It’s that time of year again: The weather’s getting colder, the horses are getting fuzzy, and the holidays are right around the corner. And, here in America, first on the season’s list of celebrations is Thanksgiving.

I grew up in central Massachusetts where–likely given our close proximity to Plimouth Plantation; Plymouth Rock; and nearly everything else commonly associated with the pilgrims, Wampanoag tribe, and the “first Thanksgiving”–I learned (what felt like) everything there is to know about the holiday. The English settlers in Massachusetts held a celebration in October 1621–now considered the first Thanksgiving–to give thanks to their God and the Native Americans that had helped them survive, and to celebrate that year’s good harvest.

It’s not hard to lose sight of the reason behind the first Thanksgiving festival with all the hustle and bustle of cooking the perfect turkey and planning family get-togethers, watching token holiday parades and football games, and planning out Black Friday shopping routes and Cyber Monday purchases. So before I, too, get caught up in the holiday festivities, I’m taking a few moments to consider what I’m most thankful for this year.

First and foremost, I’m thankful that my horses, family, and friends are in good health entering this holiday season. And I’m thankful for my parents, who provide a home for our family’s senior horses (and two not-so-senior horses) where they can live out their days happily, comfortably, and healthily