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2014 - New Year, New Goals

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This past year was a great year for me and Gadget. Although we had our ups and downs, I've learned a lot this year. We made our third level debut, earned our bronze medal in only two shows, improved the flying changes dramatically, and earned Champion for Adult Amateurs at third level in my GMO. 

For 2014, I have several goals:
  1. Keep Gadget's back feeling good. I think I have found a good combo of chiro, shoeing, saddle fit, and vet maintenance to prevent him from getting sore rather than waiting until he's in pain. Hopefully it works this year.
  2. Continue improving Third Level. Last year was a great intro to third level, but I am finally learning to ride Gadget more uphill, which is improving everything. This year I want to try 3-2 and 3-3. The canter-halfpass is still tough for us, but it's looking better. I am going to work to fix things that are easy points -- halts, turn on the haunches, transitions, and good centerlines. I am going to focus on the quality of my rides and not beat myself over scores. The collected canter is getting better, but Gadget can only improve if I learn to stay out of his way and help him stay balanced.
  3. Become more skilled at using the double bridle. Gadget has always been fussy in the bridle, but I am learning to keep my aids quieter to keep his mouth quieter. I want to be able to keep him happy in the double bridle as well. (And maybe buy him a pretty new double bridle!)
  4. Work on improving my position. I need to sit more balanced (stop leaning off to the left). I also need to keep my leg forward at the girth. The right leg needs more bend and to stay back and under. 
  5. Dream of Fourth Level. When I bought Gadget, I wanted to get him to second level. Then I thought I might sell him. I actually thought of selling him every month of the first three years I owned him. I had no idea what I was doing with a young warmblood and I made a mess of teaching him about contact, forward, and dressage in general. After finding my trainers Ryan, Kristin, and eventually Kenny, I have learned so much and we have improved by leaps and bounds. This is not to say we are anything special, but we are so much better than we used to be! Although Fourth Level may not be a realistic goal, I'm going to just let myself to dream of fourth level and play with pieces of it in our good rides. Dream big.
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