Round Up on 2013 Goals

This is overdue. But hey it's done first week of February so at least it's done now! In all honesty this post has been sitting as a draft for weeks but got buried and I forgot about it. Since horse news is slow and I'm stuck mostly inside because of weather here it is. 2013 got kind of shot because of moving, Echo going to Texas, etc. Here's to a more productive 2014! The goals page has been updated with 2014.

Myself

• Be able to ride again - Riding again!
• Be able to canter again - Cantered for first time outside in November 2012.
• Canter again in arena - NEW Goal
• Have health problems resolved
• Graduate with my associates degree
• Transfer to Western Michigan University
• Lose 50 lb
• Get a new car

The Horses
     Dakota

• Improve headset through the trot
• Perfect headset at walk
• Work on lateral movements at walk and trot
• Begin canter work
• Compete in a sanctioned dressage show

     Woven Web

• Have solid ground manners
• Introduce bit / bridle - Achieved!
• Introduce saddle - Achieved!
• Begin riding Woven Web - First ride on 2/8/13.
• Get 30 days of solid work on her
• Get 60 days of solid work
• Get 90 days of solid work
• Present to AHHA for breeding inspection

Miscellaneous

• Get my Courbette Husar Touring XL Dressage Saddle Re-Flocked
• Finish USEF registration
• Finish USDF registration
• Go to Rolex Kentucky
• Go to Arlington Million

Free Lunge Freedom!

Why is the mounting block the safe spot in the arena? No matter if a horse has a rider on their back or not that always seems to be the hoover point! Now that Echo has a clean bill of health, her blood work came back normal, I have no hesitations starting up her training again. 

As always, plans change, this time thankfully its just slight. The person I first planned on doing 30 days with her is being kind of flaky on working with the horses she has in training right now and I want consistency with Echo. Instead, a different person at the barn is going to be working with us. In long run it's a better fit and she's the one who was going to help us out after the initial 30 days anyways. Biggest difference, she is an eventer! 

Anyways, the other night I put Echo in the indoor to free lunge her. 1) I wanted her to get a chance to become familiar with the arena again. 2) I wanted L to see her move. 3) I wanted her to move around because of the muddy fields and her paddock is on the smaller side. We let her loose and she gave her normal show of trotting and cantering around. Of course she sought out refuge from the mounting block to only quickly learn the mounting block can't save her when she has 2 girls wanting to make her move pretty! I decided to put a few ground poles up just to throw her off and make her think while she got her arena freedom. This only led to us setting up a small rail for her to free jump over. L was super impressed with how bold she was at a jump. Even if it wasn't pretty, Echo was super proud of herself for going over and would stop and look at us as if saying 'did you see that!'

Already have our first goal of the year. May 4th is the Thoroughbred show at Kentucky Horse Park. They have lots of beginner classes in just about everything so it should be a good time. Even if she goes and does an in-hand class I'll be thrilled!

2013 Goal Updates

I figured since over half the year is gone (crazy!) I should review my 2013 goals. I was a little afraid to look since my grandpa being ill, loosing my job and moving had thrown me for a loop, but the mid-point results could be worse.

Myself

• Be able to ride again - Riding again!
• Be able to canter again - Cantered for first time outside in November 2012.
• Canter again in arena 
• Have health problems resolved
• Graduate with my associates degree - Scratching this goal.
• Transfer to Western Michigan University - Transferring now to Midway College in Kentucky. I'll be starting January 2014 if not sooner. I won't have an associates degree first but will get my bachelors.
• Lose 50 lb - 15 lost so far!
• Get a new car

The Horses
     Dakota

• Improve headset through the trot
• "Perfect" headset at walk
• Work on lateral movements at walk and trot
• Begin canter work
• Compete in a sanctioned dressage show

     Woven Web

• Have solid ground manners - As good as they're going to get I think :)
• Introduce bit / bridle - Achieved!
• Introduce saddle - Achieved!
• Begin riding Woven Web - First ride on 2/8/13.
• Get 30 days of solid work on her
• Get 60 days of solid work
• Get 90 days of solid work
• Present to AHHA for breeding inspection - Scratch this. Going to re-evaluate what I want to present her as.

Miscellaneous

• Get my Courbette Husar Touring XL Dressage Saddle Re-Flocked
• Finish USEF registration
• Finish USDF registration
• Go to Rolex Kentucky - Didn't happen, next year! This year though will be replaced with many hunter derby's and the National Horse Show.
• Go to Arlington Million - Won't be happening but I'm now able to go to many many races being back in KY. Starting with this past weekend's racetrack outing.