How to make friends with ponies in 3 easy steps:
Put out the hay in multiple piles so the ponies have choices.
Sit next to a hay pile like you’re having a picnic.
When the ponies come up to share your picnic spot, resist the monkey-instinct to pat them. Sharing a hay pile may not seem like you’re doing much, but you came here for 3 easy steps, didn’t you?
Actually, the ponies find it pretty meaningful to peacefully share a good snack spot. That doesn’t stop Abner from rudely sticking his face in Abigail’s face just to see if she still likes him enough to tolerate his more annoying behaviors sometimes. Just like sometimes, I don’t manage to resist the urge to pat. And I see in their expressions that they would often prefer if I sat there quietly and kept my hands to myself.