There are certain pleasures to doing volunteer "maid duty" at SAFE – one of them being a little chance to get to know the herd and observe their interactions. Occasionally I catch some of it on camera - or cause it!

Kokomo, the oldest and strongest of the babies, is turned out with Hope, a five year old mare. They come to the gate as I clean up the next paddock. I get one slightly blurry picture.

Now, I am not going to say Hope is a diva, because that wouldn't be accurate. Still, she has been lapping up the attention she has been receiving at SAFE (see the pictures from Sunday). Many horses seem to understand the camera as a kind of attention – maybe they see it as a large eye focused on them. Anyway, Hope isn't inclined to share her photo op.

This nip is a gestural language - no contact, but exaggerated to make her meaning clear. Unfortunately, Kokomo is giving his attention to me, not to her, so she ups the ante.

Finally, he picks up on what she is saying.

If you think she is being mean, realize that she is doing an important job for us. Once a young horse is out of the foal stage, it is time for them to be taught their place in the herd. After repeated lessons from Hope, Kokomo will react more quickly and with less pressure, until a glance will be enough. Social sensitivity will prevent him from getting hurt by other horses down the road.

When a human handler asks him to yield to pressure, they will build on this foundation. Thank you, Professor Hope.