>>  I SHOULD have had her on the cross tie but didn't ...
 >  Most of the horses at our barn are trained to stand
 > _untied_
 > when being groomed, just the lead rope hanging down, to
 > shake a
 > bit when they misbehave.
    I can do that with everyone in my barn too ......
 >  Shemmeek often stands there just "naked," without even the
 > halter. However, I have to work a bit on keeping him
 > straight,
    Depends on what I'm doing if I do this or not.  I was just saying what
would have been the proper thing to have done .
 > i.e., not swinging around a bit and investigating with his
 > nose
 > anything that's within reach. My fault, of course, but he
 > is so
 > good most of the time that I hate to deny him a harmless
 > diversion.
 >  Of course, if there are other people and horses around, he
 > has
 > the halter on.
    Good idea  ......  Mr X is the best one I have for standing still
without a halter and not being tied.  I can walk him anywhere with just my 
hand
on his neck ..... he comes when I call him and lowers his head for me to put 
my
 hand on his neck (of course he's been here since he was a baby ).
    The one that leaned around and "nipped" me on the hinny was my new horse,
SEDONA ...... we are still in the "get acquainted" part .  She's good -- 
and
I dearly love her to death but I shouldn't expect the same kind of 'loyality'
and behavorir I get from X ...... at least not yet.  She KNOWS what's she's
suppose to do (or not do) ..... it's a matter of her learning what's expected
of her here .....
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