Goals

Just recently, my trainer shared an article about getting the most from your student/trainer relationship. The article covered seven points, most of which I do without even thinking: Ask Questions, Listen Actively, Do Not Talk Back, Try Not to Make the Same Mistake Over and Over, Work Hard, and Bring Your Best Every Day.

Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables

Frankly, I could have written that article myself. These are all things that I encourage my own 5th grade students to do. The one point that gave me reason to pause though was this one: Have Some Defined Goals.

I have goals of course, but it embarrasses me to say them out loud. I don't even share most of them here on my blog, and it horrifies me to even think about sharing them my trainer. But why is that?

Chemaine is an excellent teacher.

As I thought about it, I realized that for me, voicing my goals aloud sets myself up for public failure. I want to make it to at least Fourth Level, but that doesn't appear to be happening. I want to show at least marginally successfully at Second Level. Also not happening. Walking around making my as of yet unrealized and may never be hopes and dreams known just seems like a surefire way to look like a loser. After all, I might not be good enough to achieve any of them.

Reading my test at the 2015 Regional Adult Amateur Competition.

Chemaine told me something just recently that made me feel good about the path I am heading down (even if it doesn't help me achieve my goals). She said, "it's easy to look good on a naturally talented, well trained-horse, but it's a much harder thing to do on an average horse." I am paraphrasing of course, but what I think she meant was that just riding a fancy horse and being successful doesn't make you a good rider. On the other hand, a rider who makes an average horse look good has to be talented.

Which of us is the talented one? (probably neither!)

I need to give this idea of sharing my goals with my trainer some thought. But first, maybe I need to know more clearly what they are. Winning the lottery and buying one of Carl Hester's horses probably shouldn't be one of them.