Class teaches students conversational equine

Although Flash lost his mother when he was little more than two months old, the colt may think he's in horse heaven for being adopted and cared for by students in a horse science class.

Flash's first day of school was Friday when Allyson Lammiman brought him to the science class he will attend once a week at Douglas High School.

"A lady came in to S&W Feed and said she had a 4 month-old and wanted to know if they knew anyone who would want him," said student Jessie Kolbus, who has been riding horses for 14 of her 17 years. "My mom asked the teacher and she got him last week."

"It wasn't a surprise, because Lammiman was planning on adopting a mustang," said Kayla Watschke, 17, a rider for 8 years.

"We're all going to help out and take care of him," said Jessie.

Lammiman said orphans take a lot of maintenance so the family who originally had Flash wanted to make sure they found a good home for him. A bottle baby could be a problem child but Flash was raised along with other horses so he could learn horse etiquette.

"He was weaned from the bottle and they did everything right," she said. "He's 3Ú4 quarter horse and 1Ú4 paint so he's really mellow, like a Lab."

Lammiman planned to adopt a mustang for her equine class but finding Flash was better since he was already used to being around humans.

"Horses don't speak English so you're going to have to speak 'horse,'" Lammiman told her students.

Flash's day was full of firsts: It was the first time he got in and out of his panel enclosure - it had taken Lammiman 30 minutes to teach him the ropes. The students got him used to having fingers in his mouth to have his first dose of worming medicine.

"What are the signs he could use wormer?" she asks her class. "A pot belly, rough coat and sketchy nutrition (due to being an orphan)."

Lammiman said she received occupational grant money for the colt's enclosure. Money was set aside for the plan of having a horse for a school project. They've also relied on donations from private citizens for the basic tools needed to take care of Flash. S&W Feed has donated products and have offered others at reduced prices.

After giving students in the science class an introduction on what it takes to become a veterinarian, vet's assistant or just to have an appreciation of horses, Flash will live with Lammiman.

Besides worming, the class will bathe, groom and vaccinate Flash. And although he's a baby, the class is taught to respect his already 500 pounds.

"It's important to have them understand that horses have different dispositions because teens have no fear," said Lammiman.

"Orphan foals have a problem of becoming obnoxious but he's been raised so well, he knows he's a horse and not a human."

Possible breakout:

Lammiman gave students the assignment to make new signs every week to put on Flash's enclosure.

"Make signs to educate people for when they walk by and we'll also get Flash used to signs," Lammiman said. "People know it's wrong (to shake the gate) but they don't know the psychology of it."

"Hey teachers! Leave that horse alone."

"Hey children! Leave that horse alone."

"Don't pet or feed horse!"

"Don't stand on panels!"