Goals - Realism and ambition

[LEC]

I have been chatting with good friends and the question we discussed was whether goals do more harm than good. We were discussing a well known equine sports psychologist who is encouraging forward thinking goals and inspiring a rider to achieve them but realistically they are completely unachievable because the horse is actually being held together by sticky tape and will realistically break. Information the rider probably hasn't given them....

So this brings me to my thought of goals. We all love a good goal, but in this modern society where we can supposedly do anything we want if we just work hard enough and have a positive mindset, are we just not being realistic? I see time and time again someone who is competing at 2ft saying they want to go and do BE100. Now that might be possible over a period of say, years and having the right horse, but should we be encouraging that goal or should the rider be told to be a tad more realistic?

My trainer discusses plans all the time with me. I have a rough plan in my head all the time, but you will never see me write them down in one of those goal setting diaries as horses break, plans change and as I have got older the game of eventing has got harder for the ambitious amateur. I have a long standing relationship with my trainer so we are brutally honest with each other but I see so many unicorns and fluffy clouds from people all the time.

It just interests me I guess, this conversation. Its all good to have stretch targets (I have plenty!) but its this whole idea of long term goals which are frankly closer to the moon than being a stretch target. I also get we should all have dreams and ambition but they all need to meet means (horse and rider) and ability (horse and rider).

 

[milliepops]

These days I think I have a goal but it's not specific to a particular horse.

Having goals attached to a horse puts a timescale on it and frequently leads to disappointment if horse gets injured etc.
I got closer to my goal than ever recently and then exactly that happened so I'm all the way back to the beginning of the process. I think my interim goal will be to try and make my training with the next horse better quality again. each time I start again i have learned so much from the previous horse that I do a correspondingly better job. it doesn't mean that the next horse will surpass the previous one in achievement, but I'd like to think i will do a better job of riding and training it.

In answer to your question i think realistic goals are really important. In eventing particularly because of the safety aspect associated with progression. Trainers should be a part of that but each rider has to be really honest with themselves about how they are doing... but of course that is the hardest blow that the ego can take sometimes

 

[TheHairyOne]

Interesting topic.

I think there is a real difference between realistic short - medium term goal setting with a current horse/rider partnership and a long term wish for lack of a better way to describe it.

I find the former really useful and the latter is a bit of a day dream.

So many different limitations to consider as to whether x, y, z is ever going to be actually achievable for a rider, including talent, money (training, transport, being able to buy the horse power etc), facilities and time being the ones that spring to mind the most readily. Then you factor in the other half of the partnership where you have soundness, ability, attitude and all the rest to factor in.

With all the potential limiting factors taken in then it becomes a case of applying some realism to make goal setting meaningful. A fantastic rider can make the most out of a average horse. An experienced, talented and kind horse can allow an average rider to do many things that they may not be able to do on an average, tricky green horse.

A good trainer can be both encouraging, stretching both horse and rider, and able to set goals that are achievable with the combinatoon on front of them. Achieve those, move the goal post a bit further away. Keep developing as far as the partnership can/would like to go with the resources they have.

The danger of someone pushing the goal posts too far away in my opinion can lead to at best a slightly demoralised rider. At its worst it can lead to a dangerously overfaced partnership attempting something they really shouldnt be because they 'have to' as someone has told them they should be doing it.

Its a fine line for any combination, to develop needs encouraged (or pushed hard in my case when it comes to jumping!) to learn and improve, but push too hard at the wrong point and the wheels can all fall off.

Personally, I am happy with the goals I have in my head for my horse, but I hope you will excuse me the odd dream of the lottery win to be able to afford my dream horse and a trainer every day for the foreseable future to teach me to ride it!

 

[MereChristmas]

My goals have never been high. They were more along the lines of ‘ can we survive this fun ride?’ or ‘will my lesson go OK?’
At the moment my view is that horsewise a distant goal is completely unrealistic.
Some people will benefit others may become crushed by the expectation.
Unforeseen circumstances have always upset my applecart and are still doing so.
This does not mean I have not had wonderful times but I sometimes wonder if, without even the supposed ‘lowest’ goals, I would have appreciated them more at the time.

 

[j1ffy]

I am motivated by goals and would likely fail to ride much without them. However, I have one long-term goal (dream?) of getting to PSG but no timeframe for that - I'd love to do it on Chilli, but if not the next horse, or the next, or the next...

Day-to-day I have short-term goals that may be tiny steps (do a canter without losing control / napping) or could be bigger steps (qualify for an Area Festival; finish in the top 10) but these are driven by what's happening at that time rather than a fixed timetable. It helps me to retain a level of sanity and also keeps me listening to the horse instead of thinking that I must do xyz because others are - which I think I was guilty of with my first BD horse, Indio.

Re: the equine sports psychologist, I do have my sympathies with them as they won't know the horse and rider's actual abilities as presumably have never seen them in the flesh. As you say OP, they'll only know what the rider has told them and, as we all know, there are plenty of riders out there who grossly overstate their ability!

 

[Widgeon]

I think there is a real difference between realistic short - medium term goal setting with a current horse/rider partnership and a long term wish for lack of a better way to describe it. I find the former really useful and the latter is a bit of a day dream.!

I don't compete - we mostly do lots of hacking - so I guess in a way I'm not terribly qualified to answer this question....but FWIW I agree with the above. I have basic, medium term goals that we're working on right now, like encouraging my horse to soften and work properly using his back, and also taking him on a hacking holiday next year. Once I've achieved those things, I'll set some more medium term goals like riding some easy dressage tests, or entering a short competitive endurance ride. My goals are tailored to my time and riding ability. If I was more driven and more talented they'd probably be bigger and more impressive, but even then the ideao of having "long term" goals when I've only got one horse sounds like a lot of pressure!

Just read the previous post from j1ffy and I think we sound similar in terms of mindset, I'm just less competitive and probably less talented!!

 

[sportsmansB]

I think that given the fact there are two individuals involved with horse sport, it makes long term specific goal setting a challenge. I get that when someone goes to a personal trainer and starts running say, they can set a goal of a 10k, and then a half marathon, and then a marathon (for eg) - and if the person's own body holds up and they train appropriately, there is no reason why they can't do that, albeit some more competitively than others.
To me riding is more complex than that and just wanting something enough is not sufficient - it is skill based as well as physical, it is dangerous, it requires having the right horse power at the right time and the funds to train and progress appropriately

I don't have goals any more. I have enough stress and hassle at work, I don't need more pressure in my riding life. I do a few events a year on a horse I work hard at to keep him sound and happy, and thats enough for me. Luckily my trainer recognises this and doesn't ask me / pressure me to move up in height or do more- even though we would both be very capable of it - and I very much appreciate that. He does however make sure that I am riding enough to keep me sharp and safe at the level, and keeps a close eye on my horse to make sure he is too. My confidence takes a nose dive if I haven't spent enough hours in the saddle so my goals are more about making sure I get 5 good rides in each week rather than what height I'll be jumping at my next show (1m is plenty thanks)

 

[Birker2020]

My goal is to slim down, take my new horse to a jumping competition and buy a professional photo on the day.

That simple.

 

[daffy44]

Interesting, really made me think. I am not by nature a goal setter or planner, and I think I apply that to my horses and riding too, but I do have short term goals. For example, I never go to school a horse without a plan in my head for what I want to achieve in that session, but equally it is always a flexible plan that can change according to how the horse feels when I get on.

I also have the very long term goal of grand prix for all my horses, but I am realsitic with that goal as I appreciate how many things have to work, (and also that a lot of those things are out of my control) for that goal to be achieved. But I'm bad at goals such as I'd like to be competing at x this year, y next year etc, I just go on how the horse feels.

But whilst I think people can be working towards long term goals that may be unrealistic for a number of reasons, I am also very reluctant to place limits on people based on my personal experience. When I look back on how my dressage journey started I wouldnt have bet on me to succeed at all, I had an extremely difficult ten yr old horse and I knew nothing about dressage, I didnt have help, support or wealth, now this is not a great place to start! What I did have was an incredible trainer, who once she had told me how dreadful my horse was and made sure that I wanted to keep her, I did, then she proceeded to train us both as if we had no restrictions. That horse became my first grand prix horse and I learnt immeasurable amount, so whilst I dont want to give an unrealistic goal, neither do I want to restrict anyone.

But I do feel for the sports pyschologist who is trying to help and is not potentially being given all the relevant information...

 

[LEC]

What I did have was an incredible trainer, who once she had told me how dreadful my horse was and made sure that I wanted to keep her, I did, then she proceeded to train us both as if we had no restrictions. That horse became my first grand prix horse and I learnt immeasurable amount, so whilst I dont want to give an unrealistic goal, neither do I want to restrict anyone.

Did you have GP as a goal when you started? or did you just kept moving up the levels and it kept happening as the horse proved trainable and able.

I have had horses really surprise me, others who are disappointing and get moved on. I guess that's the fun of the journey. I think I have just learn't not to make big goals and like you have clear ideas/plans in my head for each horse with plan A to Z.

 

[daffy44]

Did you have GP as a goal when you started? or did you just kept moving up the levels and it kept happening as the horse proved trainable and able.

I have had horses really surprise me, others who are disappointing and get moved on. I guess that's the fun of the journey. I think I have just learn't not to make big goals and like you have clear ideas/plans in my head for each horse with plan A to Z.

No!! Not even close, my goal was to one day do a decent Novice test on the horse, I had never done pure dressage before, and didnt have a clue about anything, my trainer said if I worked really hard one day that horse and I might do a decent novice test, and I thought that seemed like a good plan, so that was my goal.

I had never ridden a pure dressage test, just a few novice BE tests at that point, so I was utterly clueless and pretty uninterested in dressage at that point, my background was young horses, show jumping and a bit of eventing, this horse changed everything for me, and set me on the path of being a dressage rider. What she really showed me is how steady, systematic training with an incredibly experienced trainer can take you to places you never dreamed of, we just started at the beginning, put one foot in front of the other, and just kept going and then found ourselves at grand prix, it was absolutely never planned, certainly not by me.

 

[j1ffy]

No!! Not even close, my goal was to one day do a decent Novice test on the horse, I had never done pure dressage before, and didnt have a clue about anything, my trainer said if I worked really hard one day that horse and I might do a decent novice test, and I thought that seemed like a good plan, so that was my goal.

I had never ridden a pure dressage test, just a few novice BE tests at that point, so I was utterly clueless and pretty uninterested in dressage at that point, my background was young horses, show jumping and a bit of eventing, this horse changed everything for me, and set me on the path of being a dressage rider. What she really showed me is how steady, systematic training with an incredibly experienced trainer can take you to places you never dreamed of, we just started at the beginning, put one foot in front of the other, and just kept going and then found ourselves at grand prix, it was absolutely never planned, certainly not by me.

What a great story!

My goal when starting in dressage was to get to Elementary. Then I realised that half-passes were easy for my then horse so Medium was a simple step, and seemed very achievable on my next horse. Now PSG seems reasonable and there's a little niggle in my brain that says maybe...just maybe...GP could be a dream if all stars align. I'm in my early 40s so potentially have a few decades to get there as long as my money and body hold out

 

[palterwell]

Goals can change ! I bought a foal intending to compete in dressage. I backed him and sat there smiling every time I rode. We did some online dressage and I was really looking forward to doing more with him. I didn’t seem to have much strength but I didn’t know why. Trotting a 20 metre circle was too much for me ! I had a back injury which has now got worse. Yesterday I was diagnosed with Long Covid and also referred for an MRI Scan. So my goal now is just to have a sit on my lovely horse,I’m on HHO online instead at the moment.

 

[Bernster]

Having just done a goal setting exercise, I think they can be really useful. They’ve got to be SMART, or whatever format you prefer, and that should include whether goals are achievable for horse and rider. And they need to flex to account for changing conditions. But they help me to plan and motivate, and highlight areas to work on, and how I stretch myself, which is part of what I enjoy about riding

But my primary goal is to enjoy my horses, have fun, and keep them as healthy and happy as I can.

 

[teapot]

Ohhh great post!

I think goals are useful as otherwise we can aimlessly wander through life (not that is a bad thing, but we certainly seem to live and breathe a hobby that has those expectations and there's always a chorus of 'oh you know Janet, she only hacks' and people tend to be judged by their results or cpd or whatever). How those goals are achieved is another matter.

I certainly learnt a few things this year - while my goal hasn't changed, my approach has. Being utterly hammered in lessons, thou must do x/y/z if you want said goal was not only ruining my riding but my confidence too. Six months on, pressure off, different approach and I'm riding better than ever before which in turn means goal will be a lot easier to get!

Once of the first things new (to me) coach said was regardless of what we're trying to achieve, whether it's a dressage test, exam ride, sj round, whatever, it should feel normal, comfortable etc, and she thought that's one of the most overlooked things when it comes to actually achieving the targets we set. It's really stuck in my mind for some reason, and I often wonder whether it's what prevents a lot of people moving forward, so they start chucking more money at the goal, or working the horse harder, and then it breaks, or they fall off and so the cycle spirals...

 

[Alibear]

Goals are crucial for me. Next summers goals are what get me through this winter and keep me putting the work in to achieve them.
I used to set my store by SMART goals, but they backfired for me. Too rigid and with horses timelines are nasty things because, as we all know, a career stopping issue can happen at any moment.
So having dream goals that I can't see a path to at the moment help me; they're the top fun things, maybe daydreams but fun to think about. By acknowledging them, my brain picks up on things that might help me in their general direction. I believe this is similar to what people say about asking the universe for something, I don't adhere to that, but by acknowledging my dream goals I am more likely to pick up on things to help towards them.
Then I have my 5 year, 3 year 1 year 6 month, 1-month type goals. I don't write them in that order; I write down all the things I want to achieve no matter how big or small, achievable or stupid (but magics not allowed here no when I win the lottery ones etc.). Then I sort through them, think how long I think they'll take, then triple it and set them that way. Some stay without a timeline. I mean how many SMART goals were crushed by COVID? I find dropping the timelines has helped me progress. I start working on the next things that I need to do, knowing that they are the right steps that will lead me towards the big thing someday. Also, I write down non-horsey goals too; they can keep things going when the horse ones go off track for whatever reason. It is also helpful for winter; horse goals are on tick over as there's not much I can do in daylight with Amber right now. That means my work and life goals can be focused on more which takes away any angst or guilt on the horse ones being on the back burner for winter. I also don't punish myself with goals; sometimes, a goal will become irrelevant, so I drop it; it might come back again in future, it might not.

 

[Michen]

No goals here. I don’t want that kind of pressure on my horse. Whilst he’s probably sounder than most out competing and would fly around a BE100 all day long and probably a novice with someone who could ride, for me get further than a 90 I’d need to train- really train. He has hock spavin which is treated and he’s sound but why put him under any pressure


I don’t want him to be doing jump lessons week in week out. I just want him to last long and have a happy easy time. So I’m very content doing what I can do whilst keeping everything low key aka 80/90.

I think it’s great to have goals but I don’t like the pressure people put their horses under to achieve them and how willing so many are to ignore the tell tale signs of discomfort

 

[RachelFerd]

I've got some big dreamy goals - they are for me, not for my horses. I'm well aware that I may or may not have the horsepower right now to meet them, but that can change.

I also do some regular goal-setting work - in that I generally have an aim for the first half of the event season, then I review and make an aim for the second half, and then I've probably got some goals that i'm looking at over the winter in order to address some of the issues I've had whilst eventing. These are horse-specific. I enjoy breaking down these seasonal goals into the micro-steps that I need to get there. I'm also fairly realistic about knowing when a goal has become unrealistic for the time frame, and pushing it further into the future.

For example, last year's first half (well, late first half because of COVID moving everything around) was to do a Novice. The first couple of novice runs went surprisingly well, so I gave myself a second half season goal of going to CIC**-short - which we pulled off! If those first novice runs hadn't gone well, the goal might have been to consolidate further at novice, or to rebuild confidence at 100.

This year didn't go quite so well to plan- first half of season goal was to complete another CIC**-short which we did - but, the latter half of the season goal to run at CIC**-long I had to readjust, because our SJ performances were slipping and it didn't make sense to continue. So now the winter goal is to take a bunch of steps to solidify our SJ again. When the calendar comes out for next year, I'll spend some time over the Xmas period working out what I think that series of goals is likely to be for 2022.

With the 4yo this year I essentially had a roadmap where I had written down every single tiny thing that I'd need to be able to do in order to reach the point I wanted him to be at - which was to 'be ready for a BE90' by the end of December (which can only be 'be ready', because obviously there is no eventing at this point...) - and although I kept moving the timelines around, and gave him time off a few times to resolve a couple of minor issues, we're there or thereabouts at the place I wanted to be. So that micro-goal setting really works for me.

 

[ihatework]

I think the older I have got the less goal orientated I have become, and the more I just want to enjoy the journey whatever that may be. Which shouldn’t be misunderstood for lacking ambition (I’m quite ambitious and competitive) but just accepting that things will happen when they are meant to.

That is partly helped by the fact I don’t really ride much myself and outsource that job.

For the young horses, I am 100% not goal orientated in terms of competition. The 4/5yo year is about laying the foundations and making sure you have a happy confident horse.

So for example, my homebred, was probably only under saddle for 6 months (in short chunks) of his 4yo year. He didn’t do a single competition. He worked away from home in arena hires a handful of times.

As a 5yo his first competition was in March. He did 8 shows in total Mar-Aug. He qualified Nexgen and BE 5yo’s in those outings (much to my amazement - because there were no goals other than a happy confident horse). At which point he went back in the field as my intention was never to ask him to go into a championship setting aged 5.

7/8 on I might be a little more competition goal orientated, within reason. But it’s always about the next step in progression for that horse.

 

[catkin]

I soon found that if I did have goals/dreams for any horse of mine they would dismantle them at the first opportunity.
And with the help of a number of amazing trainers who were happy to help us go down all sorts of different paths I'd say my horses have shown me the value of serendipity and going with flow.
So I've had the eventing-bred who refused to jump, the croup-high Heinz 57 who took me further in dressage than anyone could imagine given her physical limitations, the dressage pony who only performed in a show ring .

I've now got two overarching goals

Are we both having fun
Is this training helping the horse

 

[SEL]

I soon found that if I did have goals/dreams for any horse of mine they would dismantle them at the first opportunity.
And with the help of a number of amazing trainers who were happy to help us go down all sorts of different paths I'd say my horses have shown me the value of serendipity and going with flow.
So I've had the eventing-bred who refused to jump, the croup-high Heinz 57 who took me further in dressage than anyone could imagine given her physical limitations, the dressage pony who only performed in a show ring .

I've now got two overarching goals

Are we both having fun
Is this training helping the horse

I like this.

I had goals when the Appy first came to me. Not big, rosette winning goals (although I'd have been happy to pootle around a novice test), but then I began to realise she wasn't quite right and even the small dreams were squashed. I never expected a 13h pony straight out of the thelwell books to become my main ride but we have fun - so that goal works for me.

 

[DressageCob]

I an definitely a goal setter. I tend to have some long term and some short term. With my lad I would like to get to advanced medium. He has it in him but I have to catch up.

Long long term I'd love to get to PSG. That one is not necessarily an achievable goal though. I would need to improve significantly, not just in terms of riding but in terms of brain ?

 

[rara007]

Good thread! I had a big and ambitious goal for 2020, which had been a dream since about 2006, but I got the horse power and funds in 2018 to work to make it happen. I’m now debating my aims for next season. Do I want to better that performance, or do I want to enjoy the ride and be happy if that allows better performance. I even changed jobs to allow me to have the funds and time to achieve, but I’m now getting to the level even more funds, possibly horse power and time with regards to accessing facilities is needed. I’m on the fence still. I love working to goals, but do struggle mentally after they’ve been achieved to refind purpose.

 

[McFluff]

Interesting question. Do highly competitive goals suit single horse amateur owners? For me personally, they don’t.

I was going to say I don’t set goals, as I don’t in a competitive sense (I do enjoy going to competitions but for a fun day out with my horse, we are not competitive). However I do use mini-goals in a learning context. I love learning. Learning how to enjoy my horse, how to keep him happy and comfortable, how to develop and improve our way of going etc. My horse is my down-time, my happy place, so this works for me. And I’m grateful for this as there is enough heartbreak in life without seeking disappointment. Can you tell I work with a lot of (non-horsey) sports people? Seeing their challenges, when they don’t need a fit and healthy partner, shows just how hard it can be.

 

[DawnS]

My goal for the coming year is to get out at Elementary. The overall goal is to compete - even if only once - at Medium. I chose this goal because I once heard someone say that any horse could do Medium as long as they were basically sound and you trained them properly, no need for any talent as such.
Setting that goal for me has been very positive, I like having something to look towards.

 

[Roxylola]

My goal for the coming year is to get out at Elementary. The overall goal is to compete - even if only once - at Medium. I chose this goal because I once heard someone say that any horse could do Medium as long as they were basically sound and you trained them properly, no need for any talent as such.
Setting that goal for me has been very positive, I like having something to look towards.

That could have been me ? its definitely something I say.
Goals is a funny one, I personally like to have a goal that's a stretch, not to the point of ridiculous- I'm never going to ride at 3*, but something in the long long term that _should_ be possible with a lot of work. For us at the moment that's PSG, obviously the nature of competitive dressage gives us mini goals along the way.

Eventing and jumping for me is more complex, things can come undone along the way especially if you don't have strong foundations. So mainly I focus on short term goals which are definitely achievable - getting out doing an 80, doing an 80 in (well almost) the time ie a bit competitively etc

 

[nikkimariet]

Goals are a funny thing. I’ve become far more relaxed about realising my dreams when I’ve had them yanked away and had to sit back and deal with the cards I’ve been handed.

I have the next year of competitions planned out, all the way up to the end of September. With some milestones popped in. If we don’t reach them I’m sure Rooni won’t care. And as long as he’s happy and sound, neither will I.

 

[Bob notacob]

Yes ,in my 20,s I wanted to ride in the National. Now just want to stuff it to those bloody warm blood dressage gits.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I’m definitely a goal setter. I find it very hard to motivate myself without a clear structure to my training. But I have goals in lots of different categories and they are flexible too. And they are process goals generally - aimed at an eventual outcome but the process is the focus.

My ultimate goal is to event. And that’s been the goal forever.(I had eventing goals when I was still just jumping cross poles so I definitely don’t believe in limiting your aspirations!)

What level seems realistic depends on what horse I’m on. When Amber was sound, BE100 was the goal and we were nearly there. Now I am hoping for BE90 with Lottie. But post injury the current training is all around fitness and soundness. Eventing goals will take care of themselves if I focus on process goals. And the time frame is totally flexible.

So for Lottie, current goals are
- deal with her suspected ulcers via management and diet
- build core strength
- for her to relax and accept me
- gain confidence hacking
- Learn to be ok with clipping
- establish basics in schooling
- introduce her to XC

For me:
- improve riding fitness
- improve hands
- improve timing and feel

I have clear plans towards each goal and a weekly/monthly timetable and regular reviews/tweaks:

- move yards for turnout. Trial gut supplement (done)
- hacking x3 each week
-rehab programme daily
- weekly dressage lesson
- monthly visit to technical arena at Somerford from Jan
- groundwork for relationship building
- weekly clipping practice

For me:
- schoolmaster lessons once a week on other horses
- fitness/ equipilates
- mindset: gratitude/ patience/acceptance work.

Other:
Buy a form of transport!

At some point we will feel ready to go out eventing (I hope) and a whole new set of goals preparing for that will be written.

Looking back at old goals: When I was out competing with Amber, every event created a new set of goals which was highly specific. Things like
- stay on the right XC track
- remember the dressage test
- address Amber’s SJ exuberance

Which led to the plan of writing poems of tests so I could remember them and always walking courses the day before and videoing course walks so I could rehearse them again afterwards.

For Amber: Lots of drills in the school where I’d ride school figures then pop a fence then go back to school figures then pop 2 in a row etc so she stayed focused and listening in between fences till eventually she could stay calm and focused through a whole round.

Without goals, I drift, faff, put off riding, run out of time to ride, ride in an unfocused way and never feel I am progressing. Which would be totally fine if my goal was to relax and enjoy my horse. But actually my motivation, satisfaction and enjoyment comes from the progression. Not just in riding but in all sport. I could never just go out and enjoy running for running’s sake. I was always working towards the next event and when I stopped entering events, I drifted away from running completely. Going from someone who ran 5/6 times a week for about 10 years and had run over a dozen marathons and 5 ultras, to not running at all ever, pretty much overnight. I really need goals!

 

[scats]

I have a vague aim, but I find horses have too good a habit of scuppering goals so I rarely make them.
My current ‘goal’, if you like, is to ensure that both horses come out of winter lean. Our grazing is rye and we are never short of grass so it’s tricky. But it has been good motivation for me as I am working them now first thing in the morning and it has had a really positive impact on my overrall feelings about winter, plus the girls are keeping their weight off.

When I was showjumping, and showing, I was very goal oriented.