Staying motivated and accountable...

For the past year I have been keeping track of everything I do with Snuffy in a private wiki that I share with my sister.  The same wiki also has logs of my weekly weight and all the exercise I do.  Keeping track of these things helps me to stay accountable and motivated to reach my goals.  It has been so easy for me in the past to say I'm going to do something and then never think about it again especially things that take a lot of time and goal setting.

Here is an example of what I've been keeping track of with Snuffy :

1/11 Lunged w/t/c ~30 mins.  With outside siderein.

1/13 Rode w/t ~30 mins.

1/15 Heather rode w/t/c on trail. I rode ~15 mins walk.

1/18 Rode w/t/c ~60 mins

1/20 Rode w/t/c ~40 mins.

1/22 Rode w/t/c 45 mins.

1/24 Walked 45 mins around property.  Dewormed with Quest.

1/25 Rode w/t 45 mins.  Lazy Snuffy. Very windy.

1/26 Farrier.

1/27 Rode w/t/c ~45 mins.

1/28 Rode w/t in jumping field ~45 mins.

1/29 Rode w/t/c ~35 mins.

1/31 Rode in arena w/t with/B ~35 mins.     

That's the whole month of January.  He had some time off in the beginning of that month because I was out of town and the weather was ridiculous.  Compare the above with last year in April...

4/15  Started in the ring.  Lots of loops.  Trotting working on relaxed neck for ten minutes rest for a few minutes and start again. Couple canter transitions, a little better.  Can't wait for lesson so I have some eyes on the ground.  Went for short ride with Christina to big field.

4/17 Went out to ride but forgot I took home my riding pants to wash.  Lunged Snuffy over raised cavalletti.  Went for a walk out into the big field and walked up and down the steep hill at least 10 times.

4/18 Lunged in the dressage arena.  Rode mostly trot work for 40 mins.

4/20 Lunged over poles wtc.  Rode til it rained 20 mins : ( 

4/21 Had lesson.  Lunged with tie down and outside side rein.  Side rein work was huge improvement.  Need to buy side reins.  Worked on contact at walk and trot and transition from halt to walk to halt and walk to trot to walk. 

4/22 Lunged with outside side rein.  Was not as effective as yesterday.  It helped keep him straight and upright but his head was a titch high.  Think side rein used as a tie down might work.  Rode for an hour.  Walk trot trying to keep steady contact while doing transitions and bending.  Went for short hack outside arena when we were through.

4/24 Lunged with outside side rein.  Used the other rein to jimmy a tie down from noseband to girth.  Was effective but a pain in the ass.  Can't wait for side reins to come in.  Rode at walk and trot stayed very slow and kept even contact.  Managed to have a relaxed neck most of the time.  Lots of sitting jog.  Maybe ride with a standing martingale?

4/25 Went for hour long walking trail ride with the girls.  Snuffy was very good.  I need to relax, I was very tense in the beginning gripping and not letting my weight down to my heels.

4/27 Lunged briefly and had an even briefer ride.  Just walk and halt.  I was out of gas after that 4 mile run in the heat.  Note to self.  Run after your ride.

Lot's o'lunging back then.  Whew!

I can't wait to see what my log will look like this time next year!