Setting Goals

This year, I set quite a few goals for Jelle and myself, and I am very pleased with our progress so far.

Let me  list the goals:

1.  Two weeks in Florida in January, including a clinic with my trainer, Henk van Bergen
2.  A Rider Performance Certificate in First Level (4 scores >60%)
3.  A Horse Performance Certificate in First Level (10 scores >60%, 4@test 3)
4.  A Rider Performance Certificate in Second Level (4 scores >60%)
5.  A Horse Performance Certificate in Second Level (10 scores >60%, 4@test 3)
6.  USDF Bronze Medal

We have achieved #1 and #2 goal, with #3 and #4 in sight.  We would be further along, but I kind of messed us up in two shows. Let me explain.....We competed in three USDF/USEF Recognized competitions, and have two (or maybe three) more budgeted for this year.  Jelle had three scores above 60% in First Level from his first show before we moved from Florida. (scores for performance certificates are cumulative for both horse and rider). So, we needed 7 more scores.  We accumulated four more scores in our first show of this season (Greater Atlanta Dressage Show) in April, so I had plenty of good scores for MY performance Certificate, but I should have entered Jelle in at least one First Level Test 3 (since you need 4 scores at the highest test of the level). So after that show, we still needed all 4 "test 3" scores.

I have to admit, that I had not read the USDF requirements thoroughly enough, and didn't see the score requirement at the highest test of the level part.....so I thought we were on track.  SO, I entered the Dressage on the Mountain Show in May, thinking we would get the four remaining scores and be golden......

That was not to be.  A fellow competitor had her horse get loose during the night, and he headed for the hills (long story that I won't go into here). She was so distraught, that I scratched the 2 Sunday classes that I had entered to help her (against the sage advice of a student of mine).  But I feel like there are always more shows and we need to help and support each other above everything!

Anyway, I only garnered 2 more scores.  I always enter 2 classes each day of competition. One lucky move on my part was that I DID enter one "test 3", so at least I got one score towards Jelle's "Highest Test of First Level" PC requirement.
Then I did a 2 day clinic with my mentor, Henk van Bergen at the end of May. I always like to have Henk see us on a quarterly basis so we can know that our training is on track, and resolve any issues that may come up.  I am happy to say that the only issue was that I could have been adding in more sophisticated lateral work....like half pass!!  LOL

Then I entered the Dressage at Greystone in June.  I meant to enter 2 First Level Test 3 classes, and 2 Second Level Test 1 classes.  I didn't fill the class numbers in correctly, and wound up in First Level Test 2 again!!  Ack!
And, after I had sent in the entry, I also had time to think about how green he was at the Second Level elements.  We were working on all of it, true enough, but my philosophy is to not compete at a level until the horse is completely comfortable and schooled in all the elements and qualities of that level.  And he wasn't there yet.  Oopsy!
Again, my wonderful horse did not let me down!  The overall quality of the work was getting better and better, and the few places which were not solid were the more difficult elements which were not weighted too heavily.  He wound up with a 64+% and a 67+% in Second Level Test 1.  Not to mention, a 67+% and a 72+% in First Level Test 2.  We swept the blue ribbons in both levels, and ended up with the high score of the show!!  I was VERY proud of him.

So, we took some time off in the heat of the summer, (my Colorado vacay photo ~~~~~>had a great time!) and as we have come back into work, I can feel both his understanding of the more sophisticated collection work (the canter/walk  walk/canter transitions, counter canter, rein back and shoulder in) is much better, and his strength and balance in all his work is really coming along!

Our next competition is coming up on September 13-14, and we are entered (properly) in First Level Test 3 (both Saturday and Sunday) and Second Level Test 1 (both Saturday and Sunday). We will add the Atlanta Fall National Dressage Show to pick up that last pesky score at First Level Test 3 for Jelle's First Level PC.  We will also have accrued all the scores for my Second Level PC, and 6 or 7 scores towards Jelle's Second Level PC.  I will have to be very careful about which tests I enter to be efficient, and yet considerate of his progress.

Third Level (and my Bronze Medal) will, in all likelihood have to wait until next year.  But that is okay!  I knew when I first made the goals for this year that it was a VERY ambitious schedule, and I am so proud of Jelle that he is so willing, generous and athletic!

Have you reached your goals for this year?  Have you set goals for next year?  Let me know so I can cheer you on!!

Are You Serious?

People call me about lessons, training, and buying horses all the time.  I am constantly amazed at the array of calls, emails and inquiries. (thank you, thank you, and please, keep contacting!)

They range all the way from clueless people who call me up out of the phone book who want to "borrow your horse to take on a trail ride with some friends for the weekend" (seriously, it happened!  thank God that was only once), to breeders with amazing young horse prospects--started and unstarted--that want to put their horse in full training with me to compete on the Florida circuit and everything in between.

Each one of them, including the clueless people mentioned above, are very serious when they call me.

So what do I mean when I ask the question "Are you serious?"  I mean, what are your goals?  Why do you ride (or want to ride) horses?  And the most important question of all--

What are you willing to do to achieve your goal?

What are you willing to sacrifice?

What are you willing to change in your life to accommodate the time, money, and work that it takes to ride a horse (well)?

I have been riding, training, showing, breeding, (living and breathing) horses for almost my entire life.  I can answer the above questions with the only acceptable answer there really is:

I will do anything.  I will do whatever it takes.  I will give up anything.

And only when you are on my side of age, can you answer that as I have above.  If you are on the newer side of age (below 50, let's say), you can only answer in the prospective term:

I am willing to do anything.  I am willing to do whatever it takes.  I am willing to give up anything.

And then you will spend the rest of your life proving it.

Anything less will get you less.  How much less is directly related to what roadblocks you are willing to accept.

Students come to me with differing long-term goals-- to learn to ride, or to progress in their riding, or to be coached, or learn to train horses, or learn to teach others to ride horses.  In the beginning, I try to have them define what their goals are--short term and long term.  (I realize as I write this that I need to be more assertive about clearly defining these with them).

Everyone of my students think they are serious.  But are they?  Are you?  They ask me if they are talented enough, which is difficult to answer.  Many of them declare that they are talented, and want to be the best, so I get all excited and start asking them the questions:

How many times per week can you ride and take lessons? (once a week is NOT serious--5-6 times is)

When will you be ready to buy a horse? (the serious answer to this question depends on the rider, and the answer to the first question)

Are you willing to put your horse (or your prospective horse) into full training with me? (this doesn't, and shouldn't, mean that you can't ride your own horse, but the trainer has to be able to maintain a supporting role in keeping the horse tuned up for you--you are not a trainer)

How much time and money are you willing to invest in your horse's care--nutrition, athletic maintenance, shoeing, grooming, etc.? (an athlete is an athlete, and your athlete deserves the utmost standard of care)

How much time and money are you willing to invest in showing?  (whether it is you showing your horse, or your trainer, or a combination)

If you are not willing to commit to whatever it takes to answer the above questions in the affirmative (whatever it takes), then you are not serious.

Before you answer, "I can't afford it", and get all depressed, read on:

The most money my household has ever brought in has been a little over $80,000.00 in one year (gross receipts, combined income).  Many more years, the income has been much less--one year, there was less than $9,000.00.  So income is no excuse.  Where there is a will, there is a way.

Success has very little to do with talent or money, and has everything to do with grit and determination.  It has everything to do with clarity of purpose, persistence, single-mindedness, and quality experience.

Your success in riding (as well as any other endeavor on earth) absolutely depends on your commitment to excellent education, commitment to your horse and your trainer, and thousands of hours in the saddle and in the barn.

The only thing holding you back is you.  I don't want to hear "if only I had more money...if only I didn't have to work...if only I didn't have kids...if only my husband was more supportive....if only I didn't have a husband....if only I had a barn....if only I had a horse.....blah, blah, blah.  Those are all excuses!

You can and should find a great instructor (ask here in the comment box below, or email me for instructions!) among all the shysters out there (and there are TONS--beware!).

Take lessons, seriously.  Buy, trade, work for all the lessons you can possible take....ride at LEAST 4 days a week in lessons at first, and as you achieve your goals, purchase a horse if that makes sense and board it with your trainer.  Your trainer should ride your horse a LOT--how much depends on the horse, your own riding level at the moment, and your goals.

Ride, ride, ride--  I don't want to hear, "it's too hot, it's too cold, it's raining, I don't feel well, I have to go (insert anywhere), my kid is sick, my  husband is complaining about money, my husband says I spend too much time at the barn, my mom wants me to do chores, my boyfriend wants to go out tonight, blah, blah, blah".  Not acceptable.

Those are all excuses, and you need to decide what you will sacrifice--your horse? Your riding? Your success?  Don't blame it on the others in your life--YOU take control.   RIDE!

Never, ever stop taking lessons (and your lessons will get more expensive the more you learn....I pay $300.00 per 45 minute ride for my lessons, plus I have to trailer down to the facility, and pay for a stall, and give up the money I would make giving lessons that day--so you can see some of what you have to look forward to....  Riding well is expensive and insists on continuing education and experience, but there is no excuse for riding poorly.  To back off is to give up, and that cannot be any part of your genetic makeup.

If you want to ride, RIDE.  Find a great instructor (that is actually the hardest part--but remember, you have grit and determination, and will find a way, no matter what).  Find the money.  Find the time.  Find a way.  No excuses.

Go get yours.