Madison rattling the unlatched ate

My Connemara stallion, Kerrymor Madison, has never been one to get into trouble. It has always been his farm friends who undo the gate latches or participate in other types of pony and llama antics. Often, those of us who know animals think of the houdinis as the smart ones. You hear, "They are so clever. There isn't a latch that can contain her."

On Wednesday morning, Madison reminded me that smart and clever doesn't always mean one is a latch undoer! He likes to think of himself as a good boy and one who knows the rules. I'm not saying he doesn't occasionally break the rules, but on most days, he likes order on the farm.

Wednesday morning when I was cleaning the barn, I kept hearing, "chink, chink, chink." I assumed it was Madison at the gate, but it was an unusual sound. He is not a pony who paws at gates or who messes with gate latches. But on it went, rattle, rattle, rattle, chink, chink, chink. So I went out to see what was going on. Ah hah. "Miss Vickie, you left the gate chain hanging the night before on the last pass through the gate with hay for the llamas."

I even remembered doing that and thinking, be sure to get that gate chain back on before quitting for the night! Madison wanted to make sure that I knew he had found the unlatched gate. He even showed me that he could put his neck over the top and push it forward or pull it back. But with each move of the gate, he placed it back in the closed position when done. Then, rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle, chink, chink, chink!

Thank you Madison, for staying in your pasture and paddock, and for not letting the llamas out with you. I'm sure they also appreciate that you didn't come in and eat their hay. You are a very, very good boy!

by Vickie J. Maris, Dawn of Promise Farm
http://www.dawnofpromisefarm.com/