Journaled 21st January, 2001.

Hi Christie and Matthew,
Flash arrived a little earlier than the 4.30pm I expected, about 4.25
actually. The transporters drove straight into the paddock and wasted
no time in unloading him. I was impressed with their manner. They were
efficient, but handled the horse calmly, with no apparent rush. They
also made a point of telling me that he had "been in a fence" and asking
if I knew about it, before they got him off, which I appreciated. I
certainly wouldn't like to have had an injured horse dropped here without prior
knowledge! They also said that he had "pawed all the way" here.

Flash walked calmly off the truck, cool as a cucumber, not a trace of
sweat on him and he certainly didn't look like he'd been upset or pawing
all the way! I wonder whether he was:

a) bored
b) anticipating going to the races
c) both of the above!

He walked calmly with me up to the arena, where I had decided to let
him go, if he was calm. It's better that he has a little extra room to walk
around in so his legs don't swell up. They weren't swollen when he came off
the truck and the cuts don't look too bad. They are clean and not deep.

After giving him 1/2 an hour to wander around and check out the
grass, the fence, the water etc, I caught him and brushed him, picked up his
feet and sprayed his legs. I also gave him a little bit of carrot and tried
him on some bread. He isn't keen on bread, but watched the dogs and I eat
some and had to try a little after that!

I see that the farrier has shod his "different" foot using side clips
and that he is shod with very flat hack shoes. I prefer concaves for the
work around here, because of the extra grip they give on the grassy hills.

He seems very calm, willing, affectionate and intelligent. I like him
and I hope he likes me. He seems to trust me anyway. Although he gave Vequi
a mild warning not to get too close. She didn't notice.

I have left him in the arena (can see him from here) with the
irrepressible Roly for company. Flash is eating like there's no tomorrow and has
had a good drink. I gave him 4 biscuits (1/2 a bale of hay) to tide him
over, since there is only a little grass around the arena. He has several
large buckets of water and access to Joey's trough.

He and Joey met over the fence and Flash seemed inclined to be
friendly. Joey gave him a mild warning that I belong to HIM and so long as I
don't make too much of a fuss of Flash in his sight, isn't offended. I took
Flash around the corner of the dairy to handle and brush him.

I meant to ask whether you had wormed Flash before you sent him up,
but with all the barbed wire drama, it slipped my mind. I can worm him in the
morning if that's OK? I'll use Fenbendazole, which is similar to Panacur, by
syringe.

He has seen Gertrude and wasn't interested in her. So far, he's only
shown real interest in food! Don't worry, he seems to have settled down well.

Cheers,
Lisa
(who is sacrificing a party tonight to make sure Flash is OK)

	- Lisa W