|
|
|
After having given Andrew, my equine partner, a thorough bath in preparation for a show the next day, I let him drip dry in the sun while grazing out back between the barn and the turnout paddocks. I sat on the picnic table supervising as Andrew picked at the grass. There was no need to have him on a lead line; he wasn’t interested in doing anything else. He seemed perfectly content so I decided to go into the barn and take off my riding boots. I was out of sight for just a couple of minutes but when I came back Andrew was not there. He “put himself” into one of the turnout paddocks and was rolling and rolling, completely undoing the bath I'd given him. When he was done rolling he got up, shook himself off and started running up and down the length of the paddock never breaking eye contact with me. At one point he began to weave through the trees in the paddock still looking at me as if he was saying “Look, no hands!”
|
Andrew's Premeditated Mischief
I tried to get him to stop with a bag of carrots (he loves bags of treats) but he was not interested. I tried grabbing him on a pass but he dodged me. He was having a grand time at my expense.
How do I know that? Andrew was making intense, constant eye contact with me the entire time. His ears were pricked forward and would rotate toward me anytime I said something. He was listening. He’d run close to me and then veer off taunting me.
When he decided he had finished, Andrew came to collect his carrot rewards. He didn't complain at getting another bath, probably because it led to more grazing.
To what extent Andrew planned his romp in the paddock I cannot know. What I do know, is that he recognized and took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed teasing me while he did it. Isn't it interesting that his professional name is Opportunity Knocks?
Home