Just Keep Riding

So Dewey and I have a pact. He doesn't buck me off, and I spend time riding so to avoid housework. So far, if I give him exercise every day, I know his mood, can count on his assistance, and he is a stellar buddy. I do have to make sure he gets variety - get him out next to the street to see cars, bikes, trucks, joggers, plastic bags, dogs, and he has been readjusting after a few months of only riding in my neighbor's quiet, sequestered arena. He really doesn't try to boss me around much at all, but I do see in my tiny learning curve, that the more I take control, the better a horse he is. He is maturing into a fine boy. I just have to find that boring trail buddy so I can stick kids on and ride out together. But maybe I had to get comfortable again just on him, so I would have a clear enough mind to then add another horse and my precious kids on top of that horse. Has to be a pretty spectacularly good horse. Hopefully we'll find a nice one. As I work him more at a faster trot and canter and back and forth between those gaits, he's started tipping his head up weirdly, I think to anticipate the canter. So I'm working him through it but going to have his teeth checked to make sure it's not a pain issue. He seems okay if I turn him into a circle, he'll drop his head back down. But I'm gonna see if it's behavioral or medical.