If we can address his body issues, Rodney will be ridable. No, I’ll go further. If we can address his body issues, Rodney will be a star. This has been my underlying thesis in working with his back [Daddy], and now with his neck [Zap].
Despite the extensive time off, Rodney’s return to work will be governed by muscle memory rather than by attitude. Rodney has heart. He wants to do the right thing. He tries hard at what he thinks is the right thing. It can work against him. He can try so hard that he gets in his own way. (Gee, can’t imagine doing that.)
Previous Horse, by contrast, had no heart. Talent to spare, but no heart [In Defense of Caesar]. He had zero desire to entertain his rider’s wishes. He did what he wanted. Some days, our objectives coincided. Those days were magic. Some days our objectives clashed. Those days, I ate dirt. Rodney has his own issues, but telling me FTS is not one of them.
Plus, Rodney has the talent to compete at introductory-level anything in his sleep.
So, if we can get Rodney happy, he will be happy to work. That’s the theory.
For the record.
NB: This does not contradict last Monday’s descent into despair [Before?]; rather, this explains it. Hope can be a terrible thing.
~~~
Gratuitous Cat
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Virtual Brush Box 
Wasn’t it Hope that stayed in Pandora’s box?
Yes. Does that mean we have hope or does the box keep it from mankind? Jury is out.