The Hand That Feeds You: Today's Lesson

Huey learnt a valuable lesson today: DON'T bit the hand that feeds you... (in his case, don't bite the shoulder that feeds you)

As you may have guessed already - Huey decided it was appropriate to bite me - very hard - on the shoulder today .... I have a whopping great big bruise as a momento.

I have mentioned he's demon-horse at dinnertime, and I guess I got complacent that he was all show, and wouldn't actually do anything. Wrong. So really, it serves me right for being complacent. Not to mention being an excellent reminder as to why we don't stop paying attention. Ever. I had fed them both, and was in the middle of taking his rugs off to brush him while he ate. he was haltered and tied up, but was quick as a flash and as I went to undo his chest-straps, he wrapped his teeth around the nice fleshy bit of my shoulder.

He did however get the shock of his life when his punishment was dealt out - quite hard - to match his efforts. I then took him away from his food and tied him up outside the paddock - then proceeding to unrug him and brush him for the next 20 minutes. When done, I took him back to the paddock, and walked him straight past his food and did a few circles. We came back, and I asked him to stand about 3m away from his food politely. When he tried to push his way to the food, we did another circle and another halt .... This went on until about the 4th circle.... After the 4th, he turned his head to me, back to his food, then back to me as if to say "well, what next?" ... It was at that time that I let him return to his food, and not a second sooner.

After tonight, I'm sure he soon learnt that rotten behaviour soon means no dinner. He's also just booked himself in for manners training on the subject every night this week .... If he didn't learn tonight, I'm sure he'll have the message by the end of the week... Cheeky bugger.

Now - where did I put the icepack??!!