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.