So hi! Long time, no blog. Not much has changed, Z and I are still working on our mutual distaste for dressage and mutual over-exuberance for jumping. This post, however is going to be less about her and I and more about just myself.
I am officially declaring this the year of learning. And I'm trusting all of you to hold me to the commitments I make here. I'm hoping that if I put these ideas and goals onto the internet, it will force me to go through with them.
The learning doesn't necessarily just encompass horse-related things; it also includes my university education.
That being said, I really want to invest in my equine education this year as well. I have spent a lot of time these past few years disgruntled by the opportunities presented to my friends in the horse world. I'm declaring now that I'm putting my big girl pants on, building a bridge, and getting over it. I am going to seek out opportunities that work with my current life situation and just be a sponge for information. I want to learn as much as I possibly can, not to win more, just to know I'm growing as a trainer.
This plan will *hopefully* start with taking the crazy drive to Aiken to audit the William Fox Pitt clinic at Stable View. I will literally drive overnight to attend that. I genuinely think the education would be that worth it.
After that I'm planning to audit more local clinics and hopefully save up and ride in a few. Since the Maryland Horse Expo was so early, I'll try to hit the Harrisburg one later this year.
*Warning: this is going to get more introspective and personal now.
In addition to trying to squash some minor jealousy toward my friends, I've spent a lot of time trying to impress people and spend my time and energy trying to bring people into my life and make them stay there, when I should really be fostering the relationships I already have with people who want to help me on my life's journey. Now, that doesn't mean I'm going to shut in and mot put myself out there outside of my comfort zone, I just know that, at least until I become a better judge of character, I need to become okay with the fact that not everyone will like me and not everyone is destined to lift me up and be in my life for a long time.
Focusing on myself and my horse and genuinely investing in my education on all fronts is the best way I see to improve and find my happiness in this sport again. I don't feel unhappy with the industry or my involvement in it, I just know that I have to revive that fire to compete and better myself. rather than allow myself to become complacent. I decided several years that I would work to make a name for myself in this sport, no matter the amount of literal blood, sweat, tears, and bruises. I realize now, that it's not so much about making a name for myself, as trusting in my path and doing everything I can to make the most informed decisions in and out of the saddle.
So all of that rambling aside, here's to a fun, educational, and successful new year!
P.S. To address my lack of posting, I am, again, going to try to include you all in my journey with Z, but I won't make any promises regarding consistency. That being said, I do want to share my education and personal experiences with anyone interested as it happens. So let me know if y'all are up for this crazy roller coaster with me. :)
I love roller coasters! You can do this in and out of the saddle.
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