2024 aims and how goals?

[teapot]

There are a couple of potential options, one I’m not keen on just based on the photos etc they have posted on their SM with incorrectly fitting tack but I may look closer into the other one.

I guess I’ll just go for my Stage 2 care and lunge next year, the riding especially the jumping section, will take time to get there confidence wise. I need to find a centre that offers some training so I can be signed off for some of the care section on loading etc.

You can learn so much from social media I find these days.

The other option if you have a horse of your own/loan/share etc is to find an approved who you can train with and then sign you off. There's a new BHS training group on facebook, ran by the BHS education dept, which may be useful for options/suggestions. I can PM you the link if you'd like?

 

[shortstuff99]

I have a couple of goals (if luck allows) other than pottering with my little gang.

1) The baby Spanish Bean to go to a few shows with a stretch goal of going to the MCI GB nationals (and maybe BD associated champs).

2) The big cob man to do some BD shows and maybe an area festival/ associated champs.

3) the fatty Spanish Potato will be 16 next year so will just be having some fun and some more jumping.

 

[Maddie Moo]

You can learn so much from social media I find these days.

The other option if you have a horse of your own/loan/share etc is to find an approved who you can train with and then sign you off. There's a new BHS training group on facebook, ran by the BHS education dept, which may be useful for options/suggestions. I can PM you the link if you'd like?

Yes please that would be great! Unfortunately no share or own horse to use, but I’m sure I can find a way.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Sign up for their newsletter. The side saddle clinic is listed on the calendar page but not on the website yet. It would be worth emailing them if you are interested as the clinics can fill up quite quickly.

Also now considering Jousting Experience day voucher for my mostly non-horsey OH's xmas present....

 

[Kunoichi73]

Also now considering Jousting Experience day voucher for my mostly non-horsey OH's xmas present....

The bit of jousting I did with them fun.

Just checked their new app and there are 8 spaces left on the side saddle clinic at the moment.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The bit of jousting I did with them fun.

Just checked their new app and there are 8 spaces left on the side saddle clinic at the moment.

Knowing him he'd automatically be really good at it. He's very much a beginner rider but so un-phased by it. I am quite jealous of that!

 

[Wishfilly]

Yes please that would be great! Unfortunately no share or own horse to use, but I’m sure I can find a way.

I can imagine if you advertised for a share with the main aim being taking your Stage 2 Care and Lunging, people would bite your hand off! There are lots of people, perhaps with an unridden horse, or one that needs bringing back into work, or even a ridden horse, who would see it as a great trade off- you get to learn/practice certain skills, the horse gets a bit of time and attention from someone, and they maybe get a bit of help with yard jobs.

Alternatively, for the care, it may be worth approaching any local BHS riding school- even if they can't sign you off, they may be willing to help you?

In terms of the riding, I did it before the exams changed but I always struggled jumping strange horses! I am reasonably petite, and back then weighed not much over 8st, the vast majority of my riding was on ponies (and I'm talking 13.2 natives, not flashy FEI types). I'd go to an exam centre and they'd sometimes whack me on something 16 hands+ which I just didn't have the opportunity to ride regularly. Whereas obviously if you are a 6'2" man, they don't put you on a 14hh pony! That, plus the distance I was having to travel to exams put me off in the end.

Anyway, I do think there are solutions to the care side!

 

[Wishfilly]

Knowing him he'd automatically be really good at it. He's very much a beginner rider but so un-phased by it. I am quite jealous of that!

Stereotypes at their finest, but I find adult male beginners either hate it, or are like this!

 

[little_critter]

No point making them every season has been a disaster!

Agreed. I don’t do these threads now, I just end up disappointed.

 

[Irish Sally]

There's connemara performance classes I want to enter sally in. They're 90cm but I'd want to be jumping a meter so she'd be confident in it.
I need to take lessons as well. Haven't had a lesson in years. Could do with some help with our dressage.
I have a mare that ruptered her tendon. She can't be ridden anymore but she got the go ahead to breed.So another aim is to get her in foal
Last aim is to buy another unbroken horse and to start working with them.

 

[humblepie]

Get myself fitter so that I can run my horse better in hand particularly where there are set shows - I am normally out of puff half way round.

 

[nikkimariet]

Competition wise - PSG regionals, Inter 1 AF. Hoping to do PSG at some bigger shows too.

Training wise - develop the piaffe and 1’s (we are stuck on 5, my legs just aren’t quick enough!) and the canter piris need some more work but that’s all a time and strength game. And I’d love to pick our SJ training back up a bit more.

We achieved everything I wanted to and then some this year. Still really thrilled to have gone to both winter and summer nationals!

 

[Marigold4]

Aiming to start riding my gelding again - he has had 3 months off due to a virus that set off his asthma. He's put on weight during this period so no doubt his saddle will no longer fit. Sigh ... Aiming to do a prelim at the very least and more hacking.

Hoping to take the two foals out to youngstock classes in the spring. Really looking forward to this, though will need full body armour as they might enjoy themselves a little too much. My foal is quite lively and a big chunk of a girl already.

Should be moving house to a place with our own land in the next few months so aiming to get the field set up and the stables need work so that will be a big part of the year.

 

[Jinx94]

I'm keeping my goals really basic:

Get on my mare - getting fed up with this getting derailed, especially by simple things! Though the extra time has definitely done her a lot of good.

Hack the spotty one on the roads (semi!) confidently - we used to go for miles, but our last on road hack was at the start of 2023 and went from being 'let's have fun and see how far we get' to 'let's get home alive'. So will be doing plenty of hand walks to the village and back to get his confidence up!

 

[RachelFerd]

For the older TB - consolidate at intermediate level eventing and maybe, just maybe, try and have a spin round a 3* short

For the 6yo (will be a 7yo shortly...) Do a medium BD by the end of the year and try and improve the SJ so he can get back out at BE100 again at some point during the season too.

But whatever happens will happen - main thing is to try and enjoy them both.

 

[Cloball]

I'd quite like to crack the hacking alone (my issue no hers) but if I'm really not enjoying it at least drag OH out with us.
Get a lot fitter so pal with her horse can come on holiday (50 mile for endurance horse).
Crack the right canter lead so we can bobble about some online prelim.
I'd like to only see the vet for routine things

 

[j1ffy]

I’m another focusing on training goals - I’d like to get Chilli’s canter as established as his trot this year. Once we’ve done that we can hopefully do some BD at Ele / Medium but I’m not bothered if we don’t.

I’d like to do more working equitation, long hacks and generally some fun! Also as per Cloball’s post - routine vet visits only please

 

[Michen]

All I want is for Bog to continue being happy, healthy and alive. If I ever get to ride him again then great, but I am just grateful to be able to kiss his nose!

 

[Pippity]

Get back on a horse, then decide whether I want to continue getting back on horses. And, if I do, work like hell on improving my riding and fitness before going horse shopping.

 

[Taliesan]

I never really have specific goals as such as the main thing I want to achieve is just enjoying being with my horses.

However, if everything goes well, I'd like to continue progressing with Jack's schooling with the aim of getting out to do some more Novice or Elementary tests - ideally without a bridle but that is something I always decide based on the day, environment and how Jack is feeling.

I'd also really like to start doing little bits of jumping again, if that is something Jack wants to do too, as I'd like to be able to try and jump a course without a bridle as well.

For Apollo, although it looks like the PRP on his leg has been successful, I won't truly know what he'll be able to do ridden wise until I try it. So, the plan is lots of groundwork and walking to build his body up and then just try a little bit of riding at a time to see if he enjoys it and how his body reacts. If, at any point, I suspect that being ridden is something he doesn't enjoy or is causing his body detriment then I'll stop and we can continue doing our long walks in hand together instead.

As a fun little side activity I'd also like to teach Apollo to paint. He loves holding things in his mouth and waving them around. I just need to transfer that to a brush and encourage him to wave it in front of a canvas. As part of this I'll also try and teach him colour recognition so he can tell me what colours he wants on the brush. I'll have to go round B&Q with my dichromatic app on looking at all the paints so I can pick the best ones for him to distinguish between!

 

[Lexi 123]

just to keep my horse sound for 2024 she had tandon injury and had to get tendon injections . Someone commented that they want to grow there YouTube channel the only people who make massive money on YouTube is This esme Harlow and family and elphick event ponys that’s only because horses mad teenagers and kids watch them you also need a ton of sponsors to make massive money which these creators have this esme has like 10 sponsors .

 

[planete]

Keep Woody well enough to go on hacking him a couple of times a week, increasing the trots slowly. Including a weekly in hand work/long reining session to promote suppleness and better balance. It is an uphill endeavour with his muscle myopathy and my creakiness but I have seen a steady improvement in his balance, fitness, manners and confidence this year so hoping to carry on, that would be enough for us.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I'd be quite happy just getting on and riding mine a bit

 

[daydreamer]

I struggle to make plans, I think partly because I do so much of it at work (teacher) and partly because with horses it just never seems to work out. This year feels like it has been very stop start but in reality I guess I have achieved a lot for an amateur with her first youngster!

But in 2024 I'd like to ...

• do more hacking in company until we both feel relaxed including upping the pace
• be able to travel to my old yard and hack out with my friends
• be able to do a tidy canter transition in the school
• practise some working equitation exercises in the school (maybe see if we can go to a training clinic??)
• continue working on groundwork and maybe do a little at liberty
• finish teaching him to pick up a toy and go and drop it in a bucket (we've nailed the pick-up, currently working on trying to get it into a bucket, just for fun! )

Mainly I'de just like him to stay healthy and sound.

 

[Flame_]

I hope I can help my horse keep his 100% completion rate now he's open and we've got to be a bit faster. Hopefully do 3/4 EGB rides. Maybe try a 2 day, which I think he'd boss, but work, help, what to do with the companion pony, etc seem to be bigger obstacles than the rides.

 

[DressageCob]

My lad and I are doing medium regionals in February, all being well. After that the aim is to teach changes (we've delayed doing it because he offers them when things go wrong already, so don't want to encourage that until after regionals!).

His canter has got really good. Today we did proper canter piris, and he was awesome. I'd also like to build on our half steps.

Main goal is to continue enjoying our time together and staying colic-free.
I also have two baby cobs now. They just hit 7 months. I haven't decided if they are going to go out and about since showing isn't really my thing, but main aims for 2024 are getting confident with leading and handling, maybe a little loading if we are seeing the world but really I expect they will just be loving life in the field next year

 

[toppedoff]

Be more stronger and balanced
Able to have a better work rider position
And to stop being so "defeatist" when riding..

 

[blodwyn1]

I need to get back on after my broken rib and concussion injuries. I haven't ridden for over eight weeks so I have lost confidence again and G needs work!

 

[LEC]

just to keep my horse sound for 2024 she had tandon injury and had to get tendon injections . Someone commented that they want to grow there YouTube channel the only people who make massive money on YouTube is This esme Harlow and family and elphick event ponys that’s only because horses mad teenagers and kids watch them you also need a ton of sponsors to make massive money which these creators have this esme has like 10 sponsors .

Not true! There are a lot of channels not watched by tweens who make decent money. Sure, it’s the biggest target audience by This Esme was an early adopter but her numbers are rapidly declining on views. Hence why she is trying to diversify as her equestrian content is rubbish. Harlow makes serious money. £350k last year. But with that is pros and cons…
Steve Young would make very good money out of his channel, though I appreciate that is pretty niche but that’s not aimed at children. Tara has 60k subs and some of the worst riding I have ever seen… not a kids channel. It’s an interesting little experiment and I like numbers. The sponsorship doesn’t interest me but maybe covering the odd lesson does. At 1500 subs with around 2k views a month you can make £60 which is certainly more money than the horses currently generate! Ashley Harrison is a good example. 20k + subs not aimed at children. I bet she would make £300 a month +

 

[humblepie]

Not true! There are a lot of channels not watched by tweens who make decent money. Sure, it’s the biggest target audience by This Esme was an early adopter but her numbers are rapidly declining on views. Hence why she is trying to diversify as her equestrian content is rubbish. Harlow makes serious money. £350k last year. But with that is pros and cons…
Steve Young would make very good money out of his channel, though I appreciate that is pretty niche but that’s not aimed at children. Tara has 60k subs and some of the worst riding I have ever seen… not a kids channel. It’s an interesting little experiment and I like numbers. The sponsorship doesn’t interest me but maybe covering the odd lesson does. At 1500 subs with around 2k views a month you can make £60 which is certainly more money than the horses currently generate! Ashley Harrison is a good example. 20k + subs not aimed at children. I bet she would make £300 a month +

Off piste but why do people subscribe to a YouTube channel? Is it to show support and help the person get advertising and income? I watch a couple of female HGV truckers and a Scottish guy who does travel ones but don’t subscribe. Don’t watch any horse ones.