Goals

I thought it might be a good idea to talk about the things I want to learn and accomplish from working with horses. I figure it's important for me to keep these things in mind when I'm riding.

In the short term:

• I want to build confidence
• I want to feel comfortable with Luca's young horse behavior
• I want to be able to groom and tack up a horse on my own
• I want to ride alone comfortably
• I want to feel confident riding Pandora
• I want to canter! :)

In the long term:

• I want to build confidence
• I want to feel comfortable and capable interacting with and riding horses I don't know
• I want to be able to ride trails
• I want to do groundwork easily
• I want to ride Western, English, and bareback well
• I want to lease a horse

One day:

• I want to be really confident with horses
• I want to buy my own horse
• I want to own a stable and fill it with ponies
• I want to buy a young horse and train it myself
• I want to teach my children to ride

I know a lot of this revolves around confidence. The reality is, I'm not sure of myself when I'm riding or dealing with horses. I know it's not safe to be that way. And it makes me uncomfortable, too! I want to feel happy and not nervous when I'm riding.

I turned down the opportunity to go on a trail ride for the first time, because I didn't feel I'm capable enough. My friend Ellie has been riding for a while now. Maybe a year or so. She told me her instructor has a really sweet horse, but he's just been gelded, so he's still a little crazy. And on top of that, she rides a mare, so I'm not sure what his behavior would be like. And I know her trails are like an obstacle course. I just didn't feel that I'd be in control of that situation. It made me really sad to have to decline the offer :(

I'm going to try to keep these things in mind over the next few months, and hopefully I can improve on these things.