Now that the 2007 season has spun down it is time to start planning for the 2008 ride year. Many of us are eagerly planning our next ride season, going through the list of rides in the AERC calendar, circling ride names, reserving vacation time and checking out which rides we just can't live without. This ritual helps feed our obsession during the long winter months.

While thinking over this past year's accomplishments, we will make plans to continue in our successes while we make promises to our horses of how things will be different for this coming season. We will plan to get out and train more, we will not over-ride in our enthusiasm during the heat of competition, we will give our horse the appropriate amount of rest time after a ride, and so on.

Each year it is fun to make a wish list and a challenge to set new goals for the upcoming season. I have listed some ideas that may be fun to aim for.

1. Attend the 2008 AERC National Championship Ride. The 100-mile ride will be held October 16 and the 50-mile ride will be held on the 18th in Henryville, Indiana. The qualifications are the same as they have been the last few years: 300 lifetime miles as a horse/rider team and one ride in the top five in your weight division over the past 18 months before the ride. This will be a fun, festive event that is a must on your wish list.

2. Ride a longer distance than you have ever ridden before in one ride. If you normally ride limited distance rides, try a 50-mile ride; if you normally ride 50-mile rides try a multi-day ride, and if you normally ride multi-day rides try a one-day 75- or 100-mile ride.

3. Enter a ride that you have never ridden before. Travel a little farther to ride a new ride this coming year. Pick an area that you have always wanted to see. Make a nice vacation out of it.

4. Attend the AERC convention. This can be a lot of fun and very educational. The convention is going to be held on February 29 and March 1 at the Silver Legacy in Reno. Some great speakers are lined up and the trade show is the best shopping for all your endurance needs.

5. Volunteer for at least one ride. Every ride manger depends upon volunteers in order to have a successful ride. You can be of great assistance anytime you offer your services. You will also have an opportunity to get to know riders that you never knew.

6. Volunteer for trail work. Every trail needs maintenance. You can volunteer your help which will insure keeping the trails open for riding but is also very rewarding. By volunteering, you will also help build up relationships between endurance riders and land managers.

7. Mileage benchmarks are always a fun goal to try and reach: set one for yourself or your horse. Make this a reasonable amount of miles to obtain but make it a challenge too.

Whether you enter one or 20 events a year, whether you are 18 or 85 years old, I would like to urge each of you to set at least one new goal for this coming year. This could be the year that you will achieve your goals and live your dreams.