I've been spending some time thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. Last year was a time to regroup and pull into myself. This year I feel more motivated to develop goals and to invest my heart into them. I have a good understanding of the pandemic, I am triple vaccinated and I want to stop hiding and go live my life. I am careful- I mask in public, etc; but at this point it feels like Covid is going to be part of our lives for a long time. Maybe we were optimistic to believe that we could contain it. I saw this a lot on my FB around NYE:
 |
So here are my goals for 2022. some of them are measurable while others are more qualitative. I am quite fine with that. Not everything with meaning can be weighed and categorized.
1. Unlock Carmen's gaits. I spent a lot of time suppressing Carmen's 'wild side' and as a result her gaits have become short and shuffly. I need to undo that. I understand why it happened- often her bolts arise out of her tension and going fast. In wanting her to not rush I lost the forward.
I've been working on getting her to go forward and use her power. It feels like I'm playing with fire. Which is why sometimes it goes too far and we fall apart. But I know I can do it and I need to accept that, as I play with the line of forward/ too much I will go too far. I've had this happen already and no one died, so there's that.
a. improve longitudinal and lateral suppleness
b. carry more from behind and not load the forehand
c. improve counter canter and canter-walk transitions
If I can get that solidified I can then start stretching into 3rd level work.
3. Improve my riding skills:
a. improve sitting trot
b. be consistent in contact (get off the inside rein)
c. have consistent lessons and follow up homework. I am pretty good with this anyway, but I want to have a plan for lessons with the destination in mind.
d. make use of my Pivo to improve my riding skills both within and outside of lessons but not obsess.
 |
| Carmen: I can get behind that goal |
4. Continue to work on my partnership with Carmen. I know that I often post our conversations, but I swear we are having real conversations now. I am working on loving her fire and power and not trying to make it go away. This will include going to at least one Trail clinic.
a. I know that I have a tendency when I'm riding to not push Carmen on things I know she can do. I suspect that also shows up in my ground work so I want a set of outside eyes to help me with that.
b. work on liberty and time together- I am really enjoying that work
c. go on hacks off-property
a. go to shows (assuming there are shows)
b. stop micromanaging Carmen as a way to be in control.
c. Go to other places for lessons to practice hauling in, working, hauling home and not having the world end.
 |
| Carmen: Control is an illusion |
6. Keep working on my fitness:
If I want to be a better rider I need to have control over my body parts. I don't care if I can run 10k or do 100 pushups. But I do want to be able to isolate and control my various muscles. I work almost full time and I have 2 horses to take care of and home/farm chores. Not to mention the very demanding chickens....I won't ever be the person that works out 2 hours every day. But I can be dedicated to not becoming a full couch potato. To that end, I want to keep doing yoga at least 3 times a week.
So there it is- the larger goals of what I want to accomplish this year. I suspect we'll have some set backs but I am going to dive head first in and embrace the fire. No more tiptoeing.
Love these goals! Mine are similar (at a lower level, since we're just barely competent at 1st most days 😂). I can't believe wait to see what 2022 brings for you and Carmen! 🥳
ReplyDeleteI feel like you and I are often working at the same things. I'm so excited to hear about how your boot camp goes.
DeleteThat's a whole lotta things to work on! But you seem to be quite focused on what you want to do and accomplish this year, and I'm sure you will get it done!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot but they are all so interconnected that it made sense to me. We'll see.
DeleteSounds like a solid plan for the coming year! Can't wait to read along!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a plan....
DeleteIt all sounds good! It seems like a lot to accomplish but if you take it one thing at a time I'm sure you'll achieve what you want to. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a step by step process. The goals are interdependent so I think that will help.
DeleteAh, goals. Well, forward is always the answer they say. *sigh* 😉 … but a good refresher on that one is probably good for all of us. And it will probably help with some of the other ones too. Cant wait!
ReplyDeleteForward is the answer- it's the pinging sideways that I don't like....
DeleteThese are great goals, hope you have a happy and successful 2022!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteBravo! Roaring into 2022. I’ve never been a fan of postponing life or living in fear, having had a big scare with melanoma when I was 34. Since the pandemic began I lost a family member to lymphoma (age 65 and HEALTHY. She was diagnosed in June and died before Christmas), about to lose a friend to lung cancer, and she is only 59, another good friend was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer (63 and just retired), and three close friends battling breast cancer. My vaccinated dad and uncle got Covid last September. My aunt, triple vaxxed, is currently suffering from Covid, after taking all precautions. Total mystery how she got it. (She is retired in CA, and lives a secluded life.) My dad is going to die any day from late stage cancer. Life is precious, short, and unpredictable. Sometimes I feel like the malaise and hopelessness of the last two years are going to be what takes my own health down. Did it take down theirs?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Riding Through It, I saw that many of the authors were influenced by Brene Brown’s books, I think you listed one, too. It inspired me to buy, and start reading, all her books. So, as I started reading Daring Greatly, there was this intro to the chapter on “Scarcity” and it said this: “We want to dare greatly. We’re tired of the national conversation centering on ‘What should we fear?’ and ‘Who should be blame?’ We all want to be brave.”
She wrote that in 2012, ten years ago, but it’s as if it were really written for today, for 2022. And I’m left wondering, in the light of living through this pandemic, what the hell did we fear in 2012? 😂😂😂 I mean really…I just can’t think of anything worth fearing back then.
I also want to get fitter this year. In the same way you mention—strength, coordination and balance. I want to feel strong in the saddle and ready for anything. Partnership. Pushing the comfort zone. All of the above. 👏
Time certainly gives perspective. I’m glad you are joining me in some of my goals.
DeleteLoved this! 🥰 What were we fearing in 2012? 😂
DeleteCheers to celebrating our bravery and perseverance!
We feared illness and death and it kind of informed everything. Not that we were wrong but time to come out.
DeleteI feel like such a copycat. I have so many of the same goals (not micromanaging, improving rider fitness, etc).
ReplyDeleteBut I love it! It does always to be similar things with these lovely dragon-war-mares and how to encourage that fire in good ways.
I am not that original or unique so I wouldn't expect to have anything really different. And I agree about Dragon Mares. They are such a challenge.
Deletehonestly love your goals. i'm not quite as brave these days with putting specific goals out there.... but.... it's important to aspire, to have that drive. i'm excited to follow along with you guys!
ReplyDeleteI definitely felt that way last year. I decided that this year I am going for it. We'll see and I won't be devastated if I miss some of them. I know that they are stretch.
Delete