Every year I set goals for myself. I don't always get them accomplished, but I do try. Last years goals changed throughout the year. Once I found out that my company was going bankrupt, and I was going to be losing my job, I was able to add more goals to my list. Some of those goals were:
1. Spend more time riding/trail riding. Check.
2. Do ground work training with Fritzy. Check.
3. Get a job working with animals, preferably horses. Check.
4. Ride Fritzy out on the trails to gain more confidence with her. Umm...I didn't quite get this one accomplished. I only did ground work and rode her through my neighborhood.
So, for the last few weeks, I have been really thinking about what I want to do this spring and summer. What I really want to do is get back up on that black and white horse of mine and get her going. And when I say get her going, I want to do some serious arena work and trail riding with her. She hasn't been ridden much in the last couple years. She is pretty much the OH's trail horse, I mean that is why we bought her. But we didn't put all that money into her training just to let her sit. My OH won't ride in the arena, and I have always have had my hands full with Brandy. Now that Brandy is doing very well, with some crazy moments from time to time, I feel like this is Fritzy's year.
Fritzy is not "finished". Actually Brandy isn't either, but she is further along than Fritzy. If I had an indoor/covered arena, this would not be an issue. I don't get to ride much or at all this time of year. It pretty much rains non-stop around these parts, and of course I leave for work in the dark and come home from work in the dark, like most of us. Which means no horse time. Lately I have been spending my days off with Chance. I can still spend time with Chance, but I am going to add Fritzy to the mix. As soon as it stays lighter later, I will be working my horses when I get home from work.
Fritzy had 6 months professional training about 3 1/2 years ago. I actually can't believe that we have had her for almost 4 years. She knows all the basics, walk, jog, lope, leg pressure, etc. After riding her last summer, I could tell she was a little rusty. I only did ground work with her, which she needed in a bad way.
Fritzy is the community horse. Whoever needs a horse to ride on the trails, she is the one. I actually trust her to put people on her, as long as they have ridden before. What is funny about that is, I don't trust her when I am riding her. But that goes back to my confidence issues with her after she dumped me 3 1/2 years ago. If you have not read about my confidence issues with Fritzy, please go here. After some ground work training and getting back on her last summer, my confidence is coming back. Now that I work around so many different horses all day long, I totally feel confident that I can handle any of Fritzy's "issues". Wait, did I just say Fritzy has issues? I meant, I think I can handle any of "my" issues while riding Fritzy! There, I said it. I am the one with the problem. I am the one with the issues. I just need to cowgirl up, get on her and ride!
I mean seriously, if my OH, sister, neighbors, cousins and friends can ride her without any problems, why can't I? I want to get her in shape, I want to get the rustiness out of her, I want to train her to neck rein so it's easier for my OH, I want to work on that leaning lope, I just want her to be that all around, can do almost anything kind of horse. I know she can do it. Heck, I even would love to put her on a cow some day! Did I just say that? I must be losing my marbles!
And maybe I will even do another schooling show or two, but please don't hold me to this one! It would all depend on money and how much traveling I will be doing this year!
I finally talked to my sister about this tonight. I told her what my plans were, and what I wanted to accomplish. She has even offered to possibly help out and ride Brandy for me this summer, when she isn't working. I think that would be great. It would help me out. I definitely do not want Brandy to sit, and I would never let that happen. She is my girl. I also think it would be good for my sister to ride a different horse. I think my sister would learn a lot from riding Brandy. She isn't the easiest horse to ride (don't get scared sista!) and she has her moments, but remember sis, she has come so far from what she used to be!
So not only will I be working with horses for a job, but I will also be very busy this summer with my own horses, and getting that black and white working again!!
How many of you set horse goals every year? What kind of goals do you set for you and your horse? Do you usually get them accomplished?
30 comments:
My goal is simply to ride more, and ride Jaz most of the time. I need him to get better.
I need to set goals but haven't yet other than "get out and ride more" - but I've got 2 babies and a very green 5 year old that need something done with them plus my other 2 greenies that need more miles!! I think goals would help me get all of this accomplished...I just haven't figured out what goals I want to set yet!
those sound like good goals - good thing you have your wonderful sister to help a bit! :-)
I set some goals this year - I would like to get to the barn 3x a week in the winter and 4x in the nicer weather, to ride or do groundwork... And I've decided that I'm not buying any tack (except in case of an emergency) until at least June! I have way too much stuff for one horse!
I would also like to do a trail ride/hunter pace off the property, but not sure if that will happen due to logistics and $$...
My goal is to ride more. I want to do some real trail riding this year.
Your horses are looking great. Once bad things happen with a horse it's hard to overcome the fear. I had a horse that fell on my legs two different times. I never fully trusted him although my daughter rode him all the time.
PS- email me. I am going to Scottsdale on Feb. 12th-14th. I'll need to know your BNT so I can find you. ;)
WOTD- whispor
I love your goals! I wish I could set more than the usual...find someone to help me get the round pen up. With milking cows, taking care of kids and now a 40 hour of the farm job, AND a house that is filthy...don't know where to add the horses except between midnight and 4 a.m. LOL Good luck with your goals, I am certain you will find that confidence with Fritzy.
My goals this year well I want to ride more in the winter, which I am getting done. Hopefully it's not too muddy today or my horse isnt too muddy I'll ride her. If not later this week or this weekend for sure. When the turbines are done I hope we can set up a new pen so I have a place where I can do some jumping as I haven't jumped in the longest time.
I hope to actually get Indigo to a show or two this year, that means she CANT hurt herself this summer.
Maybe actually get her to the lake too. I mean I can ride there I just never did last summer. Ugh.
I own a lot of horses, so I know how it feels to have them sit. Many of my horses are great riding partners but they don't get used. It bothers me too.
I have set a couple of goals. I have worked with horses for a large part of my life, so I have set the goal to make them less work and more fun. This means I've had to lower my standards by a lot, but the business end of this operation is basically shut down so I can let things relax some. My other goal is to become more involved in the world that does not include horses. I have other interests but I have always been too busy to do much other than think about those interest. In the autumn of my life I think it's time to do something about that!
I look forward to your progress reports.
It's amazing how sometimes it is simply your relationship with the horse. I was always the same way with a gelding I had. Would let my son ride him, but he scared the crap out of me! I finally did as you did - started from the ground up and made it over the hump. I didn't end up keeping him, but proud that I had a breakthru so to speak.
Goals for this year are easy. Ride more than last year! I logged 313 hours. I was hoping I would hit 350, but winter came early. And has stayed. I have 312.5 to go!! LOL!
you have some great goals set! i want to show blue this year which means riding 4-6 days per week which is not happening so far with all of this rain. frustrating. also wanted to get more kids on jessie's back...she likes them. just spoke with a builder to price an indoor this morning, but who knows about that one...a girl can dream!
SOme years I set goals and ,fall flat ,others I do really well. Not sure yet what I want to accomplish this year , but it is time i srated thinking about it! thanks for the reminder
Good luck with your goals! You did pretty darned well on your last list so I am sure you will knock this one out no problem. She's such a pretty girl!
My personal goal is always "ride more", but this year I'm also planning to ride my 7-year-old mare in a few competitions! 25 milers at first, possibly bumping up to a 50 or two by the end of the season.
Of course, it's all depending on money. Sigh.
I think that now that you are working with more horses your confidence will increase tenfold (or more!) Love that pic of you on Fritzy, looks like a rest stop on the trail?
And you should try putting her on a cow, cows are FUN!
It will also be good for your sis to ride more horses.
My goal is always to ride more. This year I also hope to take lessons, to get my horses in better shape, to improve our barrel runs and to improve our cow work.
My "ultimate" goal, well we're looking for a place of our own. Not sure when that will happen though!
That is something that will be soooo good for you, and Fritzy!!! I believe she is really a good girl and what happened with you was a fluck...but I do understand how she can make you uneasy! Maybe when you come down this summer to your moms to ride with us you can bring Fritzy too???
I set horse goals and if everything goes like clockwork (smirk), I meet them. But if a horse gets injured or I get injured or the weather sucks, I often don't.
Good goals!! I guess I'm part of them, LOL! That is IF I have time from my hectic schedule of showing Saddlebreds this summer, I will certainly help you out with Brandy.....hee hee, J/K! :)
It will be a very busy summer. I hope despite all this work, we can still hit the trails, that is where we are truly happiest and I know that on the trail, you will really develop confidence and trust in that black and white horse. I really loved riding her on the trail that day My Boy had a missing shoe and had to stay home! I am craving tank tops and trail riding right now....big time!
Ya know, I always do have some unofficial goals. I think about what I want to accomplish every year, but I never really hold myself accountable. This year I am! Mercy and I are going to make it to at least one reining show... there are no excuses this year. The truck is working (for now) and I have been offered rides to other shows. Not only that, but I have so many shows to select from! I can go when I feel we really have something good going on. I can't wait!
Last year my goal was to quit demanding immediate responses from Stylin and actually listen to her. Our partnership grew in leaps and bounds.
In 2010, I want to continue to work on our partnership and ride every chance we get. I want to ride Dixie at least once a month to keep her in shape. I want to teach Stylin to lie down without having to use force. I'd love to be able to mount up bareback without having to climb on a fence or trailer.
You are going to be one busy woman! My horse goals are pretty simple - just keep hitting the trails every weekend and get to some parks a little farther from home. I would also like to do some overnight horse camping but that might be out of my reach this year. I'd love to get a better canter on Luke too. Gee, I'm going to be busy too.
I love goals--and you accomplished a lot this year!! I made more peoplish goals for 2010 because I'm having peoplish issues, aka, kid issues--(not goats). But this year I want to BARREL RACE!! I did it last summer for the first time with a whopping score of like 25 seconds. ha ha. But it was fun. I'm going to work on my turns and probably use a different horse this year and try to get down to 20ish seconds--or somewhere around there.
Great post! I am really good about going to the stable. Now that I have my new saddle I need to set up a schedule with ground work, free play, and riding. I am feeling the need to take some lessons. I need work on how to make the arena work more comfortable and fun for Dusty and me. He really does not care for it. But I can't always let him free play or longe him. I am going to log our trail rides this year and can't wait to get out there. HUGS!
Just look at you now, my friend! You went from working a job that was causing you stress, to being unemployed and stressing about finding a new job, to wanting to work with animals...and landing your dream job!
And then you got your mustang filly. Dreams really do come true, even if it is a lot of work.
Seeing you ride Fritzy makes me a little sad as she reminds me so much of Baby Doll. I sure do miss her. Your post makes me think maybe I should have given it even more time to work with her, but then I realize that I have a lot more to risk if she hurts me again. I can't afford to lose another year due to being injured. And Baby Doll wasn't even a community horse either. I couldn't even trust her with my kids. It's still hard, though.
I hope your work with Fritzy pays off and you can get her finished and also rebuild your confidance riding her. You sure look great on her back.
~Lisa
I definitely understand where you are coming from, having lost that confidence with Fritzy....However, I think you are plenty "cowgirl-ed up"!!! Look at everything you have done with Brandy and Chance so far!! You rock girl, you can handle this ANY day!! I cannot wait till this spring and summer!! I too think it will be great for your sis to ride Brandy!
I have 2 coming into 4 yr olds that I have to start working...They are "broke" but not trained yet, so that is project this coming season!! Then 2 two year olds to start training ground work.. 3 yearlings that will start the very basics of ground work LOL!! Lot's of work, so I hope I get my back issue's settled soon!!
I didn't know what your history was with Fritzy so I went back and read your May post....must of been before I stumbled into your blog. Goals are great and I think you're very good at achieving what you set out to do. My husband has a horse just like her.....must be the black/white thing...J/K he he! Ground work is wonderful for building confidence....most people just don't want to take the time to do it and want to get right on. What your horse does on the ground, they will do with you on their back. Most do not know their horse that well so they miss the cues and don't read them. (I'm not speaking about you PG) just generally every one I know that has horses don't want to spend time getting to know everything about them and don't offer the same "scary situations" in a controlled environment and are somewhat surprised when they encounter a problem. I can empathize with the "no indoor arena", seems you just get momentum going then the weather changes. You just have to do what you can and don't beat yourself up about it....baby steps are good and most people are too impatient and want to see results NOW! I think more of a novice person who has taken a green horse and brought it along than someone who buys a dead broke horse and rides once in a while never getting to know them or achieving goals of any kind. We met all of our goals last year and we've been working on them for 5 yrs! Now we're seeing the fruits of our labor! And that's what it is LABOR! Good for you! Great post!
My goal is to gallop more and trot less. When I tell people this they get all fired up and start reflecting on their own goals and what they want to do. But I tell them, No, I mean this literally, I want to Gallop more and Trot less! It is my new motto. I like goals a lot, and I am a big fan of making lists too. Will I actually end up doing any galloping this year? Maybe, maybe not. And whatever happens in just fine. Because my true goal is to laugh a lot and have some fun.
Lovely blog! My goals are to do more showing this year, having had most of last year off as it was too difficult to bath my horse. I want to get back into jumping, but will need some lessons... I don't mind when this starts, as if I make too many firm plans they are always changed by the weather, so we'll see.
Horse goals are not really so much in the picture until our financial situation improves - but I really enjoy reading about everyone else's - I can live through my friends in blog world.
I love this post. Your photos are fantastic and you are so honest. I love the part about Fritzy and issues. We all have certain things we need to work through with our horses, but 9 times out of 10 people blame the horse and say that the horse has "issues". You called it like it is and I love that!!!! You are realistic with your goals too, by having Pony Girl ride Brandy a little to free you up to work with your other two. That is smart and you will be less stressed with your time. I know you will be successful - just look at all you have checked off so far!
I try to set goals for myself in my life outside of the barn. I don't set too many goals with the horses simply because I don't want to expect too much of them. I find with horses that I have so success if I just let things happen - or not. No expectations makes them succeed at anything we "accidently attempt". It works for me. In real life, though, I am a huge list maker and goal maker!
Sounds like you have a busy summer ahead of you! Ha, as for my goals...well, we finally got our round pen up this past fall, I was so excited for spring to come....but then I went and got pregnant lol! Soo... I don't think I will be doing any riding until after the baby comes in July! Oh well, Jim will have to work with Pegasus while I watch. At least I can still do ground work and groom them (ha, maybe!)!
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