Wikia

Putting Your Hoof Down
Season №:	2
Season episode №:	19
Overall episode №:	45
Original airdate:	March 3, 2012
Written by:	Merriwether Williams; story by Charlotte Fullerton
Storyboard:	Joel Dickie and Emmett Hall
Featured characters:	Iron Will
	See also
	transcript • gallery • allusions; animation errors • statistics • speculation
	Episode guide
Previous; A Friend in Deed	Next; It's About Time

Putting Your Hoof Down is the nineteenth episode of the second season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the forty-fifth episode overall. Fed up of being pushed around and ignored, Fluttershy takes a class on assertiveness taught by Iron Will. However, instead of just becoming more assertive, she becomes bossy, pushy and mean.

Production and airingEdit

The storyboard artists had professional wrestler Hulk Hogan in mind when posing Iron Will,^[2] who uses hand gestures that mimic Hogan's signature taunts. One of the layout artists for the show added several "easter eggs" to the marketplace scene, which were not storyboarded. These include brief appearances by Pipsqueak, Sweetie Drops, and Lyra Heartstrings.^[3]

In early July 2011, the Internet Movie Database temporarily listed season 2, episode 19 of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic as "Putting your Hoof Down" with an unspecified 2011 airdate.^[4]

SummaryEdit

Feeding the petsEdit

The episode opens with Fluttershy feeding her multitude of pets. All of the pets eagerly eat from the pile on the floor, except Fluttershy's rabbit, Angel, who impatiently taps his foot and waits to be fed separately. When he kicks away a bowl of feed, Fluttershy offers him a salad, which he also throws away, dramatically gesturing with a slice of cucumber that it will make him sick. Fluttershy asks him what he will eat, and he presents her with a recipe for a much more elaborate salad. She protests, but Angel slaps her and shoves the book in her face, prompting her to yield and go shopping for ingredients.

Injustice in the marketEdit

In the Ponyville market, Fluttershy tries to buy asparagus from a stall but a pony cuts in front of her. Fluttershy meekly points out that she was there first, but the pony carelessly says that she didn't see her there and walks away. An older pony with a hearing trumpet then cuts in front of her as well, but Fluttershy's voice is too soft for him to hear. When he finally does hear her, he just states that he was there before her and walks away. After that, two teenage mares cut in front of Fluttershy, telling her to get out of their personal space. Trying to avoid a confrontation, Fluttershy backs away. Pinkie Pie and Rarity see her predicament and tell her to stop being a doormat. Meanwhile, a stereotypically nerdy-looking pony buys the last bundle of asparagus. Rarity says, "Watch and learn!" She wins back the asparagus by charming the pony with sweet talk, convincing him to sell the asparagus to her.

Fluttershy then goes to a tomato stand and asks for three tomatoes. but the stall owner starts demanding two bits instead of one. She simply pays the increased price without argument, but Pinkie Pie intervenes and begins haggling. Partway through the argument, Pinkie reverses the prices, tricking the stall owner into selling the tomatoes to her for one bit. (This scene is based on the Warner Bros. cartoon Rabbit Fire, in which Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck similarly argue about which hunting season it is.)

The last ingredient for the salad is a cherry. Seeing that there is only one cherry left on the table, Fluttershy says out loud how badly she needs it. The cherry seller takes advantage of her desperation and raises the price to ten bits for one cherry. Fluttershy first tries to emulate Rarity's charm, then confuses herself in trying to copy Pinkie's bargaining tactic, inadvertently insisting that she pay even more for the cherry than the owner had asked for. The stall owner finally demands twenty bits for the cherry, at which point Rarity and Pinkie pull Fluttershy away, only to see another pony buy the cherry for two bits.

Fluttershy returns to her cottage and apologizes to Angel for the lack of a cherry on top. Angel compares her creation to the picture in the cookbook, then throws the salad out the door. Fluttershy flies after it and crashes into her postbox. She laments that she really is "a doormat", but then sees an advertisement for a seminar on the art of assertiveness. She vows to never be a pushover again.

Iron WillEdit

Fluttershy arrives at the Hedge Maze Center where the seminar is being held. She tries to squeeze into the front row, only to be thrown to the back. The seminar begins as Iron Will, a muscular Minotaur, dramatically comes on stage and greets them with a flex of his muscles and pyrotechnics. He promises that everyone who follows his advice will become a stronger person. He even provides a "100% Satisfaction Guarantee"; anyone who is not fully satisfied with the training will not have to pay. To show that anyone can follow his techniques, Iron Will calls for a pony in the audience. All the ponies put their hooves in the air, except Fluttershy, who tries to hide. Iron Will's goat assistants quickly pick her out, and Iron Will summons her onto the stage.

When she timidly walks on stage, one of the goat assistants deliberately blocks Fluttershy's path. Iron Will asks her what she plans to do about it, and loudly rejects her suggestions to "gingerly tiptoe around him" or even "go back home and try again tomorrow". He delivers his first lesson: "When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!". He flicks her towards the goat, knocking the goat down. As she begins to apologize to the assistant, the minotaur interrupts her: "Never apologize when you can criticize!". He demonstrates this by yelling at the goat. Fluttershy hesitantly gives it a try; Iron Will is impressed and pleased, anticipating a big payday. He announces that if his advice can work for a shy pony like Fluttershy, then it can work for anybody. Fluttershy hears the audience cheering and smiles.

New FluttershyEdit

Returning to her cottage after the seminar, Fluttershy prepares to "attack the day" with a new attitude. When she sees Mr. Greenhooves, a gardener, drenching her petunias, she points out that he's done this before, but he brushes her off. She recites Iron Will's advice: "Treat me like a pushover, and you get the once-over!", then steps on the water hose, causing the water to build up behind her hoof. When Mr. Greenhooves inspects the hose nozzle, Fluttershy lets the bulge of water drench him. He acknowledges that the flowers have had enough water, and Fluttershy is ecstatic with her success.

Later, Fluttershy approaches a narrow bridge where two ponies have stopped for a conversation, blocking the bridge with their carts of garbage. Fluttershy asks them to move, but they ignore her and tell her to be patient. Recalling Iron Will's first catchphrase, Fluttershy kicks the carts, covering both of the ponies in trash and convincing them to unblock her path.

When Fluttershy goes to stand in line at Sugarcube Corner, Shoeshine cuts in front of her. Fluttershy stares Shoeshine in the eye and snarls at her to go to the back of the line "where you belong". All of the other ponies become intimidated and also rush out of the way, allowing Fluttershy to proceed to the counter. Rarity and Pinkie Pie greet her, remarking how impressed they are with this "New Fluttershy". Pinkie adds that she is "as proud as pink punch" and offers her some pink punch while laughing really hard. Fluttershy takes Pinkie's laughter as an insult, muttering "You laugh at me? I wrath at you!", and pours the punch on her friend. Fluttershy happily says, "Bye, girls!" and hails a taxi, but Royal Riff hops into it before her. Reciting "Cut in line? I'll take what's mine!", she quickly attacks and throws him off the cart. She screams, "Nopony pushes new Fluttershy around! Nopony!" Rarity and Pinkie Pie agree that Fluttershy's new attitude may be a problem.

Fluttershy goes too farEdit

Fluttershy once more leaves her cottage with more confidence than ever. Checking her mail, she realizes that the mailman who comes to her house left the wrong mail. She confronts him and ignores his apologies, saying, "You apologize? I penalize!" He accidentally gets stuck in a mailbox and Fluttershy slaps a stamp on his rump, causing him to be carried away in the mail. A moment later, a pony tourist asks her for directions to the Ponyville Tower. She begins to talk to him, but ends up dropping her mail in a puddle. She angrily growls, "You make me lose, I blow my fuse!" and throws the tourist across the field and into a bale of hay.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie see the commotion and try to tell her that they think she's taking her assertiveness training too far. In response, Fluttershy mocks Pinkie Pie by asking if things are getting too complicated for her "simple little brain". Rarity tries to calm her down and begs her not to descend to petty insults, and Fluttershy responds by mocking her obsession with "petty fashion", then tells them both that nobody cares about their "pointless pursuits". Crying, Rarity says she can't believe what "that monster" (Iron Will) has done to Fluttershy, and she and Pinkie run away. Fluttershy yells back at them that Iron Will is a minotaur, not a monster. Then when she sees her distorted reflection in a puddle, she breaks down and says she is the monster.

Standing up to Iron WillEdit

The next day, Rarity and Pinkie Pie come to Fluttershy's house but find the doors and windows blocked with wooden panels. The two friends knock on the door, but Fluttershy tells them to go away before she can hurt them again. Inside, as Angel finishes tying her to a chair, Fluttershy promises to never come out of her house again. Pinkie Pie and Rarity try to apologize to her and tell her that the blame is not on her, but on Iron Will, and that there are better ways to be assertive.

Iron Will arrives to collect payment from Fluttershy after hearing news of her transformation. Rarity tries to charm him, saying that a rich Minotaur like him doesn't need the money immediately. He ignores this and starts ripping boards off of Fluttershy's door, prompting Pinkie to claim that she's not home and that they'll need a full day to find her. Iron Will states that he will only give them half a day, but Pinkie then repeats her bargaining method from the market and tricks him into agreeing to a full day. But just as he leaves, Fluttershy audibly sneezes, causing Iron Will to turn around and knock at her door.

Fluttershy decides to answer, to Rarity and Pinkie Pie's horror. Iron Will demands his payment, but she flatly and calmly refuses. The minotaur becomes enraged and threatens to hurt her, but she explains that she isn't "100% satisfed" with his training, reminding him of his satisfaction guarantee. Rarity and Pinkie Pie are shocked by Fluttershy's newfound assertiveness. Iron Will, similarly shocked, claims that nobody has been dissatisfied before, but she stands her ground, acknowledging that she might be the first. When he tries to cut her a deal, she flatly refuses, saying, "No means No." The shocked instructor decides to honor his word and leaves dejectedly, saying he'll have to remember that statement - it would make a good catchphrase for his next workshop.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie congratulate Fluttershy on standing up to Iron Will. Fluttershy says that "Old Fluttershy" is here to stay, and apologizes for taking her assertiveness training too far. The three agree to be friends and hug.

Epilogue Edit

In her letter to Princess Celestia, Fluttershy explains that she has learned that she can stand up for herself in a controlled way, without being mean or nasty in the process. When Fluttershy feeds her pets, she is finally able to get the spoiled Angel to eat a regular salad, with a little help from her Stare.

QuotesEdit

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.

Pinkie Pie: What do you think you're doing?

Tomato stallholder: Mindin' my own business, maybe you should try it.

Pinkie Pie: Two bits for tomatoes is outrageous, one bit is the right price.

Tomato stallholder: I say it's two bits.

Pinkie Pie: One bit.

Tomato stallholder: Two bits!

Pinkie Pie: One bit!

Tomato stallholder: Two bits!

Pinkie Pie: One bit!

Tomato stallholder: Two bits!

Pinkie Pie: Two bits!

Tomato stallholder: One bit!

Pinkie Pie: Two bits!

Tomato stallholder: One bit!

Pinkie Pie: I insist it's two bits or nothing!

Tomato stallholder: One bit and that's my final offer!

Pinkie Pie: Have it your way, one bit it is!

Fluttershy: As Celestia is my witness, I'll never be a pushover again!

Iron Will: Woah! He’s blocking your path. What are you gonna do about it?

Fluttershy: Um, politely walk around him?

Iron Will: No.

Fluttershy: Gingerly tip-toe around him?

Iron Will: No!

Fluttershy: Go back home, and try again tomorrow?

Iron Will: No! When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!

Pinkie Pie: Old Pinkie Pie's not so sure new Fluttershy is such a good idea after all.

Rarity: Old Rarity agrees.

Fluttershy: You make me lose; I blow my fuse!

Rarity: What happened to nice Fluttershy? We want that Fluttershy back.

Fluttershy: No, you want wimp Fluttershy. You want pushover Fluttershy. You want do-anything-to-her-and-she-won't-complain Fluttershy!

Pinkie Pie: Nyaaaaah! Too many Fluttershies to keep track of! Make it stop!

Fluttershy: I can't believe that the two most frivolous ponies in Ponyville are trying to tell new Fluttershy how to live her life when they are throwing their own lives away on pointless pursuits that nopony else gives a flying feather about!

Pinkie Pie: [starts crying] Looks like nasty Fluttershy is here to stay!

Rarity: Oh sweetie, we all said things that we regret.

Pinkie Pie: We did?

Rarity: Shh.

Iron Will: Iron Will's my name, training ponies is my game!

Pinkie Pie: We're not even sure Fluttershy is home right now. Uh, she might be off frolicking with some woodland creatures, uh, why don't you give us some time to track her down for ya?

Iron Will: Iron Will does have some grocery shopping to do. Iron Will will come back this afternoon.

Pinkie Pie: But that's only half a day. We need one full day at least.

Iron Will: Iron Will will delay for half a day and no longer!

Pinkie Pie: A full day!

Iron Will: Half day!

Pinkie Pie: Full day!

Iron Will: Half day!

Pinkie Pie: Half day!

Iron Will: Full day!

Pinkie Pie: We need half a day and no more!

Iron Will: Why you'll get a full day and no less!

Pinkie Pie: Okie dokie. See you tomorrow.

Iron Will: Wait, what?

Iron Will: What do you mean you're not satisfied?! Everypony has always been satisfied!

Fluttershy: Well I guess I'm the first then. But since I'm not satisfied, I refuse to pay. It's as simple as that.

[goats bleating]

Iron Will: Ohh, are you... sure you're not just a little bit satisfied? B-because maybe... we could, cut a deal, I-I mean, we're both reasonable creatures, aren't we?

Fluttershy: I'm sorry, but no means no.

Iron Will: No means no, huh? Nopony's ever said that to me before. Huh... I gotta remember that one. That's a good catchphrase for my next workshop.

GalleryEdit

Putting Your Hoof Down image gallery

ReferencesEdit

↑ Raven Molisee's deviantART journal (2012-02-23). Retrieved on 2012 February 23.
↑ Everfree Radio interview with Jim Miller (2012-08-31). Retrieved on 2012 August 31.
↑ Allspark discussion thread where 'Nayuki' mentions Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon's intentional addition to the marketplace scene.
↑ Season 2 Episode 19: Putting Your Hoof Down. Equestria Daily (2011-07-10). Retrieved on 2012 July 4.

v • e My Little Pony Friendship is Magic — episodes

Season one

Episode 1 Friendship is Magic, part 1	Episode 2 Friendship is Magic, part 2	Episode 3 The Ticket Master	Episode 4 Applebuck Season


Episode 5 Griffon the Brush Off	Episode 6 Boast Busters	Episode 7 Dragonshy	Episode 8 Look Before You Sleep


Episode 9 Bridle Gossip	Episode 10 Swarm of the Century	Episode 11 Winter Wrap Up	Episode 12 Call of the Cutie


Episode 13 Fall Weather Friends	Episode 14 Suited For Success	Episode 15 Feeling Pinkie Keen	Episode 16 Sonic Rainboom


Episode 17 Stare Master	Episode 18 The Show Stoppers	Episode 19 A Dog and Pony Show	Episode 20 Green Isn't Your Color


Episode 21 Over a Barrel	Episode 22 A Bird in the Hoof	Episode 23 The Cutie Mark Chronicles	Episode 24 Owl's Well That Ends Well


	Episode 25 Party of One	Episode 26 The Best Night Ever

Season two

Episode 1 The Return of Harmony Part 1	Episode 2 The Return of Harmony Part 2	Episode 3 Lesson Zero	Episode 4 Luna Eclipsed


Episode 5 Sisterhooves Social	Episode 6 The Cutie Pox	Episode 7 May the Best Pet Win!	Episode 8 The Mysterious Mare Do Well


Episode 9 Sweet and Elite	Episode 10 Secret of My Excess	Episode 11 Hearth's Warming Eve	Episode 12 Family Appreciation Day


Episode 13 Baby Cakes	Episode 14 The Last Roundup	Episode 15 The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000	Episode 16 Read It and Weep


Episode 17 Hearts and Hooves Day	Episode 18 A Friend in Deed	Episode 19 Putting Your Hoof Down	Episode 20 It's About Time


Episode 21 Dragon Quest	Episode 22 Hurricane Fluttershy	Episode 23 Ponyville Confidential	Episode 24 MMMystery on the Friendship Express


	Episode 25 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1	Episode 26 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2

Season three

Episode 1 The Crystal Empire - Part 1	Episode 2 The Crystal Empire - Part 2	Episode 3 Too Many Pinkie Pies	Episode 4 One Bad Apple


Episode 5 Magic Duel	Episode 6 Sleepless in Ponyville	Episode 7 Wonderbolts Academy	Episode 8 Apple Family Reunion


Episode 9 Spike at Your Service	Episode 10 Keep Calm and Flutter On	Episode 11 Just for Sidekicks	Episode 12 Games Ponies Play


Episode 13 Magical Mystery Cure