Show Goals

First of all, I have them, and secondly, the pressure to achieve all of them this year has disappeared.

Last year: First Level (elite) reserve champions at the CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition Central Regional.

I hate to share my goals publicly because talking about something before it happens generally results in the thing not happening. I am not sure if that is Murphy's Law or not, but it seems to be my experience. Besides that, every time I get myself all geared up for something, a horse gets broken. It seems as though I am better off not saying anything at all as I simply send in my show entries and go with the flow.

2014: Training Level (novice) Champions at the CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition Central Region

I've already met some of my goals for this year's show season. We've already earned our Second Level qualifying scores for this year's CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition. My goals do not include winning a third cooler - I have two already (see one above). Nor do they include winning yet another leather halter (see it below); one will do nicely, thank you.

Who needs two? :0)

With the pressure of winning at RAAC off the table, my plan is to first keep Speedy healthy enough to compete at this year's event. With that goal met, I'll hope we can just not embarrass ourselves. If we can do that, I'll be more than satisfied.

One down, two to go.

Another goal that Speedy and I have already achieved this year is earning the final scores for our CDS Ruby Rider Award. They're given out at the Annual Meeting Awards Banquet, so I'll send in the application later this summer. The Gem Awards are a lot like USDF Medals except they're awarded for scores earned at CDS-rated shows (which can also be USDF-rated). The award is a lapel pin that can be worn on your coat or wherever you want to pin the thing. 

Half-way to the one on the left.

Strangely enough, I recently realized that I am half-way to earning my USDF Bronze Medal. There is a long, long way yet to go, but before this past month or so, I never really believed that I could earn a bronze medal. All of a sudden, I am one score away from being two-thirds of the way there. I have no doubt that I can earn that score.

While Speedy and I are nowhere near having Second Level vanquished, it no longer feels like we're hanging on by our toenails; we're actually getting it. When I realized that, it popped into my head that we're probably going to make it to Third Level ... eventually. That knowledge gave me goosebumps and a huge kick in the pants.

Before you roll your eyes, rest assured that my head is the same size as it has always been - it might even be shrinking. Crap. something new to worry about. At our most recent show, I apologized at least a thousand times to my trainer during the warm up for looking like such a disaster amongst all of the real dressage riders out there. How can they all look so put together and well-schooled?

So. Goals. Yep. I have them. Not looking stupid is always the first one. Why can't I ever check that off the list?