Bottom line people: it's freakin' hot. So hot that neither horse seems to remember they have 4 feet, and 2 of those feet are meant to actually be under themselves. So hot that "work" seems to be this dirty 4 letter word that neither horse wishes to utter. So hot that even the carrots are rotting.We're still chugging along, albeit slowly since the air is too thick to allow for much. Nicole had a classic 2 year old fit the other day, and Nikita seems to think putting 100lbs of weight in the reins will actually get her out of having to push from behind. Here's the thing I've learned about horses: Sometimes they will, and sometimes they won't, but either way, the work has to get done.
Nikita and I have started on canter zigzag, which is sort of a joke right now since I don't have the timing down yet. The switch-the-bend-ask-for-the-change-go-on-to-the-next-half-pass part of the zigzag isn't coming yet, although today was the first day we actually tried this exercise.
Our canter work is light years ahead of our trot work, and we're still working on the trot tour from Prix St. George. The issue with the trot is I tend to block with my right elbow going to the right. I also think Nikita is still building muscle to keep pushing into the trot, but the big issue is my right elbow. Everyone has their Achilles heel, that thing they have to work on as a rider, and mine is my right rein. I'm trying to work on using my shoulder more to bend her inside when she comes against the bit, but old habits die hard. Blocking with my elbow is causing not major but definitely causes issues to the right, especially when the heat and humidity makes both of us languid and cranky.
