I can't remember if I usually combine these or if last year was an outlier and I made two separate posts since I was dealing with two separate horses. Regardless I think we're all okay with there only being one goal post on record.
2018 Goals:
1. Fully outfit Opie in all his own necessary gear. I put this down planning on getting him his own jump saddle and another blanket to add to his collection but ended up doing neither. I'm crossing it off anyway because I decided the saddle wasn't yet worth the investment when I could borrow a barn mate's for the few times I felt like jumping in something besides my dressage saddle, and after getting a full winter under our belts I think he's good to go with the blanket set up I have now. I did get him sorted out with bits and bridles, so he officially has his own Opie-specific set up now.
2. Figure out the best show routine to make Opie comfortable off property. Dude much prefers hanging out at the trailer or ringside where he can creep on other horses. He wasn't too happy having to be stalled for the one whole show we had to get one at. He also won't eat his breakfast in the barn on show morning, but he eats his hay great in the trailer and then I just give him his grain once we get there. I'm very routine oriented and I think it's helped him settle at shows. He was a complete pro by the time the season wrapped up.
3. Complete 25 hours for TIP trail riding patch. Well over 25 hours! Although they still haven't sent me my patch. Better email them about that...
4. Be able to trailer Opie by myself. Through pain and suffering and all the training in the world, I can now say this kid is reliable to haul solo.
5. Smooth out the basics. AKA learn to canter. Done! Also learn the basics of being a dressage horse. Done! He's now got a couple different trots and canters, he leg yields, and if you close one eye he's got a perfectly acceptable SI and HI.
6. Don't get hung up on how everyone else is progressing. I think writing this down made it more concrete in my head. There were several times throughout the year when I wanted to get caught up in comparisons, but I immediately shut it down and focused back on myself. I did fucking awesome this year. There are a lot of other people that did even better, but that doesn't diminish any one of the teeny tiny things I accomplished this year a single bit.
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| 2018 opie, complete with some ugly AF growth spurts |
2019 Goals
1. Make First Level our bitch. Solidify all the necessary movements so they come easy peasy: the leg yield, trot and canter lengthenings, and counter canter (even if it's kind of a fake counter canter at First).
2. Fix the canter transitions. Up and down. They both suck depending on the day, and what a stupid area to lose points in.
3. Get another 25 trail hours logged. I already have 7 recorded. The next prize needs 50 hours I think, but that's not happening in a year for me.
4. Go to two new places. Show venue or trail adventure. I want to explore some more areas around us.
5. #dopiedoesdriving. Get him back to work with the cart so he's a reliable driving horse at home. Make sure steering is a thing!
6. Learn to braid a forelock. I am a straight up forelock braiding retard, and I am not ashamed to admit it.
Stretch goals:
I ran into the problem this year where I got all my goals crossed off well before the year was over and was kind of floundering with what to do with myself. So in case that happens again, these are next on the list to give me something to work towards.
1. #dopiedoesdriving... off property. Take the pony and his cart to the park and see how he does in the wide open world.
2. Muddle through the movements from Second. A better shoulder-in and haunches-in, increase the
oomph needed for medium gaits, and get Opie more relaxed and active with the sitting trot.
And you know what? Not a stretch goal or even a regular goal, but I'm going to write it down again anyway.
Don't get hung up on how everyone else is progressing. Another year, another new level, still only on me to get my horse where I want him to go.
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