Phew, what a challenging lesson again! I was getting frustrated again but not as much as before and things are getting better. I still forgot to try the leg cues while using the elastics on the stirrups, was too busy trying to get shoulder and speed control.

I was having such a hard time controlling Cooper, he just wanted to go go go and I just wanted slow slow slow!!

His poor mouth, I had so much contact almost the whole lesson!! My prosthetic leg was sore and rubbing again from bracing so much. I know that makes them heavy and I don't want that.

I have been thinking lately that I should pay someone else to put training on him so I don't ruin him. Several of the more experienced riders that have ridden him say that he goes so well, so light and responsive, but with me, oh boy! My husband says just to keep it up, I will get better and he will get better with me and that it is my training that makes him good for others to ride.

Once we went indoors I did start to relax my death grip on his mouth and with my legs nearer the end of the lesson. I just can't seem to get comfortable riding outside when the sun starts to go down and Cooper feels it. He seems to get super excited too when there are other horses in the arena with us, but he still manages to look outside of the arena and see all the spooky monsters! 

I was working at the scary end of the arena again, I think next lesson I will ask to go to the other side.

My thinking was if I work on the scary side it might make him calmer but I think now that it may be wrong. I can't relax, he bops around, jumping sideways everywhere and running out at his shoulders instead of where I want him to go, and the supporting rein doesn't always work.

While indoors we did manage to slow our trot down considerably, when I finally let the air out and relaxed. I also started to release that death grip and give him more of his head, not so much pulling but pressure and release and it was working. All the others in the group worked a little on the canter but I am not ready for that with Cooper. We have to get the steering working first, the speed control, lots of things before moving on to that.

No hurry, I have to keep telling myself that, we have already come a long way in just 4 lessons. Now to remember what I have learned and to apply it every time I ride.

Back for Lesson 5 on Thursday, no practice in between this time. Hopefully it's not raining so I have an empty arena to warm up in before the lesson.