Working on Saddling Issues

Lexie came over and we worked on getting the simulated girth tightening some more. Dude got to the point where he would almost stand still when it was tightening. He would go in one circle and then stop for his carrot piece. We put the synthetic dressage saddle on him and girthed him loosely. More circling, but progress. Bridling was, however, a big problem again. It took about an hour to get that on without him tossing his head. Thing is, he doesn't walk away, he just moves his head. Same as saddling in that he could easily try to walk away and pull away completely, but he doesn't. He just has his nervous tics. Lexie put the bridle on and off about 5 times and then I did it twice. My daughter came out and started whining to ride, but it was way past dark, has turned cold and it was time to eat supper. So, Dude got a reward of release for his troubles. Lexie says she had a mare that had been abused and started out worse than Dude. It took her about a year to get the mare over the worst of her fears. Meanwhile, Jeanine went out to eat with Pedro and he still called Lexie twice to see what she was doing so we had a hard time sneaking around. LOL.