Next came the hardest part: reconcile and rectify. I took the two pieces of paper, one containing my experience and the other my goals, put them side-by-side and shut my eyes. When I opened them what I saw was a Grand Canyon right down the middle. The experience listed was not on par with my goals and certainly not with the people I had listed to work with or for. It was time for a third piece of paper. Spreading the first two papers apart, I placed a third sheet between them and began to list what I needed to do to get from A to B. What experience did I lack and how was I going to get it? Work, it seemed, and a whole lot of it.
I took any job I could, including mucking, breeding, weeding, feeding, teaching and grooming (horses and dogs--have you ever blow dried a poodle?). And that's not all. The list continues--collecting ovulation urine from kicking, squealing broodmares into a bucket; sleeping in barns, trucks and trailers; babysitting; managing the show office; working in the barn office; scribing at many shows (actually my favorite) and cleaning so much tack that I still don't have all the Lederbalsam out from under my fingernails. You name it, I did it. Slowly, the picture came together for me as I established a solid base of skills, knocking point after point off of my "needed experience" column until I was doing the things on my goal list, riding with and for the people I had dreamed of.
Along the way, I learned a few absolutes. Always get a contract. You have two ears and one mouth. When learning, keep one shut and the other two open. Only work for people who match and understand your goals. Work is the best way to learn. Integrity beats all. Clear muddy waters immediately and most important of all: It's never "no"--it's only "no, for now."
It's getting time again for me to write yet another plan for myself. There have been so many changes and new experiences, but I think I can say, for now at least, the best feeling is that I would like to "take a lesson from me."
