Guest may be on the right track. A few years back, I had an elderly neighbor who used to bring a some of his sheep across the road to my "yard" of a couple of acres, & tie a big branch onto their neck so they wouldn't go too far or back onto the road--they absolutely hated dragging the stick on the paved road. Then before dark, he'd come back & call, "C'mon young'uns. Come to Papa." He'd pet them & hug them. Back they'd go across the road. I didn't mind the poop, as I never used that field.