The Power of Routines

Bronzz at his open stall door.

At mealtimes I put Bronzz and Shiloh’s food in their stalls, then open the barn door. They troop into their stalls while I serve Brandy’s food in the shed. Then I go out and check the water tank. This morning I came back to find Bronzz standing expectantly in front of his open stall door watching me. “What? Don’t you like the menu today?” I asked looking to see how much he’d eaten. His bucket wasn’t there. It was sitting untouched on the other side of the aisle where I had absent-mindedly left it. Why did he wait in his stall? He knew it was my mistake and I would not scold him if he helped himself. He waited because that’s the routine – wait in your stall for food to be served. He knew I’d bring it to him with an apology and a big Thank You for his patience! And I suspect he was making the point that HE was politely following the routine while I was the dunce who forgot to put his breakfast in the right place. Who has the superior intelligence?