When you do things day in and day out that others might think impossible it helps to keep records to objectively measure and quantify results. We do not have a sufficient recorded diary of our efforts to clear off the new land. I wish that we had more before,during and after pictures.
The purpose of such documentation is not for bragging or bluster. It is to objectively show what is possible. This will encourage the development of more programs like ours across the nation.
Our record keeping efforts in the past have fizzled generally when the weather became miserably hot. At the end of a long ride with temperatures in the 90's one's mind is on quickly cooling off, not lining up to record mileage.
This year will be different. We are going to measure the total miles ridden inn our program. Each day, every day, every time, every rider will record the number of miles ridden and the horse that was ridden in the program riding book.
Another book will be used to record every moment of training for the horses that are being trained this year.
Such entries will be brief but will help us keep up with what is going on with different horses as different riders work with the horse. e.g "June 7, Polished Steel, 2 hours, lunging and work with monsters--continued calming with all monsters not related to sound--jumpy about sound-Steve".
The stats will reveal a lot of interesting things about our program--the one that I am curious about is number of miles ridden per injury to a rider. I expect that to verify my hunch that our safety record is beyond the imagination of most riding programs.
(Wanchese--Shackleford Stallion shown above)
Yeah! Another photo of my favorite horse.
ReplyDeleteI was once taught that you cannot manage what you do not measure. Am looking forward to seeing your stats.