Setting dressage goals, making a plan

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cazzamamma

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Hi everyone, I have just competed at the summer dressage nationals and someone asked me had I written my plan yet for the year ahead. I have never done this. I know what I want to achieve and I always plan my rides and know exactly what I want to work on but not on a yearly or monthly basis. I have made the transition to advanced medium this season so obviously need to work more on those movements and add new higher movements in as I go. Does anyone else write a plan? Thanks in advance
 
congrats on your season this year :)

Nope, I don't write a plan... my horses tend to find ways of injuring themselves wherever I make concrete plans :( I do have fairly serious ideas for the year ahead though as the calendars are published and work toward those where possible - so I know which level I want to be doing at which regionals/area festivals etc, and we can work backwards to book shows to make sure we get the qualifications sorted in time.

Other than that I do have longer term plans with my trainer about what we should aim at in the future, with my little horse we're now keeping an eye on doing her first advanced test this side of christmas with the aim of PSG next year all being well... so she's been learning her tempis over the summer and working towards piris. But those kinds of goals are more flexible because there's not a deadline, and it depends on the horse's progress etc.
 
Yep and use the Leroy and Bongo diary to do so. Find it really helpful to see what's been achieved and also what needs more work as well as planning comps and what needs to be focus between now and then.
 
I put rough plans in my head and adjust as I go along - This year as an example:
1) Qualify for Petplans at Bronze Elementary
cue 3 months off with a leg infection
2) Do a Medium test by the end of the year
cue mystery lameness
3) Compete once before Christmas!
let's see.... :)
 
When I was driven and more successful I had written plans .
I set short medium and long term goals and made lists of things I needed to achieve to get there .
Now I don't ........ it's a good idea to do it .
 
I tried to set goals - but my then trainer basically told me I was being far too over ambitious, which put me off so much I haven't bothered since changing trainer!

At the moment the challenge is teaching horse to canter in a straight and balanced way on the left leg, so you can tell how far down the line we are..... NOT..... :D
 
i set a definite goal and work backwards in steps - so steps of short, medium and long term goals. I know it has to be fluid because of injuries and stuff, but it keeps me on track.
This year the main horse got injured, but I still had other areas of my plan I could work on , eg my fitness, confidence, getting dressage schoolmaster lessons to learn new moves on. I swear by a well organised plan.
 
Thanks everyone, if I have just moved up to advanced medium, is it too big of a goal to reach prix st George in a year or do you think its alright to write that and everything you would need to work on to achieve that. Then as medium term goal you try advanced level and short term I perfect the advanced medium. I don't obviously have to stick by the goals rigidly and they can be changed as I go along. I plan on also having a section for me so that I can continue my development as a rider.
 
Cazzamamma, they should very realistic, achievable goals to me, I hope it all goes to plan.

I dont tend to write goals down, but I do always have short and long term goals in mind that I am working towards, I refresh these on discussion with my trainer on a periodic basis. What I do always write down though is my daily training diary, so I have a record of what the horse(s) have done every day, I find this so useful.
 
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