Just more of the same

Lots of ground work with the mister Flash. Even though I am only working with him twice a week, he is doing quite well. He's remembering his lessons on yielding to pressure and spooking in place. Today I had him in a bridle and boots... doesn't he look soo grown up!?

Who are you?

After a week and a half vacation for Flash, I was back out at the barn today, ready to pick up where we left off with flopping around of the blue sheet.

The herd was conveniently up in the loafing shed in the barn, to get out of the afternoon heat. I walked up to Flash with the halter and he looked at me with interest but as I made a motion to put the halter over his head as I had done a million times before, he acted like he had no idea what I was doing. He snorted and stared at it then started backing away... I told him to whoa and spoke in a soothing voice and its like the lightbulb flipped on in his head. "oh yeah, I know who you are and what that is.. duh" So then he dropped his head, came up to me and let me slide the  halter over his head. I guess it was too long away for the little guy, he had reverted to a wild horse running with the herd.

We worked some more on the scary blue sheet, it took about 15 minutes to get him back to where we left off. (keeping feet in place and remaining in "whoa" while the sheet is thrown over his back and shook over and around him) Then I led him around inside and outside the barn and in the loafing shed while carrying the sheet and while it moved around on his back. He needs to get used to things flapping on either side and above him. He wanted to stop and check out the flapping on his sides a few times but he settled into the movement after a short time. This will be something I need to work on quite a bit, as he is a sensitive fella and that flighty Arabian breeding in urges him to run at the slightest upset.

Ahh! Horse eating blanket!

Since it became evident that I need to work more on desensitizing the little boy, I decided a lesson on  blanketing would be beneficial. I found an old stable sheet hanging in the barn and figured that would be about perfect to work with. I tied Flash to a post in the feeding barn and let him take a look at the sheet while I held it and rustled it. There was some snorting and backing and jumping sideways that ensued but I kept reassuring him and rustiling the sheet and he quikly figured out he was not going to get away  and it was not going to stop making noise. He stopped being scared of it after a moment and then decided to actully look at it. So then I stopped and praised and petted and told him how brave he was. I repeated this over and over and each time getting closer and closer until I could touch him with the rustling fabric and he stood still. Then I worked on putting it over his back and sliding it off and then it was throwing it over and taking it off. Each repetition brought a quicker positive response. He's a quick learner! Eventually I got to where I could throw the sheet over his back in a big sweeping motion and then walk him around with it flapping around on both sides with out stepping sideways or trying to get out from under it. Progress! It is a lesson I am sure I will have to repeat many times again, but likely taking less time with each lesson.