Goals - Realism and ambition

[Birker2020]

I'd like to be sat on Lari by the end of February and happily schooling/jumping by the end of the Spring ready for the Summer and fun times.
I'm not sure at this stage whether he is a 'bit too much' for me, my confidence was knocked the last time I sat on him but we shall see. I think seeing him now full of beans and not doing much work apart from in hand core strengthening stuff (on advice of vet/physio) has bored him silly. I think I might see a different horse when he is in regular work and then settled down.

I have to first buy a saddle and that will be a nightmare trying to find one to fit. Then spend time with the pro rider riding him first. When I remember back to my first three good rides I felt like we could acomplish anything. Now I feel that I will be lucky to accomplish walking round the school. Such a shame how things worked out for my new boy.

 

[clinkerbuilt]

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.

I love this and as a habitual forgetter of courses and tests I am borrowing it.

 

[Birker2020]

I love this and as a habitual forgetter of courses and tests I am borrowing it.

When I used to learn dressage tests I would rarely ride them. This was because the menage was always full of people and there was no time or room to practice your test. So I used to practice the movements but then would spend the days before my test going through it on every rectangle shaped object I saw. So during the day at work it might have been a piece of A4 paper or the toilet door or the bread board and in the evening at the yard the feed bin lid, or a rectangle stable mat, but always, always, always I would do it in my head going over and over it.

It all worked great for me for many years and I was able to ride two tests on each outing never forgetting either. Until the day I rode two very similar tests at Moreton Morrell. One was a Novice the other an Elementary. I did the Novice fine but when I came to ride the Elementary test, bits of the Novice took over and I incorporated those into the test and made a complete hash of it which was a shame as I got eliminated although I'd won the first class! After that it shook my confidence and i could never remember two tests in one sitting again.

 

[Alibear]

Birker2020, perhaps you could pick two tests now, learn them, then try to write them both down from memory on a set day and time? Something to trial and work on with no pressure now, to see if you can get the skill back when the new horse is ready for dressage? Just a thought.

My goals aren't for my horse; they're for me. So get a mark of 72 or higher in the breed show championship ranch riding class is my goal, I have no set year or horse to achieve it with. But it does mean that's the sort of horses I have, and it's the ranch riding manoeuvres and outline that we work on. I also need to compete in more ranch classes to get my ring craft good enough, and I'd then need to qualify and compete in the championship class. Then I'd need to improve on that in other years to get the 72 mark. Note my goal isn't to win or place because that's actually out of my control as I can't control who else enters or how good they are. A 72 or higher should mean a placing, but it's a score that I can work on and, in theory, control. I can't control the judges, though If I never achieve the goal, it's OK because of all the fun and achievements I will have along the way.

Another of my goals is to be able to hack out solo on my own horse. Again I worked on it with Daisy, but life had other plans there, now I'm working on it with Amber. The solo hacking goal doesn't have a date; for me, it means I need to work on Ambers confidence when meeting new challenges and her trust that if I say things are OK, they are. We started on that in hand, the under saddle; we're working on it in company currently, just asking her to take the lead for short bursts etc. I just have a list of things to work on to achieve that final goal. Achievement of the goal should happen pretty much by accident or default as I work on all the little parts that it requires. There's shouldn't really be a big day of our first solo hack. We've sort of done that as hubby stopped to talk to the gamekeeper, and we rode back down the yard track without him. I also know my own weaknesses, so my YO is hacking Amber out solo for me occasionally at the moment, as she'll give the correct answer to questions with good timing. I tend to be a bit slow and miss the opportunity when I'm solo as I second guess myself.

These kinds of goals have also taught me that I need to have my next horse or the route to my next horse planned. So whilst I'm working on everything with Amber, Daisy is in foal as that is currently my best route to my next ranch riding horse. Things may change in time, but knowing I have a backup plan(s) increases my confidence to have a crack at things with Amber. Knowing I need to support the extra horse next year has kicked in work goals to provide for that.

I wish I could explain it as it works so well for me and means I've stopped beating myself up, the anxiety has gone, and I'm much more accepting of life's changes and challenges at the moment. But I am still tempted to delete this entire post as it's tempting fate

Hmm, I supposed there is less focus on the big goal but a lot more intense focus on all the little things required to get ready and set up for the big goal?

 

[j1ffy]

Birker2020, perhaps you could pick two tests now, learn them, then try to write them both down from memory on a set day and time? Something to trial and work on with no pressure now, to see if you can get the skill back when the new horse is ready for dressage? Just a thought.

My goals aren't for my horse; they're for me. So get a mark of 72 or higher in the breed show championship ranch riding class is my goal, I have no set year or horse to achieve it with. But it does mean that's the sort of horses I have, and it's the ranch riding manoeuvres and outline that we work on. I also need to compete in more ranch classes to get my ring craft good enough, and I'd then need to qualify and compete in the championship class. Then I'd need to improve on that in other years to get the 72 mark. Note my goal isn't to win or place because that's actually out of my control as I can't control who else enters or how good they are. A 72 or higher should mean a placing, but it's a score that I can work on and, in theory, control. I can't control the judges, though If I never achieve the goal, it's OK because of all the fun and achievements I will have along the way.

Another of my goals is to be able to hack out solo on my own horse. Again I worked on it with Daisy, but life had other plans there, now I'm working on it with Amber. The solo hacking goal doesn't have a date; for me, it means I need to work on Ambers confidence when meeting new challenges and her trust that if I say things are OK, they are. We started on that in hand, the under saddle; we're working on it in company currently, just asking her to take the lead for short bursts etc. I just have a list of things to work on to achieve that final goal. Achievement of the goal should happen pretty much by accident or default as I work on all the little parts that it requires. There's shouldn't really be a big day of our first solo hack. We've sort of done that as hubby stopped to talk to the gamekeeper, and we rode back down the yard track without him. I also know my own weaknesses, so my YO is hacking Amber out solo for me occasionally at the moment, as she'll give the correct answer to questions with good timing. I tend to be a bit slow and miss the opportunity when I'm solo as I second guess myself.

These kinds of goals have also taught me that I need to have my next horse or the route to my next horse planned. So whilst I'm working on everything with Amber, Daisy is in foal as that is currently my best route to my next ranch riding horse. Things may change in time, but knowing I have a backup plan(s) increases my confidence to have a crack at things with Amber. Knowing I need to support the extra horse next year has kicked in work goals to provide for that.

I wish I could explain it as it works so well for me and means I've stopped beating myself up, the anxiety has gone, and I'm much more accepting of life's changes and challenges at the moment. But I am still tempted to delete this entire post as it's tempting fate

Hmm, I supposed there is less focus on the big goal but a lot more intense focus on all the little things required to get ready and set up for the big goal?

Too late - you can't delete it now It does make sense and seems like a good approach to goal-setting

 

[Birker2020]

Birker2020, perhaps you could pick two tests now, learn them, then try to write them both down from memory on a set day and time? Something to trial and work on with no pressure now, to see if you can get the skill back when the new horse is ready for dressage? Just a thought.
?

Thank you, that is a really good idea.

 

[LEC]

My recommendation Is to learn the 2nd test you are doing first. Then learn the test you are doing first last so it’s fresh and is the one you run through most. Then you should be able to pick up the 2nd test after finishing the 1st one and it will feel familiar and you will be able to pick it up quickly.

 

[catembi]

I have given up with goals. Once upon a time, a loooooooong time ago, it was my ambition to jump at Fox/1m20 and get to advanced dressage. I got as far as 1 m 15 & being v competitive at Newcomers, & I got 9 or 10 BD points. Then Catembi died in 2007 & ever since then my riding career has been like successive waves but with the tide going out, so each wave doesn't get as far as the last.

Adrian, ISH - got to Disco before it went wrong - PSSM. Trev, ex racer - got to BN on a ticket then did the whole ulcers/ks thing & he never came right. We will skip over Summer, who I couldn't stay on... Cody, QH, did our first unaff dr test & won an unaff 80 cm - PSSM. Backed my Dartmoor companion, got as far as dr/polework clinics, sniffing about for some baby starter comps - PSSM. Finn, ISH - first unaff walk-trot and unaff 50 cm - PSSM. New TB - backed, riding away, starting some proper work, there is something seriously up - awaiting PSSM results.

I am 50. Cat died when I was 35. I have been out of the swing of 'proper' riding for so long that I don't know whether it's too late to get back into it. With Finn, I was starting to feel all the old instincts coming back, stickability starting to resurface, and then... Back to square one. So what is the earthly point of having goals? I haven't hacked in 6 months, since Finn went wrong. The thought of riding a fit showjumper, let alone trying to jump 1 m 15 is terrifying. I might have to retire to groundwork comps with one of the (many) PSSMs. **sighs**

 

[LEC]

I have given up with goals. Once upon a time, a loooooooong time ago, it was my ambition to jump at Fox/1m20 and get to advanced dressage. I got as far as 1 m 15 & being v competitive at Newcomers, & I got 9 or 10 BD points. Then Catembi died in 2007 & ever since then my riding career has been like successive waves but with the tide going out, so each wave doesn't get as far as the last.

Adrian, ISH - got to Disco before it went wrong - PSSM. Trev, ex racer - got to BN on a ticket then did the whole ulcers/ks thing & he never came right. We will skip over Summer, who I couldn't stay on... Cody, QH, did our first unaff dr test & won an unaff 80 cm - PSSM. Backed my Dartmoor companion, got as far as dr/polework clinics, sniffing about for some baby starter comps - PSSM. Finn, ISH - first unaff walk-trot and unaff 50 cm - PSSM. New TB - backed, riding away, starting some proper work, there is something seriously up - awaiting PSSM results.

I am 50. Cat died when I was 35. I have been out of the swing of 'proper' riding for so long that I don't know whether it's too late to get back into it. With Finn, I was starting to feel all the old instincts coming back, stickability starting to resurface, and then... Back to square one. So what is the earthly point of having goals? I haven't hacked in 6 months, since Finn went wrong. The thought of riding a fit showjumper, let alone trying to jump 1 m 15 is terrifying. I might have to retire to groundwork comps with one of the (many) PSSMs. **sighs**

gosh you have had a s**t run of luck with horses. I think I would have given up.

 

[oldie48]

I think "goal" is actually a pretty rubbish word for anyone on a journey with a horse, it just sets you and the horse up for failure but it's taken me a long time to realise that. I think the people who enjoy their horse most are those without goals. Riders who just like to improve and are prepared to work to improve, generally do, those who just like to bimble along, just bimble along, riders who set goals either reach them and immediately set another goal or don't reach them and are disappointed. Some of my worst mistakes have been failing to recognise that I have limited control over my own fitness and abilities and that of my horse.