Journaled 22nd January, 2001.

Hi Christie and Matthew,
By now you'll be eager for some news, I suppose? Sorry, this is the first
time I've come up to the house since I left this morning. It's been a busy
day, and hot too!

Flash is fine, settled in well. I didn't worm him this morning, as it is
so horribly hot and I was worried that he hadn't drunk enough in this heat to
make it totally safe to worm him. I may be erring on the side of caution
though... He is drinking, but because he shared Joey's trough, I couldn't
be totally certain how much he drank, although he did drink about 20 litres
out of the buckets last night and I saw him drink from the trough this
morning, so don't worry.

He ate all his breakfast very happily. I picked up his feed today too. So
I'll give him a hard feed tonight.

After I gave a lesson this morning and Flash had finished breakfast, I got
him out and brushed him, then showed him a saddle cloth, put it on and off
a few times from each side. Then I showed him a saddle (a light synthetic one)
and put it on a few times without doing up the girth. Then I quietly did up
the girth (not tightly, just firmly). He was supremely calm. Really, he
was more interested in pats and cuddles for being a good boy :-)

After giving him a few minutes to think about the saddle, I took him out
into the arena and led him around, stopping and starting (the beginning of
instilling voice commands for lunging). He was not in any way concerned
about the saddle and the only thing he tried to do that wasn't perfect was
that he wanted to stop and eat grass!

I took the stirrups down from where they were run up, and flapped them
around a little, then showed him how they can bang against his sides
(gently). Then I led him around with the stirrups down. I moved the flaps
of the saddle around, lifting then and dropping them etc. He was calm
throughout. As calm as an older, more experienced horse, no fuss or
tension whatsoever!

After that I took him back to the yard, unsaddled him, made a big fuss of
him, put his rug back on and let him go. He is happy, busy eating still
and very calm.

I think from this good start that he will be a delightful horse: calm,
intelligent and interested. I'm very impressed with him so far and there's
no reason to expect that he will disappoint me :-)

When it cools off a bit, I'll go and give him his first little session on
the lunge, put his bridle on and the saddle again.

Cheers,
Lisa

	- Lisa W