Making Friends

Yesterday I took Ben for a ponied hack off BB. My thought was that Ben is such a scaredy cat I could get him to rely on the brave pony a bit by heading off property. Butterball was sporting a few mild bites from their intro on Sunday which made me want to sort things out sooner rather than later.

In spite of being on the trailer together, Goggles still felt the need to put himself into BB's stall 

BB is such a friendly dude. And Goggles can't bite him in this set up, so they're actually pretty cute together

Getting on Butterball was a tiny bit hairy because Ben moved and BB thought Ben was going after him and shot forward as I was partially over his back. But we sorted that out with nobody the worse for the wear. We did a few laps in the front field with only one attempted bite from Ben. Butterball kept turning and sniffing noses with him. Then we headed down the road. Pony was POWER WALKING, it was fun. We rode past cows, the chained barking dog, and a few out of sight barking dogs. No spooks from either horse, good boys. Afterwards I rode into their field and walked a lap there. Then I let Butterball free first and then Ben. Butterball immediately put some distance between them but kept looking in Ben's direction.

Ben - "I would NEVER chase and bite a pony!!" 

I left them for a minute but came back with Butterball's grazing muzzle and Ben's fly mask. I went to Butterball first and gave him a carrot in the muzzle. He then followed me right up to Ben and started offering to scratch Ben's withers. Ben obliged and the two settled in together. 

Sweet boys! 

Butterball - "I can be a really good friend if you'd just let me!" 

"See, I give scratches!!" 

💗