SOLO TROT AND A LONGER RIDE
 
Hi Christie and Matthew,
This morning it is hot again. After breakfast I saddled Flash up to go for a ride. I noticed that he is
standing more politely to be saddled and not moving at all now. I think he looks forward to his outings!
 
He was a little more confident and forward this morning, so I decided to trot on failry soon. He wasn't
nearly as willing to trot wothout the moral suport and encouragement of having his friends around him, but
I quietly perservered and he obliged. Lots of lavish vocal praise at the right moment really helps. The
next time I asked him to trot on he was much quicker to respond and bounced straight into trot, rather
than pacing a few steps in between. We went as far as the second bridge and turned back. He is coping well
with possible horse scaring and distracting items, like the scary letter box and the horses across the
road. If he's at all concerned about anything he just stops and has a little think about it, then goes on. 
 
I'm not pushing him past anything he needs to look at. I'd prefer that he learns that it's OK to look and
think about things, rather than possibly get a fright by hussling him past something. Once he's seen a lot
more "scary" things and has more time under saddle, then I'll be a little more demanding, but at this
stage he is being amenable and I don't mind him being curious, so long as he remains facing the "scary"
item and stays calm, which he is.
 
Flash, like many STB's is a real "Mr Cool". Anything possibly frightening just provokes a response of;
stop, look, think and go on.
 
Next: more lunging and Flash goes out for a longer ride again!
 
Cheers,
Lisa

	- Lisa W