The Chronicle sells this gorgeous scarf, and I've coveted it for years. Well, I've bought myself one, and they give you a deal when you buy two, and I can't think of a better way to give this scarf away.
It'll be a random selection from commenters on Facebook and this blog post, so fire up your pen and write something about your favorite holiday memory with horses.
Thank you all, and Happy Holidays!
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One of my best memories is when I still lived on the east coast and it actually snowed on Christmas. I hoped on my horse bareback with her blanket still on and we rode down the trails though a foot+ of snow with more swirling down around us. It's one of my best memories of her.
ReplyDeleteMy horse is bright chestnut and on Christmas day we ride out on the trail; he's in a green quarter sheet, curly ribbon with jingle bells in his mane and I'm in Christmas colors as well. We look very festive and we get a lot of waves from passersby.
ReplyDeleteTis the season!
Hey, we appreciate you, too! :) That is a gorgeous scarf. Glad you treated yourself, as you deserve it with all the difficulties lately.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite "holiday with horses" memory is from just a couple years ago. I don't have my own horse, but I'm fortunate to be able to ride my friend's giant German WB gelding. They have both been a part of my life for over 10 years and are very dear to me. 24-year-old LiRoi has enough tail hair for about six horses, so my friend never noticed when I snipped a little hank of hair out of it and set about making necklaces, one for each of us. I ordered silver clasps and horse pendants from the Internet and taught myself to 4-strand braid, and they came out really well. When I presented my friend with her necklace she was absolutely thrilled and amazed! Her joy made me cry, too. It was one of the best gifts I've ever given and I know my friend will always treasure her memento of "our" special boy.
My favorite holiday tradition has given me lots of memories. I do my best to start every year on the back of a horse, even if I can only sit on its back in a stall. But I've also had some lovely rides, sometimes bareback on cold, snowy days....
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is when my old App was just 3 or 4, I rode bareback for a quick trail ride around the 20+ acre cow pasture he lived in. There was about 6-12 inches of snow on the ground and all was silent. As we came to the top of a hill, the wind had created a snow drift and we ended up going through the drift that was tall enough that my feet made marks in the snow as my App plowed through the 2-3 foot wide drift. Afterwards we cantered down the hill covered in snow with the world silent around us. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite holiday tradition - well I actually have 2. First, I love going to the barn after we've stuffed ourselves on christmas morning with breakfast and before dinner, just to say hi to the ponies and give them a treat. Second, I love our New Year's day ride at the barn. What better way to ring in the new year than with our horses, right?
ReplyDeleteUntil recently - the yearly horsey tradition was a post Thanksgiving trail ride on our two awesome Banker ponies.
ReplyDeleteSaddle bags stuffed with seen better days Christmas decorations + adult beverages, we'd head into the maritime forest on the well worn path out to the beach. Decorating a few spots within an inch of their lives, and savoring how surprised and enchanted those who followed would be. A week or so later, it was the ponies who we decorated for our annual village Christmas parade. They were fully decked out, and the stars of the show. Great memories :D
Five years ago yesterday, I bought a gangly 5 year old gelding that has become my other half. He was mostly unhandled and lived in a pasture for his first 4 years and then was rough handled by the cowboy that started him. As a broke grad student desperate for some time with horses, when I was offered an opportunity to ride for free (since no one had touched him after returning from the breaker) I jumped at the chance. It took about 20 minutes to catch him in his stall the first few times, even with carrots. He was just terrified of people. Eventually, we chipped away at his fear and shyness, and I began to see his sweet soul emerge. When my husband got a new job several months (and small sign on bonsus), I talked him into buying me the best early Christmas present ever - this little orange gelding. I probably was ill prepared to take on a young TB x warmblood, but his good nature and my dogged determination got us through the many trials of bringing along a youngster. He has never been the fanciest, but he is undoubtedly the kindest horse I have ever met. This year, he also fulfilled a lifelong goal and dream for me by earning me my USDF bronze medal. He also finished off the year as the Third Level champion for adult amateurs competing in USDF competitions. Little did I know 5 years ago how this Christmas horse would become my best friend and partner.
ReplyDeleteFor years my favorite tradition was stealing an hour from the hub-bub of holiday preparations every Christmas Eve, hopping on my trusty TB and heading out for a hack thru the woods. Usually it was snowing and we had the woods to ourselves. Everything was covered with white, and the two of us shared a quiet world. Then I'd start singing Christmas carols and every single time my horse would pick up the rhythm of the song as we swung along. Makes me smile just to think of it. It was our quiet celebration together, no presents required.
ReplyDeleteFour years ago, I was leasing a horse, Clinton, who I bought six months later. I'd been riding him for a month or so, and while I was falling head over heels in love, he was taking his time warming up to me. On Christmas Eve, I stopped by the barn to give him some holiday treats. He was laying down in his stall, and when he saw me, he gave me a small whicker....the first time he'd really acknowledged me in a loving way. It was the best gift. After a huge hug, we shared carrots in that quiet barn; me sitting at his head, and him laying down. It was a great memory...one we repeat (the treats and hugs) on Christmas Eve every year.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite holiday memory with horses...? Hmm...probably going out to the barn on Christmas morning as a kid to feed my horses. They were my best friends during my high school years. This year - I'm looking forward to feeding my guy some treats at my own barn at my house (after 20 years of boarding/not having horses...)
ReplyDeleteWe have two holiday traditions with the horses and donkeys. On the night of winter solstice we carry bags of treats out on a walk around our farm - corn for the deer, peanut butter birdseed pine cones for the birds, apples and carrots for the equines. We use candles to light our way and the horses get so very quiet and still when we approach. I have readings for the solstice that we do when we're done, including my favorite Frost poem, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, which was the first poem I ever committed to memory as a child, and I suspect I loved it so b/c of the little horse and the jingling of his harness bells. :) On Christmas Day we bake horse muffins and take them out on a tray. It is both wonderful and hilarious to see our herd of 5 line up in a row - I go down the line and they each get one at a time. They are such sweeties. Our holidays aren't complete without the taking out of the tray.
ReplyDeleteMy holiday tradition has always been to go out Christmas morning and give each of the horses a few extra treats with their breakfast, and spend a little time relaxing and exchanging scritches before the holiday (which also happens to be my birthday) gets hectic.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory, though, is going out to do horse chores on Christmas eve one year, I think I was 15 or 16. It was a clear night, full of stars, snow on the ground but not too cold. After spreading out the hay for the herd, I sat and listened to them munch and watched the stars. My heart mare Tiara walked up, nuzzled me, then ate next to me. It was so peaceful and nice, I didn't want to leave.
My favorite holiday memory with horses? Going Christmas caroling on horseback with my club! We dress the horses up with ribbons and bells, and walk through the neighborhood singing for everyone.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, I would decorate my barn with lights and wreaths on the door. It was a major pain in the butt getting the doors opened and closed around the extension cords, but it looked so pretty.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is my first horse was a surprise Christmas gift from dad. I named her Misty and she was to much horse but I finally grew into her.
ReplyDeleteroddjackson at hotmail dot com