It is really hot and humid here also. We had rain yesterday, but not enough to do much. I did mow the yard today, because it was getting weedy. The pasture is about gone too. All that work last year, with seeding. We have been letting the horses out, at least for the exercise. This is much better than the wash out last year, so I am not complaining.
Well, I probably let mine schlep along on a loose rein more than I should, especially when we’re just walking. But when they’re gaiting I try to keep just enough pressure on the rein to keep them from rooting their nose out because when they get strung out and on the forehand they really don’t gait very well and tend to pace. But I don’t like super-tight reins either. I would think it would tend to give them a dead mouth after a while.
I was using a hack on Ellie this time because the trainer said that’s what he was using the last week he had her, but I don’t think I’ll use it the next time because it seemed to make her want to throw her head up and hollow her back. I may try a sweet iron Wonder Bit next time and see how that does. The trainer had used one of those prior to the hack but switched to the hack because he said that her mouth got sore from wearing the bit every day. Lord knows I won’t be riding her every day so it may do fine. Bitting issues are so confusing!