Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday!  I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for.  If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here.  If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life.  If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have.  If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Ok, get ready for a girly, mooshy post.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you! 

This week’s Thankful Thursday was easy for me.  Didn’t even take much thought.  On Tuesday, I saw Tiny for the first time in what felt like forever.  I know I keep saying it, but my riding schedule has just been so erratic this summer for one reason or another.  Anyway, so the stars aligned on Tuesday for me to pay her a visit.  It was a gorgeous evening, low (-ish) humidity, quiet and still.  I took the time to enjoy grooming her and she seemed to be soaking it all in as well.  We had a good ride and I was pleasantly surprised by her level of responsiveness after having a week off.  As we wrapped it up, the thunderheads started building and we could hear the rumbling in the distance and feel the electricity in the air.  We headed back into the barn so I could put her to bed, and as she stood in the crossties we shared this moment.  Anyone who loves horses knows what I mean – that moment of silent understanding, nose to nose, her breath meeting mine.  The wave of gratitude that washed over me as I stood nose to nose with my sweet little horse defines this week’s Thankful Thursday.  At that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.  So what, exactly, am I thankful for?

• First, I’m so grateful that Tiny is even here.  When I look back on it, it’s one of those situations that just defies the odds over and over.  Her mother was an 18 year old maiden mare that was retired from competition.  Tiny was born a month premature and probably should have died.  Her mom was afraid of her and she was still in the sac.  We were out of town at the time and luckily for us the barn caretaker happened to be there at the right time to handle the situation.   She had severely crooked legs that required surgery when she was young.  She didn’t even begin training until she was almost 6 years old.  I could go on and on.  The fact that she is here, healthy and happy, and still in my life is a gift that I feel honored to have. 
• I am so thankful that I have been able to hang on to her throughout the past five tumultuous years of my life.  Somehow, through all the financial strife and the breakup of the family herd and my graduate schooling, we have stuck together.  Looking back now, I’m not even sure how it happened, but all that matters is it did. 
• I’m grateful that I have good health and the opportunity to ride such an amazing animal. 
• And finally, I’m so glad that I found such a wonderful place to keep Tiny nearby with someone that loves her (almost) as much as I do.  Sometimes, things are just meant to be.

Please visit other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, Tired Dog Ranch, and The Pony Expression