The Gate

Wilma here.

My partner is back! 

The other day we played together in the round pen, and then my partner got on and went for a ride. She asked me to walk, then stop, then walk, then trot, then walk, then trot, then stop, then TROT, then....well, you get the idea. I have to admit that when we were done with all this walking, trotting, walking, stopping, it was easier to carry my partner because I remembered where my back legs are. 

After all that activity, my partner swung open the gate. Hurrah, we were leaving the round pen  to go for a little walk, and maybe even get some grass. It turned out the gate wasn't open quite far enough and it spooked us both when we rode through. So my partner turned me around, opened the gate further, and we RODE BACK INTO THE ROUND PEN. 

Wait a minute. I was not prepared for more time in the round pen. We were done in there as far as I was concerned. I got very fussy and deMANDed to leave. My partner just chuckled and decided it would be a good idea if we circled the buckets she had put on the ground to play with, and do figure-of-eights around them, and step around the hula hoop (but no feet inside!). That was a lot to think about. Eventually I forgot about leaving the round pen, and pretty soon we were walking past the open gate and I barely slowed down for it. I did keep hoping, though.

After we went past the gate a couple of times, my partner stopped me, and stroked my neck. She told me how brilliant I am (of course), and then jumped down from the saddle. We were done!

I got a nice back rub and brushing while still in the round pen. It felt so good! My partner massaged my legs, too, mmmmm! Then she let me go. 

The gate was still wide open but I stuck with my partner until she left the round pen. Then I got to have my snack of grass before settling in with the other horses for the night. 

It was a fun time, and I'm glad my partner is back!