For convenience, I always attach a rubber covered chain across the door to the Pony’s stable when I am around. This means that I don’t have to keep opening and closing the stable door, and also means The Pony can enjoy the freedom of looking at the world with less obstructions.
This is also very handy for when I’m mucking out the stable. The wheelbarrow fits perfectly under the chain, whereas an open door with no barrier would encourage The Pony to escape.
One evening as I ducked under the chain, pushing the wheelbarrow in front, I was half-way to the muck heap when I heard the sound of the chain rattling.
I paused. That sounded a lot like when I duck under it.
I turned around to see The Pony had escaped! He had followed me out of his stable by going under the chain!
“Pony, what are you doing?! Get back in your stable!”
“I’m free!?”
“Don’t move, Pony!” Taking advantage of The Pony’s moment of surprise I quickly released the chain and tried to capture him. Unfortunately, in the moment I didn’t even think to grab a rope, so I grabbed him with one hand on his mane and one on his nose. “Don’t runaway.”
Luckily The Pony was still surprised “I got out…”
“Come on, Pony, let’s go back to your room.”
“No, I like being out.”
“Pony…” I growled at him. Carefully pulling him by the mane, The Pony reluctantly followed me back into his stable. Doing the chain back up I checked the tension – it was a little loose. I adjusted it so there would not be enough give for The Pony to escape again.
Finally, I could empty my wheelbarrow at the muckheap.
Some months later, when I had mostly forgotten this incident, and the chain tension was still reasonably good, I heard the sound of a pony ducking under the chain again as he followed me out. This time though I had witnesses and help to capture him.
Knowing him better at this point I had no concerns of him running away or causing a problem. Whilst a child distracted him, I calmly grabbed his lead rope and captured The Pony.
Now I know that The Pony is very intelligent and likes to find ways to escape and adventure beyond the boundaries he is given. But he loves attention from people more than horses, so will never roam far.