Hi Christie and Matthew,

Good news... I think there's a cool change on the way! It's been very
hot again this afternoon, so I kept Flash's work to a miminum in terms of
physical exercise for him.

I worked mainly with him on handling from the ground. Stopping and
starting on command and so on. I also got out my trusty milk crate and leaned
across his back, putting all my weight on him this time, waving my arms
across his ears and patting his rump while I was leaning on his back.  This may
seem like overkill, but it's easier to start a horse slowly and gently and
accustom it quietly to possibilities than to just get on and run into
possible problems later.  Flash is coping with all this quite calmly,
as I'd expect him to. He enjoys the attention and pats and the work gives
him something interesting to think about (other than eating).

He and I have got to know each other fairly well and I believe we
have built up some sort of rapport, so that he has no reason to be concerned
when I actually sit on him. I felt that I could have sat on him today and
he'd have been as calm and accepting as he is of every other odd thing humans
do to him. But we're going to wait until you're here on Friday.

Before then I do want to lunge him in side reins to see how well he
accepts the bit contact now without a rider's weight, and how he goes forward
into and how well he submits to a bit contact without leaning on the bit.
In other words, I would like to see more about how he balances himself
when he meets a contact with the bit, so I know just what to expect when I
start to ride him and neither of us get any surprises. Lunging in side reins
will also help to improve his straightness.

Tomorrow I plan to start lunging Flash in side reins, and to continue
our work on his bending to travel more correctly on circles, rather than
looking out and falling into the circle where he feels like it (ie: the side
away from the gate). I also want to work further on his keeping a metronomically
steady rythym in all paces, regardless of where he is going or which
direction he is travelling in.

This is all really just basic obedience on his part, gaining his full
attention and keeping it, but it is work that will prove valuable later.

I am still just as impressed with Flash and I am finding out daily
just how endearing he can be. Now I really want to sit on him and take the
work further again.

See you tomorrow night!
Cheers,
Lisa

	- Lisa W