8/ DECEMBER 2017 THE RIDER MY SPIN:


of time, especially one in which certain events or phenomena re- peat themselves in the same order and at the same intervals. 3. any long period of years; age. A well known cycle for making change is the OPDCA or Deming


By Susan Dahl. A business or product life cycle is:


Introduction - Growth - Maturity - De- cline. I like the performance manage- ment cycle: Plan - Manage - Review - Reward - Renew. Better yet, the Happi- ness Cycle: Have Goals - Make Effort - Get Results - Feel Good!


From dictionary.com


cycle [sahy-kuh l] noun 1. any complete round or series of oc- currences that repeats or is repeated. 2. a round of years or a recurring period


cycle: Observe, Plan, Do, Check, and Adjust. Just like the seasons. Now is the


time to stay indoors (if we don’t have a nice arena to ride in ) and Observe and Plan for a better horse life (or whatever other change you want to make). I’ve


created a horse cycle that I want to talk about.


In my youth, I used to think that


doing things p.d.q. meant I was a better person. You know - if doing at 1 speed is good, then doing faster is better! Not necessarily. I’ve since learned that tak- ing more time to OBSERVE and PLAN saves me extra work and frustration later on when it comes time to DO and CHECK my plans. Otherwise, I had to make a lot more ADJUSTS to my plan than I wanted too. The end of a cycle. Have you gone


as far as you can with your current horse? Want to think about changing horses and are ready to do so? Upward and onward. Not happy with the current horse event in your area and you need to end it and try something different? Win- ter time is a great time to reflect and make a new plan for the spring. This is where I’m at with my solar


business. Now is the time for me to get out and move on. By the time you read this, I will have sold my business and property and will be downsizing. It’s time for me to make life a little easier.


Time to get more involved in the reining again. I can’t wait. Best of luck to your plans for 2018!


Happy Horse Holidays to you! Next year will be the start of my


10th year writing for TheRider.com! Thanks everyone. I look forward to a great 10th year!


Putting my spin on cycles. Reinersue @KISS reiners


About Susan Dahl Susan Dahl, ORHA/NRHA past multiple champion, writer, blogger, author and clinician, retired certified professional horse trainer. Owner of Foundation Reining Training Centre in Durham, ON. She specializes in effective horseman- ship, and reining. For more information on her services: judging, clinics or resale horses, please contact her on facebook, her website: www.reinersuehorseman- ship.com or reinersue@hotmail.com


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