2017- Year in Review

I guess it's that time of year again. And since it's bitterly cold outside today seems like a good day to take a look back on the year that was. I have to say that is was a good year for Carmen and I. When I wrote my goals for this year back in January I thought that I might have been a bit optimistic.

However, writing them out helped me to stay motivated and keep going even when we had a few set backs.

Carmen: 'what are we looking at?'

Here are some basic statistics for 2017:

• 145 blog posts (feel free to check my math). 
• 4 clinics :
• Dressage /centred riding with Johanna Batista
• Dressage with Jane Fraser
• Trail with Nikki and Mike Porter
• Dressage with Jacqueline Brooks
• 4 Shows with scores ranging from 3 to 8: 
• 3 schooling shows at Five Fires
• 1 Bronze/Gold at Windsor Exhibition
• Multiple lessons- Too many to count (or I am too lazy to check, you decide). 
• 3 off-property trail rides and many on-property
• Rides- again I could count them as I track them on my calendar but let's go with 'lots'. I spent a lot of time in the saddle
• 1 horse camp with my niece coming to stay
• A few fun weekends with Karen

I am finding a hard time picking the 'best' thing that we did.  

It was a fun year. 

Getting the ribbons and awards was fun but more for what they represented. 

I still laugh when I see this photo- it totally summed up our first show experience (PC Joanne Kane)

We really worked hard on getting ourselves together and building the partnership.

pretty much where we were in January

pretty much where we are now

 This was a year of setting up challenges. Each time Carmen and I rose to meet them. Sometimes with ease and grace and other times with much flailing and struggling. I seem to have overcome my anxiety about trailering and have became comfortable doing it all myself.

I learned a lot this year:

• Carmen is much better off-property than on. 
• I still really enjoy showing. 
• Carmen LOVES the trail and is far more relaxed then in the ring
• I can sit in the saddle and ride things out (even a heart pounding bolt). 
• Carmen and I can work together as a team and she will look to me for guidance (and by god I better have it). 
• That Carmen has a habit of spooking in the same spot in every ring (between E and C)
• I have the most amazing friends who go above and beyond to help us reach our goals. 

I loved doing the trail/ Working Equitation obstacles and want to do more this year. It is just so much fun:

Carmen: um, are you sure?

Carmen: I can do this and look pretty at the same time

Ed helped me carve out some trails on our property and it has been a lot of fun planning and riding on them. One has been blocked by the storm we just had and so will need some work in the spring:

no riding through that. 

Overall 2017 has been a stellar year for us. I am so happy that I persevered with Carmen and found a way to reach her. I have learned that we are very alike (both good and bad). She has made me a better rider and, in some ways, a better person. I am more patient (I said 'more patient' not 'patient' so stop laughing) and more aware of how my internal state affects those around me. 

Here's to 2018. 

Me: are you ready?
Carmen: oh yeah, I'm ready