2014 Goals and comments

At the beginning of the year, I wrote a post about my goals for 2014.

Let's review 2014, shall we?

Here is what I laid out for myself:

Goals for 2014:

• Show Third Level, get my bronze medal.
• By fall, show a kamakazie Fourth Level test.
• Attend FHF adult dressage camp
• Attend JJ Tate clinic in April (Lexington). At the very least, audit.
• Buy a new saddle
• School more Fourth/PSG
• After I blow all my savings on a saddle, start saving for a used truck
• Always always put Hampton first, let him tell me what he's ready for
• Host a clinic at the farm
• Attend 2 rated shows if financially possible

1) Show Third Level, get my bronze: SUCCESS! It was not without struggle, that is for sure. But we did manage to get those scores in May. Later in the year, I improved on those scores so I felt like I did actually "earn" that Bronze medal, instead of scraping by.

2) Show a kamikaze Fourth Level test: No, we didn't do this. We just were not ready and trying to reach this goal would have just set me up for more disappointment. We maybe could have pulled off 4-1 but sticking to Third resulted in more positive experiences. There is no rush anyway!

3) Attend FHF adult dressage camp: No, because it was on the same dates as the JJ Tate clinic. 

4) Attend JJ Tate Clinc: Yes, and it was AWESOME.

5) Buy a new saddle: Yes! I have enjoyed my Amerigo this year but it is for sale now. It is a perfectly great saddle but I am fighting with it some because of my long thigh. So, I will be shopping for another one over the winter. Yay.

6) School more 4th/PSG: Success! We have started pirouettes and continued developing Hampton's fancy trot. I have played around with some tempis as well although the flying changes are still a major weak point and need more polish before we try any test with tempi changes.

7) Start saving for a used truck: Nope. Not even in the cards. It will likely be years before I am in any sort of financial situation to buy a second vehicle. I'd likely have to get a better paying job. OR sell the horse. That's just reality, but it's not such a big deal as I do have the ability to borrow a close friend's truck if I need it.

8) Always put Hampton first, let him tell me what he's ready for: Success.This is so interesting that I wrote this well before the year blew up in my face. Because this theme is really what 2014 was all about. In the spring, I stood up for my horse and I stood up for myself. You cannot let people bully you and manipulate you. Others wanted to write Hampton off. I realize he is not international material. I really don't want an international horse (yet). I want an enjoyable horse who is more than a competition vehicle. He is my buddy, a member of my family. But you also never write Hampton off as a dressage horse. You may think he isn't capable, but he will keep on trying. I never thought he would learn passage. Or even be able to do a decent flying change. Too bad so many people pass up the mediocre horses on first glance. Their loss!

9) Host a clinic at the farm: Nope. Things just didn't fall into place here. Not a big deal.

10) Attend 2 rated shows: Success! I am hoping to repeat this for 2015, and possibly add a 3rd rated show. I am currently working 3 jobs in hopes to start a savings account. And by savings account, I mean more money for showing. haha. Half kidding.

Next up: Year In Review and 2015 Goals.