More lope progress!

Friday between rain showers, Jester took me out for a work session. I wanted to see how well he could do in a training/conditioning ride. In a plowed field, albeit not plowed recently, we did walk, jog, trot and transitions, some pivots and sidepassing. When asked for a left lead lope, he tried the balky cranky act, but I didn't give in and away we went. He is so smooooooth... though I could feel a drifting to the left, with the left hind leg out of "true"... It doesn't track quite right, winging a bit on the forward motion. After a couple tries at left lead, I cued him for right. I was amazed! He picked it right up, and maintained it for about 6 strides. I could really feel the wacky movement this time. He does seem to move better the more I ride him, and I'm avoiding circles or sharp turns. No instant cures with a 15 year old... but we are seeing definite progress. Oh, did I mention I did not boot him for this ride? He worked just fine in the field and walking on bare asphalt. Walking on the dirt road a short distance was ok too as long as he didn't step on any large gravel- but even then he just flinched off it and went back to walking fine :) These past few days he has had more stall time than usual- He likes to get in out of the rain ;) I learned some more of his history today, he really is a special guy.