What happens when a certain mare gets 3 weeks off?

Due to a combination of things - me in hockey camp and then a tournament that tied me up 8 days, extremely hot weather, and an MIA farrier - nothing much has been happening with Dude and Bestie for about 3 weeks. Last Thursday, I decided to put a saddle on her and do a quick ride in the indoor, not wanting to take her out and down the path because it is a bit rocky in little stretches and her feet are a mess. She was fine in the indoor, except for trying to veer through the open door of the arena on the first couple of passes. I really couldn't blame her because it was a little stuffy in there and much nicer outside. I rode for maybe 20 minutes, then decided to go down the path at least a bit since she really seemed to want to be outside.

We got down the path about halfway down the line of paddocks and she suddenly did a whirl to go back to the barn. I got her turned around and we tried again. Same thing, a bit farther down the path. We turned around once more, and same thing. I'm thinking, "What the heck is up with you? YOU'RE the one who wanted to come out here!" On the fourth attempt she started getting all huffy and prancy and I decided not to push it. I did bring her back in the indoor and we rode for a few minutes more.

Yesterday I tried again. I wanted to stay in the indoor again, just to keep her feet off the rocks. She tried a couple times to veer out the door, but settled down pretty well. Then a lesson started and I didn't feel like being in there anymore, so we went outside. Bestie was all perky, ears up, gazing around as we walked down the path, then at about the same spot, she whirled around to head back to the barn. I bet I tried four times to get her back down the path, and we'd get about half way, and she'd spin. So I rode her back to the beginning of the path, got off, handwalked her down to the point that I had intended to ride her to, and then walked her back, occasionally asking her to halt or halt and back. I thought maybe doing that would keep her focused on me and listening to me, and not on the pleasant little walk in the sunshine we were taking.

I'd love to be in her head and know what she's thinking. But I'm pretty sure it's something along the lines of, "What?? After three weeks off I thought I was on permanent vacation!" The plan is to ride again tomorrow, perhaps beginning with a relaxing little lunge to take the edge off, and try to be more consistent with saddle time. Fingers crossed that their hooves get done this week.