Current goals with notes:
- All horse adventures without anxiety (CTRs, camping, group trail ride, show, jump, and ride bareback)
- Complete a NATRC Leisure Division competitive trail ride: This is a goal that was very much adversely impacted by COVID-19. There were going to be many opportunities for Leisure rides in my state and region. However, many were cancelled or rescheduled to the summer (I don't do well in the heat!). It's unlikely that I will compete in a ride this year due to logistics. This is one of the goals that I'm considering deferring until next year and replacing for the remainder of 2020.
- Load into trailer quickly and easily: We've made good progress on this! We haven't gone anywhere since early May due to lack of time and some lameness issues with Dan. Hopefully we will be able to work on this more in the upcoming months.
- Tie calmly and relaxed to the trailer overnight: We haven't worked on this yet. We're going to start working on trailer tying soon. Once he can tie civilly for just a few minutes with the tie ring, then we will work on tying with the hi-tie for short periods.
- Calm family trail ride: We've had great hacks around the property and off-property outings where Alex rides Dan and I walk with Zeke. Now that Dan is sound and on a management plan, we should be on the trail together soon! It may take a few rides for us to accomplish the "calm" aspect.
- Ride down the road regularly: We haven't worked on this in earnest. The most progress we have made is exposing Dan to nearby traffic by off-property trails. Dan is still very much not traffic safe and we haven't even ridden down the 1/2 mile driveway at the barn (last time it ended up in us both on the ground). I'm hoping to make progress on this, but likely "regularly" is not that likely this year based on our current state and that we'd also need to purchase boots for our barefoot horses.
- Calm and relaxed ridden Cowboy Dressage test at a show: We may only have one chance at this during the year. Also, since we are trying to be extra frugal, so we may pass on this year. Especially with the lack of practice opportunities to trailer to. This is still something I want to pursue, but will defer and replace for 2020.
- Go horse camping: COVID put this on hold for the spring as with restrictions our LQ wasn't allowed to camp in our state, but we weren't able to leave the state. Then the only nearby horse campground with electric (I need AC!) accidentally got booked full of regular campers through June. We're going to get a generator and should be able to camp later this year at multiple different places. Unfortunately our weekends filled up really quickly once things became more normal again.
- Go on a group trail ride: I decided that what I really want to do with Zeke is to trail ride and have fun. I'd rather trail ride for pleasure and in groups rather than trying to stay competitive in endurance style rides. I've been practicing keeping Zeke a safe distance behind Dan (who has a very slow QH walk) and with his bitless bridle this is going very well. I'm hoping this is still a goal we can achieve this year!
- Jump from canter without braces: This is something I still really want to do, and jumping becomes a requirement for the Harmony Horsemanship Student Levels. I haven't ridden English at all this year yet as I still need to fit into my breeches/tights and give Dan's saddle a deep cleaning and conditioning. This may still be possible this year, so I'm not giving up.
- Ride bareback walk/trot/canter: This is another goal I really want to accomplish. I haven't ridden Dan much at all to build my non-gaited riding ability back. I need to find more time to ride Dan and stirrupless as often as possible. I also need to ride Zeke bareback more often also. This will be extra challenging because Dan is a rough ride!
- Compete in all virtual obstacle shows in-hand: This is a goal I made to replace the original goal to compete in a 2 day CTR. However, now that it is warm I'm realizing these aren't as enjoyable for Zeke and I. They also cause me to knit-pick and work for perfection. It makes me want it to be over rather than enjoying the process. This goal will be modified for the rest of 2020. I do want to commit to all of the Virtual Trail Rider Challenges in-hand, any live Trail Rider Challenges that work in my schedule, and any Virtual Obstacle Shows that work well into my schedule when it isn't really hot.
- Compete Zeke in obstacle competition that requires canter: I would love for this to happen, but realistically Zeke is very far from cantering well enough and calm enough for it to be a part of an obstacle competition. The spirit of this goal is to be under saddle, so the in-hand competition requiring cantering two circles doesn't count. I'll be removing this goal, but I may not be adding it at a later time as I have refined what I want to do with Zeke.
- Pass Harmony Horsemanship Student Level 2 assessment: We are halfway there! Originally this was level 5 (out of 7) which was very ambitious. I reduced this because I realized how much pressure the video tasks and time limits put on me. Harmony Horsemanship created virtual shows that also allow students to work through the levels. There are 3 different shows, so I'm hoping to pass the first 3 levels now. It does allow competing in two levels, but I want to focus on one level at a time. I can use Zeke for the first 3 levels, but after that the requirements involve a lot more cantering, so I'm not sure what our path to passing the more advanced levels looks like.
- Lose 36 pounds to hit goal weight of 150
- Lose first 16 pounds to weigh 170: Well, the amount of pounds to "lose" eventually ended up closer to 20 pounds. I am halfway there as of today! I learned that what I need for success in this area is to walk regularly and track my food/calories. I'm striving for this still and hopefully will hit it in the next couple of months.
- Lose first 26 pounds to weigh 160: Again, it's more like 30 pounds total to "lose", but hopefully I will get there by the fall!
- Fit in English clothes: This will be in a few pounds! I'm hoping this will happen soon so I can work on my jumping goals.
- Fit in goal breeches: I'm not entirely sure when this will happen. This is more about losing inches than pounds. I really like these breeches (they are navy and teal!), so it is inspiring.
- Fit in goal jeans: I think this might be feasible. However, I've been thinking about the reasonableness of this goal. For many years my goal weight was 140 pounds. This year I decided that 150 was more reasonable. This was the weight I was when we go married, but I hadn't weighed 140 since my sophomore year in college. The problem was, a few years ago I got down to around 150 pounds and was comfortably wearing a size 6 (in Wrangler Aura's), but the goal jeans (many, many goal jeans from clearance sales) are a size 4. This still inspires me, so I'll keep it as a goal, but will re-evaluate whether it should be a major milestone goal beneath the mission goal of weighing 150. It may be a mission goal of its own after accomplishing the mission goal of my goal weight.
- On track for MBA graduation in December 2022
- COMPLETE! - Pass Certified Management Accountant Exam in January: So proud of this accomplishment! A few weeks ago the GIANT certificate came. I'll have to find it a proper frame.
- Read 12 books about personal development: I've finished 6 books so far, so I'm on track for this. I'm really enjoying it. I have found I have less time to listen to audiobooks since Alex comes along to the barn most times now too (otherwise I get 1.5 hours of listening time each trip!). I'm still disappointed that this was a replacement goal for obtaining my credential as Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis. The testing windows are only in September and March. September is a bad month, so I'll be taking the certification exam next March.
- COMPLETE! - Admitted into MBA program starting Summer 2020: This was my first completed goal of the year. It was a great step in my professional development.
- Pass first four classes of MBA program: I'm almost done with my first class, and so far I have good grades. The next course is accelerated (5 weeks rather than 8), so I'll have to really focus. I have my next two classes planned and will be enrolling in them soon.
- Zeke in-shape and moving in wellness
- COMPLETE! - 72% in Walk/Walk Liberty Neck Rope tests: I was so, so proud that we accomplished this through the Virtual Cowboy Dressage shows. We even got above a 72% in Walk/Jog 1 Neck Rope. There is only the Walk/Jog 2 Neck Rope left, but it is incredibly challenging for a gaited horse.
- Solid working walk: We are working on this a lot. Zeke tends to become lateral, even at a walk. This really will help him be healthier and will assist in his scores for Cowboy Dressage.
- Consistent intermediate gait under saddle: Once we get more even in our working walk it will transfer into his intermediate gait as well.
- Trot on command on the ground: We made great progress on this when we were working in the indoor in the winter/spring. The spirit behind this goal was for him to trot on command while being in a leading position. He got pretty good at it while lunging, but still had a long way to go. However, we transitioned away from focusing on trotting for obstacles and trail riding. We'll pick this up later when the days are shorter and colder.
- Consistently canter over poles on command: We only worked on this a couple times. I was very proud about how it went! For a competition video he even did two full canter circles (with the help of poles).
- Canter under saddle: This may not happen this year since we have to gain relaxation under saddle and the canter on the ground first. This one is very inspiring for me, so I want to keep it on here. All of the other work to help him move in wellness will show up in his progress in this area as well.
- Log 150 Top Trail miles: We've already logged more miles than the last few years combined! I'm excited to keep working towards this goal and hope to get a lot of trail riding in the rest of the year.
- Log 50 hours for Distance Program: This should happen pretty equivalently with miles logged, but in a different measure.
- Save money for fence replacement and emergency savings: We are going to strive for this and some new savings goals as well.
- Read the entire Bible by not missing any days in the One Year Bible: With corona I got thrown off my regular daily disciplines and I got behind. Now I need to play catch up and get into the regular swing of things.
Mid-Year Goal Updates (Old --> New)
- Complete a NATRC Leisure Division competitive trail ride --> All NATRC Obstacle Challenges
- NATRC created a virtual obstacle challenge due to coronavirus cancellations for rides. There are five obstacles to do each month from May-September.
- Calm and relaxed ridden Cowboy Dressage test at a show --> All walk-only Virtual Trail Rider Challenges and any Virtual Obstacle Show ridden pattern that I see that is feasible
- This also helps us build relaxation while undersaddle with elements of challenge
- Compete in all virtual obstacle shows in-hand --> Compete in all of Kelli Paulson's Virtual Trail Rider challenges in-hand all live in-hand Trail Rider Challenges that work in my schedule, and any convenient Virtual Obstacle Shows
- This continues our goals of in-hand competition through means that are a better fit for us.
- Compete Zeke in obstacle competition that requires canter --> Ride down the driveway confidently
- This is another good major milestone since we have some anxiety about it and its the best way for us to rack up miles on property.