I finally have the feeling I want from Nikita in the tempis. And I have it consistently through the whole ride.
You can't see the difference - they always looked fine from the outside - but I certainly feel the difference. She is consistently through at her poll and chewing the bit, and there's no room for monkey business between the changes. My legs and hands are connected enough that when she gets strong or loses her throughness, I just have to ask her for a little more behind, and I get the throughness back. I can sense better, too, when I'm asking for too much or not enough.
