20 Questions
Today on Daily Parelli, we were asked:

What is your Ultimate Goal with horses? (hint: Write it down; extra-credit hint: write down answers to all of these questions)

To pass Level Four, get my black string, enter the Parelli Professionals Program, become a 4-star Horse developer and 3-Star Instructor, then raise and train good-minded horses of color (Paints, Appies, Buckskins) for the general public and run a horse rescue/rehab while educating the horse industry about the alternatives: PNH, AANHCP, Safer Grass, Perfect Pasture, Holistic therapies. (Just ignore the post where I whined that being a Parelli Pro was out of reach for me...)

Also, to get legislation passed so that horse trailers and live cargo haulers are given the same respect and consideration as school busses. Make it a serious crime to tailgate within X feet of any live cargo hauler; promote "red-light" traffic-style cameras on trailers to capture offenders; help develop safety equipment for use on trailers to assist these efforts.

Then write an autobiography about my experiences.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within ten years?

Be in the PPP at the highest possible star rating I can achieve by then.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within five years?

Pass Level Four. Spend more time in Ocala, ride in more clinics. Find a reining instructor and study with them.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within two years?

Pass Level Three Riding (both Savvys), get the green string; spend eight weeks in Ocala with my horse, ride in a couple of clinics. Get a PNH Mentor to work with. Become actively involved in horse-related legislation.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within one year?

Pass Level Three at Liberty. Ride in two or three clinics and a Parelli Celebration.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within six months?

Pass Level Three Online. Receive blue string. Attend at least one clinic with my horse.

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within three months?

Pass Level Two, overcome fear of jumping barrels.

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one month?

Send in Level Two FreeStyle assessment submission

What is a step toward that goal that you could achieve within two weeks?

Send in Level Two Online assessment submission

What is a step toward that goal or a lesser goal that you could achieve within one week?

Get out and play with my horse a few times

What action could you take toward that goal within three days?

Get out to the barn tomorrow, Monday and/or Tuesday (and get on the AbLounge)! Pick out music to play to.

What action could you take toward that goal tomorrow?

Go to the barn! Play! Watch DVDs and catch up on the latest SC stuff. Call my friend to see if she's available to man the camera.

What action could you take toward that goal today?

Watch some DVDs to fire up my motivation; put my Boinks in the laundry so they'll be ready for tomorrow; get a good night's sleep. Start thinking about the soundtrack, music that means something to me.

What action could you take toward that goal right now?

Get the H off the computer and go watch SC DVDs. Make sure the batteries in the video camera are charged.

What information could you acquire that would improve your chances of achieving your goal?

Reread the new levels stuff so I have a better idea of how to prepare; watch YouTube vids of others' assessments to get ideas.

What's stopping you?

Obligations around the house. The need to find a job for income. Money issues, like how'm I gonna pay board next month, how'm I gonna pay for the clinic in June, how'm I gonna eat? How'm I gonna be able to afford the PPP program or the eight weeks in Ocala in two years?

Really?

Uhhh... well... yes and no. The house can be cleaned any old day. I have money in the estate and the other house that's for sale, when they sell, no need for a job for awhile... I've got money today, I could get more tomorrow, maybe I could get loans, maybe by the time I'm ready to go to Ocala I'll be ready to sell this house...

Do you see how easy it is to make a plan?

Yes.

Now, here's the toughest question of all: Once you have a plan... are you willing to change it if you need to?

Yes. It's already changed from my original plan four years ago.

Did you count to see if there were actually 20 questions?

Didn't have to. The person whose blog sent me to this link already did it for me. ;-)