Monday, December 21, 2015

q4 review (insert sad trombone noise here)

Ha. Ok. Let's review my 4th quarter goals, or what I refer to as "the adventure that was not." 


this does not constitute an adventure in my book
Obviously it doesn't take a genius to see that this quarter did not go as planned... Breaking my leg in October took me out of the action completely, with no reason to believe I'll be cleared for full capacity before the new year. 

Ugh. But let's take a look anyway. 

General:
  • Start thinking more seriously about crack pot / pipe dream / highly unrealistic winter plans  Goal not met, but crossing it off the list anyway. I thought seriously, very seriously, about going to Aiken with Dan for an intensive week of clinics, lessons, and ultimately an event. This is not happening. Le sigh.
  • Additionally, start thinking more seriously about crack pot / pipe dream / unrealistic plans for next year -   This one at least gets to stay on the list. However my plans for next year could take a very different turn from what I originally intended. We will see.
  • Clinics! Audit allll the clinics!  We'll call this a win. I audited Stephen Birchall at Austen's barn and Boyd Martin at Loblolly Farm. Both were wonderful. I had also planned to attend a semi-local clinic with WFP, tho his serious injury obviously derailed this plan. Perhaps there will be further opportunities later?
  • Consider what work needs to be done before winter doldrums set in  Also getting crossed off the list despite nothing actually happening. Winter doldrums are imminent and we got zero work done in anticipation of them. 
  • Get Bali going in the lesson program again (sooner rather than later!) -  My injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Bali. 

bali needs all the help he can get
Riding:
  • Dressage boot camp: lateral work, transitions (all of them, up down, within the gait, whatever), next first level type shit?  -  Nope
  • Moar dressage lessons plz! -  Double nope. We had one lesson w C before our last event. Not really what I meant. Ah well.
  • At least one more xc schooling? -  Oooh we actually did this!
  • Contingency plans for evening lessons as darkness sets in -  The arena lights were fixed and are better than ever now (evidence here)!! But also Dan is gone for the season now so evening lessons aren't a thing anymore anyway. Womp womp.
  • All the fall trail riding - I'm gonna call two trail rides a win. Bali here, and Izzy there.
  • Fox hunting? -  Noooope.

early october was so promising. this was a bright spot

Competition:
  • End competition season on positive note, regardless of if that means staying at BN or shooting for an actual honest-to-god legit N -  BOOM. We totally did this. It wasn't exactly the 'positive note' I hoped to hit, but we finished the xc phase of our last event feeling better than ever. 
  • Dressage < 32 -   Nope.
  • Clear stadium (putting this here even tho it makes me uncomfortable lol) -   Nope. Haha. Hahahaha. 
  • Clear xc. We can doooooo it! - AW YISSS

pictured: positive note

So there ya have it. Rather than wallow in crushing disappointment that I'm still not healed, I'm taking solace in knowing that October started out very promising - we were on track to meet or surpass each of these goals. That's good enough. Accidents are accidents, ya know?


and tempting fate is tempting fate
But given where things currently are, I'm not making concrete goals for next quarter. My plans for getting more serious about dressage still hold, but I don't want to tempt fate by putting timelines on anything. For now and the foreseeable future, my #1 priority is recovering fully.

30 comments:

  1. Recovering fully is a top goal at any time of year.
    *hugs*

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  2. I'm really impressed that you crossed so many off. Hopefully you get back to 100% and you pick up next season even better than where this one ended.

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    1. i'm surprised too, honestly. tho some are only crossed off bc they are off the table. that's ok tho!

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  3. You will get there, and be better than ever next year! Happy trumpets instead of sad trombones!

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    1. that's the hope, even if it's happening maddeningly slowly right now

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  4. You have some really amazing moments from this year! We just need to get you 100% so you can ride again...healing is the #1 priority so your recovery doesnt take longer ;)

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    1. ugh seriously... but you're right - the whole year was so fantastic, and i expected this quarter to be quieter anyway. still crappy to have that 'quiet' forced on me tho instead of a more gradual easing up... c'est la vie....

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  5. Free pass on everything because broken leg. A good rest does everybody some good- in no time you'll be right back to where you were in October! Also, why no visit to Dan for a week later on in the winter season? Trainer is going to Aiken from Jan-March, so I know the season is still going in mid to late March (unless Dan won't be there, haha).

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    1. Dan will be there - and i am hoping to actually make it down there for a visit. but sadly it will be without the horse, bc the financial end didn't work out (esp with my own medical bills, and the much larger bills from my cat's recent medical emergency... boo)

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    2. Ah! Well that makes sense. And sucks :( Every year Trainer goes down I look and see if there's time/money to go down for a week and do a show. One day we'll both get there!

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    3. that would be awesome haha - maybe we could haul down together and save cash?!? i'd really really REALLY love to make it happen at some point or another

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  6. You are unstoppable. You've found a way and still get shit done. You inspire me so much! !

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    1. aw thank you! i don't feel like i'm doing much... but i guess it's all relative

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  7. Despite the bum leg, it wasn't so bad - you got a lot done!

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    1. you're right.... i'm so caught up in what we *didn't* do... but that's not really helping things haha. really tho i'm most proud of the competition goals. we didn't hit the more tangible score related goals, but we nailed the over all outcome of having fun!

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  8. I think you had a great fall, and have come so far with both Izzy and Bali. Sounds like you can call this winter a "regrouping" time, then come out like gang-busters next quarter!

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    1. thanks, and i hope so too! i'm not exactly sure yet what the next year will hold for me, as there might be some significant changes in my personal and/or professional life... we'll see tho!

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  9. All things considered you did pretty well with the goals. Spring isn't so very far away. ;)

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    1. thanks - that's what i keep telling myself lol, never mind that winter hasn't even arrived in full force here yet

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  10. That's a lot of things crossed off considering you got broken. Congrats! I'm sure you'll be back to goal setting and completing in no time.

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  11. Atleast you didn't break your leg in spring! Best wishes for a speedy recovery

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    1. ha seriously, that would have been way worse! hopefully the leg continues to cooperate and is back in action soon :)

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  12. My winter-quarter goal is "Build at least 9 suitable 2-direction BN-sized xc fences at my house." It's to do with horses, right? :) I have no $ but I do have tools, land with terrain, many large rocks, a goodly supply of sizeable already-dead pine trees, a chainsaw, a bucketloader, a small backhoe, and a bulldozer. I am pretty sure I can get this done.

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    1. ummmmmm i really hope you can get that done bc that sounds *awesome*!! and if you do, you should post pics somewhere bc i'd love to see them! building jumps is kinda this silly passion of mine (even tho i'm terrible at it and haven't really built much haha)

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  13. Yes, recovery first. I vote you get credit for auditing three clinics because (obviously) you can't be blamed for missing WFP.

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    1. ha i will totally take credit for good intentions ;)

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  14. I agree - recovery first, lady! Get yourself well enough and you'll be back at it in no time!

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