Question in title. Now we may not be the bravest or most widely travelled hacking team but my Stormy has seen quite a few things which hopefully stand her in good stead.
Some that come to mind are:
The hoover. She sniffed it and thoroughly investigated it over a few nights. When we lived in the caravan the hoover lived in the tack room and each evening (I had to keep the caravan super clean and tidy!) when I got it out she could come and have a look. We graduated to switching it on and hoovering mats outside the tack room and even the "snake" flex became nothing of interest. Not sure how many hoovers we may ever meet out hacking but there you go.
The washing. She has no fear of duvet covers, towels, socks, jeans etc. Not even when they flap in the wind. Setting a line up next to the arena was a good move.
Shopping bags that rustle. Sainsburys deliver our shopping and when we lived in the van they used to helpfully drop the crates outside the school. I would then lug them over the fence and onto the yard. Storm gingerly began making enquiries one day after seeing that carrots sometimes sprouted from the noisy plastic bags. So next time we meet a rustly bag that someone carelessly left in a hedge she will have no excuse!
Builders cement mixers. Last summer I made a concerted effort to lead her over to ours. She wasn't keen when it was going at full pelt with bricks in, but you just never know when you'll meet one of those out hacking! I think now it would not worry her, she'd look but not mind particularly.
So, what things have yours become accustomed to just by chance or deliberately at home / on the yard?
Some that come to mind are:
The hoover. She sniffed it and thoroughly investigated it over a few nights. When we lived in the caravan the hoover lived in the tack room and each evening (I had to keep the caravan super clean and tidy!) when I got it out she could come and have a look. We graduated to switching it on and hoovering mats outside the tack room and even the "snake" flex became nothing of interest. Not sure how many hoovers we may ever meet out hacking but there you go.
The washing. She has no fear of duvet covers, towels, socks, jeans etc. Not even when they flap in the wind. Setting a line up next to the arena was a good move.
Shopping bags that rustle. Sainsburys deliver our shopping and when we lived in the van they used to helpfully drop the crates outside the school. I would then lug them over the fence and onto the yard. Storm gingerly began making enquiries one day after seeing that carrots sometimes sprouted from the noisy plastic bags. So next time we meet a rustly bag that someone carelessly left in a hedge she will have no excuse!
Builders cement mixers. Last summer I made a concerted effort to lead her over to ours. She wasn't keen when it was going at full pelt with bricks in, but you just never know when you'll meet one of those out hacking! I think now it would not worry her, she'd look but not mind particularly.
So, what things have yours become accustomed to just by chance or deliberately at home / on the yard?