Happy Holidays! and New Year exercise

What an amazing year! These are just a few of the photos I have to remind me of all the cool stuff that happened. I hope everyone had great holidays so far. It is that time again for reflection and setting positive goals for the New Year. Every January, I look at where I was a year ago, where I am now, and where I'd like to go over the next 12 months. I am usually astounded at where I have been over the year and where I have landed.

I highly recommend this exercise for everyone because I find that people often don't appreciate how far they and their horses have come. I always notice everyone's progress (no matter how small it may seem to you) and I am so pleased with what I see my students accomplishing with their horses. It is truly beautiful to watch and makes me so happy. The only thing I regret is you often don't see it in yourselves. It is affirmation to me that anyone can learn this way of being and training. You all are proving that! Adults and children alike. It is so much fun to witness!

I recently came back from doing a clinic in New Zealand and Australia if you didn't know. Some people came back from the year before. I was so impressed with the work they were doing with their horses after having been in only one clinic and with limited support. Proof of how far you can come in a year.

I have already seen people's photos who I met in the Australia clinic making huge progress with their horses and it's only been a couple of weeks since I left! What will they be up to in a year!

My goals for 2013 are to find my farm that I have been looking for, for some time and set up a home base for FDH. This farm would host more clinics and allow me to really take things to the next level. oohh, I have lots of exciting visions for this place. I want to continue as always to improve with my horses in whatever we do together. I am enjoying my journey with Mercury so much. I just wish to continue to do so. I always wish to deepen my understanding of horses an horsemanship so that I can improve and in turn be a better teacher and trainer to you all and your horses.

Your exercise is to write down what you think has improved with you and your horse or horses over the last year. Where you were a year ago and where you are now. This can be anything at all from what you personally have improved, what you and your horse have improved, to what has improved with your horses character, condition or training.

Once you have done that, I want you to write where you would like to be by next January. The true key to goal setting is having a vivid picture in your mind of what you see as a goal whether it is improved connection, a technical training skill, more confidence etc.) Try to see what that would look or feel like if you had already achieved it. Then, just start walking toward that goal without any attachment to how you will get there, how much time it will take or what you will do. Just a firm belief that you can and will get there. Then, sit back and enjoy each and every little step of that journey for the next year. Try to really savor it and remember it as you go along even if it seems like nothing is happening. There is a saying that when you think nothing is happening, that is when something is happening. I love to hear some of your thoughts on this. Happy New Year!  
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