A few days ago, at the canter, Balthazar became this plunging leaping head tossing monster.  Our ground work had been fine, our ridden work, to that point, ordinary.  Well, on second thought, no it wasn't ordinary.  He'd reverted to Pretty Pose Pony at the trot because I'd asked too much.  We were practicing the weave and in hindsight I should've done much more mounted work at the walk before advancing to the trot.  Consequently he internalized that fear energy  and it busted out when we leapt into canter. 
      I'd been a bit blase about our cantering.  It was getting more and more 'old hat',  This was a blow.  I was never in any danger of coming off but that doesn't stop the adrenalin from flowing and the heart from pounding.  At 57 I don't bounce and I definitely don't want to hit the ground. 
      Today we spent 15 minutes or so on ground work.  He is improving all the time with full pass on the fence and off.  Not perfect by any means but I am asking for more and more importantly waiting for him to deliver.  It's hard to remember everything sometimes, to form good habits about using the phases, to drop back to one if I've had a reaction at 4 or to go to 4 rather than idling at one while he daydreams of  lush paddocks and I lose focus. 
     The ridden work was great.  Cantering fine.  Overfaced him and asked for a canter depart from the walk which he didn't do but he didn't get upset because of being asked either.  The weave at the trot was excellent.  We're getting it done, except for the circle to the right at the last barrel, with weight and body position alone.  If I do use the reins it's very quick and quiet.  He has trouble bending to the right, as usual, so our circles to the right tend to be somewhat wonky.  One of the surprising things is his taking the correct lead almost every time.  Used to have a terrible time with that now he just takes it.
    Made certain that we did the weave at the walk mounted and unmounted, quite a few times before attempting at the trot.  On the ground he was okay at the trot.  Am trying to go to the end of the 12 line for it but not quite there yet.  He is understanding what is required.  I can see him doing the weave, thinking for himself, not every time but sometimes.  Good thing.
     Out for a pick afterwards.  Yesterday found him in the yards at 3pm decided to throw a halter on him and take him up the road.  I like spending time with him with no expectations.  We had a little adventure by scrambling down the bank to the (dry) creek.  Had to maneuver a little bit to reverse out as we eventually couldn't go any further forward.  He was good.  Time spent like that is gold.