Patting myself on the back today because I did load up Tio and take him to ride at another arena despite it being 97* there. Tio was very excited to see all the horses (all in their pens, no one riding) there, especially all the foals and their mamas. I hand walked him until he started lowering his head some and then I worked at the mounting block until he could stand relaxed. I didn't want to muck up her arena with lunging and I wanted to see if things would still be okay if I hopped on without lunging. He did great! very excited but also very responsive to my aids and there was absolutely ZERO balking or other silliness.
My core is still weak compared to past years, so I doubt it's my riding (I still look horrid on video) but something has changed. I do a ton of lateral stuff in walk, making sure I have control of both hind legs and of the shoulders so that by the time we trot he is really balanced and forward. Maybe that's the difference.
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It was an absurdly hot day, we warmed up brilliantly outside (where at least there was a breeze) and showed indoors (threats of lightning). The temp indoors was easily 15* hotter with no breeze. My dear girl went in there and just drooped. And there went our test. The harder I tried to make something happen the tighter we both got. Upside though -- it was a ride-critique-too-hot-to-reride, and the work we did with the judge was very nice, at least proving we belonged at that level! Onward and upward!!
Little stinker. 