent the whole afternoon running, whinnying and being chased by the other horses already in that pasture! What a hoopla! But Flash managed to "keep it all together"!

BABY STEPS! JULY 9 09

Today we worked on leading and getting the closest we've been so far. I was able to get him (while facing)reach out and give my hand a smell! THIS is progress!!!

It's hard to tell from the angle of the video, but I did get him to stretch out and sniff the back of my hand. I should have named him Flash Dancer!! I'm not sure who's leading, just as long as he doesn't step on my feet!

RAIN JULY 8 09

Today the rains came down this afternoon! Much too muddy to work with Flash, so today he just gets his grain and has some peace and quiet, but we did visit for a bit. He's getting calmer by the day! Till tomorrow Flash!

MUCH BETTER!

Well, same exercise as the last few days, but no bolting away and I got 1 1/2 feet from him! I think by the end of the week I'll be able to give a good rub between the eyes in the round pen! At least that's the goal for this week! He came much more easily today with no resistance. Maybe we're finally understanding there is no danger when near me??? I sure hope so!