by Stargazer, age 12

We horse girls all have goals. Whether it’s getting a horse of your own, winning your first blue ribbon, or becoming a famous author, we all have our goals. We know goals are good to have, because they give us something to work toward. But sometimes, are we going too far? Are we getting caught up? Are we losing sight of what we love? Sometimes, we need to take a step back and remember what brought us here in the first place; the love of horses.

Do you remember how you came to love horses? Did a pony ride send off a spark when you were a young child? Did you see horse racing on television and dream of becoming a jockey? Or maybe seeing a film about mustangs in the wild captured your heart. Whatever it is that brought you to love horses, it is why you are here today, wanting so much to accomplish your goal.

When we set these goals, we often feel a drive to accomplish them as soon as possible, and sometimes this can cause us to lose sight of what really matters. Maybe you’re really serious about competing, and want to win. Or you want to get a horse of your own, and you’re pushing to make it happen. But is your goal everything? Is it all that matters? Sometimes, when we really want something to happen, we lose sight of what we love, and sometimes even lose ourselves.
So sometimes, we need to take a day off. Maybe take your horse for a leisurely ride on the trail instead of practicing for hours. Or stop thinking about how you’re going to get a horse of your own and just enjoy a riding lesson. It might even be a good idea to take a day off of all things involving your goal, and just do something else for a change.

So whenever you set your goals, make sure you go for them, but are careful that you aren’t getting too caught up. Don’t be afraid to take a day off sometimes, or to slow down and enjoy what you’ve accomplished. After all, it isn’t always what’s at the top of the mountain that matters, it’s the climb.