Balthazar shone today.  He had every reason to misbehave yet he held it together.  Decided to take him out for a ride rather than have yet another session in the arena.  It was overcast and the wind was blowing hard enough to make tree tops flip back and forth like models in a shampoo commercial.   Thought it pretty risky but decided to go ahead.  I get sick of arena work.  So off we went.  At least the wind blew the buffalo fly elsewhere.  It doesn't take long for the repellant to wear off.  Did a very fast run through of a few of the 7 games, taking no more than 2 minutes tops.  He was fine.  Besides I'd already made up my mind so even if he'd started doing donuts, laying rubber from his easy boots,  we would've gone.
   He was a bit erratic at first.  Didn't want to leave so tended to weave rather than walk a straight line.  Went to Wayne's and decided to go through into the tank paddock.  It was very overgrown.  I knew it was strewn with boulders so we picked our way carefully to the fence line.  From there saw the track we were supposed to take.  Went back to the road and in through the other paddock.  Climbed halfway up the hill.   He isn't fit and we'd already been out for half an hour.  Turned for home.  Unlike our trip out he travelled like an arrow - dead straight - with a very forward walk.  Then he started whinnying, poor baby.  Separation anxiety big time - yet he never broke stride.  Very proud.  Dismounted half a kilometre from home and walked/grazed the rest of the way.  Did the trick.  He was calm and happy to be with me rather than home with his buddies.