pyrsandponies | I could TOO be a Mom, after all ;)

So tonight, little Miss JJ was in the back paddock area near the pipe pen stalls to have her evening grain. When she was done, I asked her to leave the stall, which she did. and then she promptly walked to the back of the paddock area by another stall. It was exactly the opposite direction from the gate I was asking her to go through.

So I took a longe whip with a long lash, and used the lash like a lead shank around her neck to invite her to the gate. We do this routinely.

Tonight she repeatedely said NO! don't WANNA! with very rude ears and looks, and with showing me the ends of her that should not be pointed my direction. For a few mins I just quietly worked with her. But she was clear: she did NOT want to leave. She wanted to stay in HER ROOM! (she often spends the night there with extra hay and nice clean shavings to sleep in. But with the weather so cold, she's been spending the nights out with everyone else, because the water trough has a deicer in it - her buckets in the back would freeze quickly).

So, I figured rather than having a big fight, she could stay. I carefully secured all three stalls so she couldn't go in, and I got her a couple of buckets of water. There was no special treats. She could stay, but it wasn't going to be the taj mahal tonight! ;).

And i went to aikido (which was great! I even managed to enjoy a class of only teenagers and the instructor!!). When I got home, I noticed the JJ was asking very politely, but also VERY CLEARLY to please be let out.

Which was when I realized I couldn't see any other horses -- I'd forgotten to shut the gate, and they had all decided to head out and help themselves to more hay. Poor JJ couldn't join them!! ;)

I brought the others in, locked the gate, and let the more than ready to leave JJ out. She apologized PROFUSELY for her earlier fit of pique and was deeply disappointed she too couldn't go out in the field....

I think the lesson was learned!!

ETA: Hey,