Skittery

Definitely on the right track with the right shoulder thing, my Sunday ride pointed out.  All we did was walk with a little bit of trotting, focusing on controlling every step and lots of impulsion and consistent outside rein.

Apparently it worked, because after evasion after evasion of his failed and I finally got some great right bend out of him, Connor got mad and had a massive meltdown (for him).  He tossed his head in frustration and then felt his hair touch his ears (I had forgotten his fly bonnet for the first time since I got them).

Me?  Meltdown?  Never!

The hair-brushing-his-ears thing, apparently, was enough to send him skittering sideways slinging his head into my lap.  Usually Connor's misbehavior consists of like two steps of sideways and then he pulls it together, but this lasted for like ten steps.

I was just starting to wonder if I was actually out of control when the gerbils came back and he stood stock still like, "...so, how did we end up here, again?"

Derp.

But the rest of the ride was productive and happy and ended with lots of treats - always walking that fine line between pushing him to improve and keeping him happy!