So now that we're almost through January I thought I would catchup on how my goals are doing. I had a few that I was hoping to accomplish by now, and I would say I've done about 50% of them.
1) get back to jumping solid 3' courses. Was doing this pretty succesfully, but we backed down due to the refusing issues.
Hmmmm....well, I'm not jumping full 3' courses yet but we have done some 3' and higher jumps. So I would say this one is about 50% achieved by January. I'm sure we'll get there this year, but I don't mind taking it slow. When M bumped the fence height last weekend, I think my eyeballs about popped out of my head. I do think I'm ready to start progressing to higher/more complicated fences but going from 2' to 3' is a little intimidating. Just gotta keep plugging away. So I change this to July 2012, I would like to see us doing 3' consistently.
2) get to three shows. I am DYING to show but due to money issues, haven't been able to get my *ish* together. Those money issues being buying my um...Antares saddle. That was basically where all my showing money went this year. Oh well...Ponyface needed it, I swear!
Obviously this hasn't happened yet because show season is over. So can't call this one a fail yet, lol.
3) really drill down my flatwork, maybe even take a couple dressage lessons. Last night we did a ton a flatwork and Arwen was GREAT when we started jumping, even though she generally depises flatwork. What I want to be able to successfully AND correctly: haunches in, shoulder in, leg yield down center line, and really work her consistently in a nice, round and engaged frame. When my trainer gets on and shows me what she can REALLY do (because all the buttons are installed, I just have to learn how to push them correctly) it is beautiful and impressive.
I would call this one 50% achieved as well. I try and do flat work EVERY ride and I'm still struggling a bit with pushing the right buttons. But, I've been doing some reading on cues and I actually got some really nice lateral work this past weekend, especially with shoulder in. I'm getting better at keeping her round and engaged, but its still a challenge with feel and being consistent.
4) try and get through the next two months with no refusals. I know that this will also link back/improve if I get more serious about demanding more from her on the flat.
I call this one achieved! I think since I last wrote out these goals I've had maybe 4 refusals, all for stupid reasons. The last two happened last week, actually, when we were riding in the outside arena in the semi dark. But...I've stayed on *knocks furiously on wood* through all of them. In fact, I can't even remember when the last time was I fell off (at least date wise, I DO remember the actual fall, lol). It was definitely before Arwen went lame, so maybe September? And it was totally stupid, and I managed to land on my feet. Sooooo...does that really count as a "fall"?
5) keep working on my equitation. I know, this is very general but its always a work in progress so I gotta throw it in there.
I call this semi achieved. I think my eq is getting better in terms of using my body more effectively. Maybe not a super pretty picture (because lets face it, I'm never going to be the eq queen) but its definitely made an impact on Arwen's rideability. Because she wants you sitting back and down. No hunter perch, no leaning. She's big and needs the rider to help balance her, instead of shoving her onto her forehand.
So, overall I think its going pretty well. I know I still have a ton more to work on, and a ton more to achieve but I'm happy overall.
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