on gratitude

We're approaching the season when many of us begin feeling more reflective of what all happened over the past year. Both in recapping and summarizing a calendar year's worth of events, and also in taking time to appreciate all the positives - big and small - that accompany our horse habits.

a charlie and a goose!

Last year was honestly tough for me in that regard. Like, obviously superficially it was easy to be grateful that I finally found what would hopefully be my future eventing partner in Charlie. And. Ya know. I also subsequently treated myself to the not-insignificant birthday present of a new Charlie-sized trailer, my dearly beloved Cotner.

But on a deeper level, I really wasn't eager to take any closer examination of 2016 as a whole. Any time I tried writing a reflection on the year, I got mired down in the spring and early summer when things fell apart with Isabel. Which reignited all those feelings of self doubt and insecurity and "what if?" Since I prefer to dwell on positives here, I just.... let that sleeping dog lie.

the pig makes it seem like charlie is looking at it instead of just weaving lol

The year before was something different, tho. Sure, it ended in disappointment with a clumsy misstep out of my trailer. But 2015 was otherwise an awesome year. So it was easy to indulge myself by reliving all those memories. Perhaps my favorite from that period full of recaps was the "feeling thankful" Thanksgiving video compilation of Isabel's and my best moments of 2015.

And now that I've had Charlie a full year, and now that he's got a full season of eventing under his belt, it felt like the perfect time to compile his own celebratory "Best Of" video!!

So... I went on ahead and did that haha. And maybe had a littttle too much fun while I was at it ;)

video compilation here!

Originally I planned to post this around Thanksgiving, per the whole "gratitude" theme. But... Today is also my birthday and I realized that this is maybe the most satisfied and at peace I've felt on my birthday in recent history. I am grateful. So. You get the video today haha.

The video isn't meant to be a full progression of Charlie from start to finish -- rather it's just some favorite or memorable moments with him. And, honestly, not even all of them, at that. Because there are so many haha and I'm a media junkie/hoarder.

So... Mostly what made the cut are the clips encapsulating those almost out-of-body moments of, "Wow, we're really doing it. It's really happening. This is really it!" Starting with when Charlie really began figuring out his jumping, and when he proved he could be a solid show horse, and lots of examples of him making jumping feel like the best thing in the world ;)

I hope you enjoy it! And just in case any of you out there are likewise inclined, here's that 2015 compilation of Isabel's best moments too.

ok so i did actually get myself one real birthday present ;)

What do you think? Did I leave out any memorable Charlie moments that you think should have made the cut? (Tho I should point out: the blooper reel / outtakes video is coming next so maybe your favorite moments will be on that video instead?? lol....)

And how do you like to remember your favorite times with your horses? Will you be doing a recap post this year? Or maybe a compilation video too?