TOOLS OF THE TRADE (so to speak!)

Out of the cast....yeah! Worked with Flash Saturday. We are working on him letting me get on his sides. He likes to "keep an eye(s)" on me and doesn't care for me to get on his sides (either one). So I used our buggy whip (rod about 4 ft long with equally as long whip). I was able to start between his eyes go up to the pole and then drop down to the jaw and progress on back to the neck and withers. This is really great for him! All of this was while I held his lead rope so yesterday I was able to reach him with the buggy whip and NOT holding his lead rope. We are making the smallest of baby steps, but once he decides he doesn't have to flight, we'll be there! On a scale of 1-10 for a horse having flight instincts, Flash has a 12! He's been "over blessed"! You've just gotta love him!

AUGUST 27, 2009
Still in cast and put Flash in the round pen while we cleaned his stall. He did the usual running and of course only using one hand I didn't try to make him stay if he felt he needed to run away. He did really good! After he ran left and right, I sat on the bucket in the middle and he took FOUR (4) BIG STEPS towards me!! What a huge improvement that is for him! This happened a few more times so to end on a positive note, when he advanced toward me, I turned away from him and went to the gate. As I did, he was FOLLOWING me! So I let him out and put him back into his stall for the day! Will get my cast off tomorrow and plan to work with him in the round pen Saturday, weather permitting!

Good news! Flash's abcess only lasted a day and a half....we shot him with some penicillin and the abcess was on top so it popped......Friday I go to the doctor to get my cast off and I can't wait until Saturday when we can get back to work! This is it.....my miracle weekend! I've asked God for a miracle with Flash and I have no reason to doubt we'll get one! God is so good to me! Plus I've been planning my strategy with Flash......hope he's up for it!! LOL I know I'm ready!

Not much done with Flash, seems he developed an abcess on his left front hoof. I let him have a few days to feel better while we doctored him. Also my cast won't come off until the 28th if everything looks good. Crossing my fingers and saying my prayers! We're still here!!

TRAILER LOADING

August 5, 2009
We put the trailer as part of the round pen panels and sent Flash into the round pen. He of course smelled it and took a long look! Then my husband "drove" him into the trailer....we decided it would be fun to say "load up" as he went in! Then we said "unload" as he came out on cue. We repeated and have decided verbal cues are his game! lol I was able to get him to load for me, too!

For those that don't know, I broke my hand a little last Sunday the 2nd and have had to take it easy for a little while.Cast for two weeks.... But still working on training, just in a different way! Go FLASH!! More later....

SATURDAY AUGUST 1

Today, my husband came in the round pen and worked on lungeing and whoa. Didn't take Flash long to know who his leader was and began walking to Robert. Robert had him come to him and got a rub between his eyes while facing him. So I got in and did some lungeing and whoa with him too! He settled right down and came to me for a rub between the eyes!! WHOO HOOO!!!! THAT was what we've been looking for!