Awful ride.  10 or 15 minutes groundwork and he seemed fine.  But things have changed.  Haven't worked with him for a week.  Have hardly spent any time with him  either, just the bare minimum of feeding up, checking for ticks, having a quick cuddle (for my benefit not his!).  Add to that  the horses are in a new paddock and his attention was everywhere but with me.  Tried the many transitions and could feel him losing it.  Back coming up, head tossing, starting to go sideways or at the halt, backwards without being asked, pounding around in the robotic but *pretty* trot with a squeaking sheath and absolutely no give in the back, no connection to me.  It's quite scary really as although he's going forward and going forward at a good clip he is behind my leg.  All his energy is not at my disposal but coiled up inside him ready to burst forth at the first opportunity.  Made the best of it by dropping the reins and trying to ride from my seat, doing lots of walk transitions to keep things calm, rewarding a halt from my seat with a break.  Finished on an okay but not stellar note.  I'm not disheartened.  Tomorrow will be better.  Once we get back in the routine it'll be fine and he'll get over his neediness for the other horses (even taking him out for pick, rather than grazing and moving away from the property he was slowly but inexorably working his way back).  Gave it up to experience.  Tomorrow is another day.  Nothing Bad happened, it just wasn't good.