Setting Goals

Why every ambitious rider should have a plan in mind.

- Conny Loonstra

I’m a big believer of goal setting, and I often write about it in my emails and blogs. However, out of all the responses I get, there’s always a response like: “I once set a goal to achieve level X, but then my horse got injured, so I couldn’t achieve my goal anymore. I now don’t set goals anymore and enjoy it much more.” In other words, goal setting isn’t a good idea, since you’re dealing with factors you can’t entirely control. For example, you don’t have total control over the health of your horse, nor his capabilities. And you don’t have total control over the judge’s score.

But despite there being external factors that can mess things up, it shouldn’t stop you from setting goals. When you don’t have a goal and you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you most likely won’t get there. It’s like driving your car without having a clear picture of the final destination. You can end up anywhere, and it’s often not the destination you would have liked.

Focus

A goal provides focus. It tells you where you want to be, and knowing that helps you with making decisions. Like for example how often you should train your horse, what kind of training is required, when to take lessons, from whom, and which competitions to enter.