I can't believe how dry my hands are. And how many people are in the indoor arena now. I hate winter. I hate winter. I hate winter. Except having 2 FEI horses means people automatically get out of my way. Not that you would know they're FEI level because all they want to do is spook...errr...play. So really, I guess people get out of our way because we look like a freak show that could get the innocent bystander killed.
Ok, we all know that's hyperbole.
Nikita got a weeks vacation to rest mentally, and is back full force and VERY forward. She's great to ride when she's feeling very forward, and also great to ride when she needs more leg, but as we all know I'm a sucker for a very forward horse.
And I do believe my leg position issue has been resolved once and for all. Thanks to 2 weeks without stirrups. I think I grew another 2 inches and now have thighs of steel.
Nicole's still puttering around working on the lead changes. She's up to her old tricks of being stiff on the left at the trot, but that's mostly because I keep dropping my right rein and not making sure she fills the outside rein.
One change about myself that I've noticed is that I'm taking charge more often in our rides and thinking "how can I fix this issue" instead of just getting frustrated. For example, Nicole is harder on the left rein. Now I think, ok, what am I missing, what are the basics that are missing that's preventing her from being through and chewing the bit. Most of the time I can solve the problem. She was horrible in left-lead canter yesterday until I made her do exercises to be more through on that rein; today she did it perfectly the first time.
