Carrot Hunt

Curiousity Breeds Confidence

This is a game I sometimes play with Xena at her stall. The first time we played it I was happy to see how enthusiastic and curious she became. The game is based on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, but with 3 or 4 carrots.

I begin by breaking the carrots into smaller chunks and standing in the barn aisle with my back to Xena, in her stall. I then hold each carrot chunk on either my shoulder or at my waist, with each chunk being at a new location. One by one, Xena searches both shoulders and both sides of my waist for her next treat.

She can become quite enthusiastic in her search, but never pushy, and she seems to have fun, which is the intention of the game. With my back facing her I’m not adding any psychological pressure and the carrots become a distraction, so she can be spontaneous without becoming worried.