Ohh okay, I wasn't sure if you did or not. My old instructor used to crack the lead rope towards horses too especially when they got some new boarders cause some of them were mean and would come really close and/or try to charge one of the older boys. I think they got jealous he was getting taken out. So she had to shoo them. I did a few times too but was too nervous to go to the pen by myself and one time I let go of him. Actually one of them went to kick him once and I think I let go then lol