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Your horse-related dreams and goals

2K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  Eliz 
#1 ·
We ALL have them. I'm always curious about what other people aspire to do with their horses, be it in showing, breeding, training etc. So what are your dreams and goals that you're striving for? We can all ohh and ahh together :-p

I have some goals, both short and long term.

Short term:
- Have my first proper jumping lesson by my 20th birthday (I think it's quite possible!)
- Have my very own horse. My parents said it will happen one day.
- Do at least ONE official horse show...if my ailing eyes and knee permits it I'd love to do a ODE because I'm a masochist and want to be good at everything.

Long term:
- Be able to financially support my own horse on my own property.
- Be with a horse from day one. Buy a young horse and have it trained (either by myself or under the guidance of another) and be it's one and only owner. I think the connection and relationship would be amazing.

What yours? :D
 
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#2 ·
(sigh) well I'd eventually like to jump, but I'm still working on perfecting my flat work, so constant jumping might not come until... a year? I jump very occasionally, when the jumps are there and I'm controlling the horse well, (and when my trainer thinks of it) she let's me pop over a few cross rails.

My big dream is to do eventing one day, or at least cross country. I love teh idea of galloping in a big open space. Or just cantering in a big field with no fences would be fine by me, but that's not possible. :(
My other would be to become a calm and experienced rider with lots of understanding and knowledge, and be able to control without fear an excited/ very hot horse.

Last, I would like to finally ride a school horse I feel a big connection with. I love the horse I ride now, X factor, but that's because he's an amazingly talented and beautiful horse, and due to me being a little green, when I ride at the canter I give him mixed signals and it annoys him greatly. I sometimes have a feeling I'll never have a bond with a horse until I'm a very good rider, because horses seem to love me when I groom them ( I have secrets lol) but when I ride it lowers their esteem in me or something.
 
#3 ·
Great thread idea. You'll need some background to understand my dreams and goals. I am 53 years old, and struggling with lots of orthopedic issues (multiple knee and ankle surgeries) and also my weight and fitness. I work full time and have a family. I spent 20 years as a professional horseperson, but pushed horses to part time then hobby status for marriage, childbirth and corporate career.

So, my dreams and goals are:
- to be well and truly riding fit again, and to have fit horses
- ride on a daily basis
- be able to jump around a friend's xc cross for fun and giggles
- finish my barn (run electric, own water source, generally fix it up)
- reliable truck to haul my trailer

And if I manage 1, 2 and 5, to take horses up to our cabin in SW Virgina for the weekend or the week and ride in the National Forests up there.
 
#4 ·
I have quite a few.

My more serious goals:
-I'd like to take one I've raised & trained myself to a world title. I've won a futurity, a handful of all-arounds, now I'd like to see a world bronze in my case. My intent is to do so with my weanling colt.
-Compete in open freestyle reining at Congress, make top 10.
-take the farm my grandfather started in the 50s to a level of success it hasn't seen since I was younger and showing heavily. Like Maura, college, marriage, career, starting a family put a halt to that. I'm now back to horses full time and working hard at it.
-The ultimate goal is to have the farm be successful enough to hand it over to my daughter as a future if horses is the career path she chooses and continue my grandfather's legacy for generations to come.

My fun goals
-Compete in cross country with my new to me warmblood. I grew up on reiners & working cow horses but did ride hunt seat & jump. Growing up in a family that raised QH's, cross country wasn't something that was an opportunity for me when I was younger. Now that I'm in charge of my horse life, it's something I'd really like to do for fun.
-When I retire, I want to RV retire and travel wherever the road leads me.
 
#5 ·
It's easy to have goals when you're brand new to riding:
- short term - to go all the way around the arena the way that I want us to go without detours for visiting horse friends, the instructor or the door
- to do the above posting and sitting trot
- to canter
- to be allowed to practice on my own
- to get to January and be able to practice 2-3 times per week instead of once
- to trail ride with my lesson horse (not the boring non-horse person trail-ride)

Long term:
- ride lots of different types of horses
- learn as much as possible about general horse maintenance and health
- find some way to make some money with horses to help my dream of living in the country
- keep in shape as I get older by doing fun exercises involving riding and horse care
 
#7 ·
MHFQ, I'm quite...erm...taken back by knowing there are some pretty top-notch riders on this forum. I feel so humbled in a way. At least there's obviously a wealth of knowledge around here.

Kestra, I totally feel your pain on the sitting trot thing. I can manage to look decent and not like a sack of spuds for maybe...five strides? :P I can do it perfectly without stirrups but put my feet in those irons and it all goes downhill.
 
#8 ·
My ultimate dream is to build a horse sanctuary. It would be state of the art, specifically designed to accommodate special needs horses and money would be no object. I would just allow the horses to live out the rest of their lives and never be ridden again.

A slightly more realistic goal is to move to the east coast so I can take my horses to the beach and go swimming with them all the time. Either that or live within riding distance to miles of wooded trails.
 
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#9 ·
Gilly,

That's what's so great about this thread. EVERYONE, from someone in their first ten lessons, to old professionals, can relate to this topic.

As for me, I have absolutely no desire to compete ever again. BUT, I would like to feel a good horse really crack their back over a big fence again, or the sheer joy and feeling of partnership of riding a cross country course. But first I have to get me and my horses fit again.
 
#10 ·
Ditto what Maura said. That's the best part about horses, we never stop learning and evolving as riders. It doesn't matter if you've been at it for 6 months or 30 years, there is always room for improvement.
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#11 ·
GREAT thread idea! ;)

My short term goals are:
-To finish training Shamrock (that may be more long term, hmm..)
-To be able to canter and jump bareback correctly without falling off
-To be able to show Shamrock

My long term goals are:
-To own a horse farm
-To rescue and rehabilitate horses
 
#12 ·
1) Re-learn how to jump. I knew when I was like... 9. Now I'm 22 and returning to riding.
2) Do something competitive!
3) Take some dressage-specific lessons.

Right now I have just started lessons again. Smoothing over the basics is my most important goal. I have decided that instead of buying a horse right away, I want to make sure it means enough to me to sacrifice a good chunk of life, so I am starting with lessons, part-leasing, full-leasing, and THEN consider getting a horse.
 
#13 ·
Right now, I really have World shows heavy on my mind.

I don't think it's possible until I'm done with school (that's quite a ways away. I'm a professional student. :wink:), and have a little more free time to work a 4-5 yo. and take it up to world level. My Paint gelding is almost 15 now, and just not the caliber of a show horse. Too impatient and hot. He could never handle the traveling and hours of waiting. For now I'm just content with showing at our local circuits, and some other small-ish Paint shows that are near.

I would love to continue to work with different trainers, and just keep soaking in all I can. I've worked with some amazing clinicians, and had some very informative judges this past year, that have given me some great advice, as well as a confidence boost in my abilities and future with horses. I don't take that stuff lightly.
Also, working and showing other peoples horses for them is something I've had the chance to do a couple of times, and I really love it. More of that would be amazing.
 
#14 ·
My short-term goals:
- To get out and spend one on one time with my boy (studying for my registration exam is taking away a lot of that time)
- To get more hours in the saddle out on the trails
- Teach my boy to neck rein (he gets the hang of it then this exam gets in the way...)
- To learn to trim (wild horse model)

My long-term goals:
- To own at least a small yet functional facility to keep 2-4 horses. I love the benefits of boarding but I want to be able to look out my window and see my boy.
 
#15 ·
Short term: *Lease Lucky
*Progess to doing a jump COURSE, instead of a few jumps and ground poles in a straight line
*Be able to canter horses consistently

Long Term: *Own a horse
*Possibly start a barn as a business :).
 
#16 · (Edited)
Summed up I'd like to be successful, reputable, and financially comfortable doing what I love.

Short term:
Graduate
Move out to work under an event trainer
Gain parent's support for said after-graduation plan
Be awesome at this Saturday's lesson ;)

Long term:
Catch ride, Compete, or groom at a 4* event
BM/BO/Trainer for a top notch competitive barn
 
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