Damn My Left Hand

Just got in from a ride on Rogo. He was beautifully forward (a benefit of too much rain and no riding?) - I love it when that happens! I've learned, finally, that I can only work hard a couple of times a week, and other days we can do lighter work or nothing. Maybe you've noticed I'm not complaining about lack of forward anymore? Of course there's still work to do on consistent forward, rhythm, and using the hind quarters, but it's going in a good direction.
That's the good part. The bad part is that with the missed time, my left hand has reverted to all it's old bad habits. I couldn't understand why his left circles were counter bent, like a year ago. Even when I just posted about Joan telling me not to raise my left hand when it's on the inside (I don't do it when it's on the outside), I did it again. ARGH! At least I knew how to fix it, but every time I got distracted up it went. I have an instant meter when it goes up because his head goes out.
He did something I don't remember him doing in our ring before - he took off at a gallop when I asked for a canter and tried to charge through my aids. And this was at the end of the ride when he should have been tired. It took a few seconds but I got him slowed without incident (I'm always afraid of a rear or buck when bringing them down quickly, but I want him to know this isn't okay) and then put him into a canter and continued our practice test ride. The rest of it was great. I don't know what that was about, but I hope he doesn't try it at the show - it looks so out of control and untrained.
We finished with a short hack on the beach and he was very looky and 'up' but not spooky.
Tomorrow Doug, God love him, is going to lunge me bareback and we're going to work on that left hand and relaxed hips (for quiet legs). Rogo is going to be very surprised by bare back - new things intrigue him and also get him excited.