When we got there Eli was head bobbing at the gate having worked up a sweat. Ella was relatively relaxed.
So we took Eli into the barn first on his own. His loud snorting and neighing indicated that he was pretty worked up so we opted to groom and then lunge him. I've heard too many times that once you start an exercise you have to follow through and being green I didn't feel I have the experience or confidence to do this mounted.
I'm certainly glad neither one of us hopped on because as soon as we got into the arena to lunge, Eli immediately went into a canter/lope with a bit of hind end lifting (not bucking). So lunge is what we did, each direction at a walk, trot, canter - each transition coming after he would indicate he's calming down and focused ( licking lips, mouthing, sighs or deep breaths )
The end of the session was a stop on whoa and mouthing.
Ella wasn't worked up, it was dinner time and she left the paddock without a fuss. Into the barn and grooming no trouble at all. Attempts to put the bridle on and the exercise to have her drop or lower her head to no avail.
She can lift her head waaay up and when I would bring it down she would thrust it back up as high as possible. She is fine to put a halter on, doesn't mind her head touched - but the moment the bits involved it's a bit of a different story ( no pun intended).
This was the first time I've attempted to use a bit with her for our session. The intention was to put the bridle with bit on over the halter then lunge her (using the halter). Doing this to occupy her mind but at the same time get her used to the sensation of the bit in her mouth.
It wasn't a complete fail. I didn't succeed in getting the bridle on, BUT we proceeded to the arena to lunge and she did AWESOME.
She did her walk, trot and lope. She stops for whoa with minimal correction needed, more a reminder the first time whoa is asked. It seems when she has the idea of what it is you are asking of her she is more than happy to oblige - she has a big heart. We just have to work on gaining trust and respect and with that will come calm and relaxed.
We were able to get a bit of a trim done on Eli's mane. The photos pretty bad but the cut looks good.
