Good horse, crazy ride!

Thanks everyone for you suggestions. Looks like Deja has hit his terrible two stage and overprotective mommy panicked.
Beautiful day here today, 74 degrees and sunny. Deja was really calm when I took him out so I just jumped right on like I used to do. We rode in the bottom arena here that is not fenced and had open space out behind it. He was reluctant to go forward when we stayed on the arena footing, but when going out behind the arena he was fine. We did some leg yielding and turns on the forehand. He just seemed bored with arena work so we went out and braved the trail.
I have him back in his snaffle which I prefer. (The curb was TTeam influence and worth a shot but made no difference). Was a little reluctant to leave the driveway to the ranch but went out down the street fine. Made it to the park trail head and he tossed his biggest hissy fit so far. Such a easy baby, it consisted of backing up slowing and trying to turn. After about a minuted he gave up and trotted forward. I was fine with him trotting as long as he went forward calmly. Did great till the first uphill when he tried to change his mind and did a little bunny hop then stop. I booted him forward again and we cantered up the hill. Was great then the whole rest of the ride walk trot and canter.
It turned into a crazy ride when the smart human tried to take a new trail and make it loop back to home. It really looked like a trail at first...then the bushes started overtaking us. I didn't want to give up and we were doing ok with branches overhead and brushing up against us. Came up one ride to a small cemetery where the path lead over a fence that was down. I jumped off to put a couple of the broken fence boards over the wire so it made a log for Deja to step over. Then the trail started going up.
And up it went. Made it to the top of the first hill and I was so glad that I was walking. I think that if I had tried to ride up we would not have made it as both of us were having trouble on the ground. We started up the second "hill" and it got steeper and narrower. I was worried at this point that Deja would decide to pull past me and leave or I would jerk him off balance. It was so steep that I was having trouble walking up. He was wonderful though and stayed right next to me, stopping so I could catch up even though it was harder on him then plowing to the top. At the top I could finally see the trail I wanted to get back to but there was a big curvy downed tree blocking our way with no way around. Most of the tree was too low to go under but too high to step over. There was only one stop where he could make it. But lots of small tree branches on the other side poking up. I walked toward it like I was confident hopeful he would follow me over and he calmly picked his way through.

Both of the adult horses I owned would never have done this for me. They would have gotten nervous and refused. I am so lucky to have this great horse that trusts me to show him the way. I am sure he will test me several more times but now that I know his game we will be fine.

Happy Thanksgiving

Been home for over a week not but finally have a large amount of time to devote to Deja. I free lunged him yesterday in the round pen for about 15min. He was more hyper that expected but not out of the norm. We had a great time just being together. I watch for any signs of lameness and saw none. Palpated his back and he did not seem sensitive. It was great watching his downward transition from trot to walk. Great impulsion in his hind end naturally.
This morning I tacked him up and put him on the exercise mill for 30min at a walk. Got on him in the round pen and at first he did not want to trot but then sped up and did great both directions. Only rode for maybe 5min as he seemed fine. Went out to the big arena and walked a loop around. Started to trot and then the old issues were back. He did hunch up and do a mini crow hop once but mostly just felt like he was stuck. Just did not want to go forward and when I would ask with my legs he acted confused.
I have been riding him for about 4 months now off and on. Not a lot of time on his back but we did a Intro B test at a dressage show away from home and he was great. Have gone trail riding many places walk trot canter even alone.
This has me so confused. Not like my sweet easy going horse at all. He was already scheduled for the chiropracter in two weeks and I will have the vet check his back next week. Maybe try a different saddle? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Next Ride - Trying to work things out

So the next day I rode Deja during the clinic. Same saddle and pad but in a Lindell (tteam sidepull). He was relaxed and happy at the walk. Lowered head, swing back, felt great. We went over ground polls, worked on balance in Labyrinth. He was great at the walk. Then tried to trot. Bad news, again hunched his back and felt like he was preparing to buck. We only trotted a few strides and he would slow back to a walk not wanting to go any faster. Tried it twice but then it was lunch and had to untack. I turned him out in the arena again during lunch.
After lunch tried to ride again. This time in the TTeam training bit - a western curb with port type mouth and two reins. Unfortunately the pasture horses were just outside the arena and Deja really wanted to be with them. We walked around a few circles but in about 5 min had to get off as Deja was starting to loose it. He was tensing up and whinnying at the other horses. I knew that if I did not get off bad things were gonna happen.
That was the end of the clinic. I brought him home and hoped that at home he would act normal again.

First bad experience with Deja Vu

Well I guess my pony is growing up. He finally had a bad day. I took Deja to a Linda Tellington Jones 5 day TTouch Clinic near Bodega Bay. He seemed fine after the 1hr trailer ride and settled into his box stall.
We worked him the first two days and he was turned out in the arena several times. He seemed normal. The third day I came early in the morning to go for a ride. I tacked him up and went to get on outside and he did not want to stand next to the mounting block. I got on and first thing I felt his back hunch up. Like he was preparing to buck. We walked around in a few small circles and felt like a coiled up spring. I took him back inside to the arena and lunged at the trot for a few minutes. Got back on and he started to relax at the walk. When I tired to trot he hunched his back up again and did not want to go.
The clinic was about to start and not knowing what was wrong I jumped off and turned him out in the arena. He did not take off or want to run around much. I normally don't lunge him and this is the first time I have seen him get hyper at all. The tack was all the same, dressage saddle which three knowledgeable people have said fits fine, pad will gel under the saddle part and dressage bridle with snaffle bit.
Maybe he was just hyper, maybe back problems. Could be the new place but he had been many places before.

Kizmet

Here is a pic of me and the new guy Kizmet. Me and all the horses will be moving back to Fort Bragg today. I am getting tired of driving. Hopefully this will be the last move for awhile.