Mercutio tack and lunge [Equivance]

I'm officially starting this boy in the English Fundamentals course! I could have started him with Dressage, but I really want to take a little bit of time to focus on perfecting his basics first. I'm hoping that this will let him move forward so he can start showing more regularly!

Horse Featured: ERS Illoria's Puppet Mercutio

 
The English Fundamentals:
Tack and Lunging: YOU ARE HERE
Yielding to Aids:
Obstacles:
Outside the Arena:
Advanced Discipline:


MANDATORY TRAINING:
1. Groundwork
2. Lunging - Mercutio Halter Entry
3. Accepting a saddle/rider - YOU ARE HERE
4. First ride
5. Final: Discipline training 

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It wasn't the first time Mercutio had been tacked up and brought to the ring on a lunge line. The night, however, made him twitchy with energy. Every cricket chirp, the breeze pushing his mane around, the sand dusting over his hooves... all of it made his body shiver with the need to run, to jump and let it all out. 

"All right," Eva chuckled, clipping the line to his halter. "Get it out of your system." She gave the stallion a pat on the neck and sent him out with a flick of the line. 

Obediently, Mercutio walked out to the edge of the ring, ears constantly moving to pick up cues from Eva. He was well trained, but he wanted to move. Eva didn't torture the horse for long, before he could disobey, she gave a soft cluck, urging him into a trot. Two laps at that pace, then she kissed at him, letting him canter at his own pace. It wasn't enough for Merc. Ignoring Eva's gentle cues to slow down, he took off, galloping around the ring and doing his best to rid himself of the pesky saddle on his back. He could feel the woman pulling at the line, hear the annoyance in her voice, but he jerked his head up, yanking it from her hands. 

In one of the surrounding paddocks, a horse picked up on his energy, trotting up and down the fence line with a friendly whinny. Mercutio, paused, nostrils flaring, to return the greeting. Just before Eva could regain a hold on the lunge line, he bolted across the ring again. 

"Alright, have your freedom." Eva leaned back against the fence, staying out of the stallion's way. As long as he didn't get tangled in the line, she was content to let him work out his energy. Mercutio took full advantage of it.