My best guess is that the off billet tore and scooted the girth over and goosed her.  We had been riding for about a half hour, she was doing well, no issues at all.  It's the first time she's tried that under saddle so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, though she's "that type" in general so it's no huge surprise.

I know what we need to work on though!  1) one rein stops and 2) my own reaction time in getting her pulled around.  

She was pretty shook up, but we walked and trotted around again immediately after the incident to not end on "that" note.  

For the brain bucket - after I had a very large horse trip while riding basically catapulting me into hard ground head first, I have never ever ridden without one.  Cheap insurance, for me!  The trip was by far my worst fall, and the only one I haven't immediately stood up from.  Different strokes for different folks, and I respect everyone's decisions on the matter.  :)  In this case, boy am I glad I had it on - I'd have been in bigger trouble without it.  

Richard Boatwright I'm sure there is - do you have set in stone facility requirements, so I can start looking around a bit?

I'm about an hour south of Chicago.  Anything close?

Replying to myself, to see if it bumps this up.  Richard Boatwright

It was brutal cold last night, and we're supposed to get more snow tomorrow.  While I like that the ground isn't mud, chiseling poop off the ground isn't my idea of fun.  

Richard Boatwright thanks!  Hopefully she will turn a corner and then progress will come faster.  In the meantime, it takes as long as it takes.  

Richard Boatwright She's generally an unfortunate looking thing - I tell her all the time she'd be prettier if she'd put her head down... 

Eventually I think she's going to be kind of fancy, but getting ahold of her brain has been proving a challenge.  She's definitely got an edge on her.