Enjoy our picture desk’s selection of favourite photos from the past week, including racing from Newbury, the Cotswold hunt and the Melton Hunt Club Ride

Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander has been retired from racing and could be set for a career in the show ring

Socks the Shetland is back for Christmas

The delightful moonwalking Shetland stallion is making a festive return for mobile company Three

Stop your Christmas gift spending spiralling out of control with our pick of budget-busting present ideas

How to stay sane in the rain with your horse

When the rain is driving down and you’re sliding through mud to catch your horse who is wearing a drenched turnout, it’s easy to question why it was such a good idea to own a horse at all

Equestrian properties: the ideal location

Location, location, location may be a property truism, but few people realise that the price difference between the right and the wrong setting could be more than 35%

6 horsey DVDs to watch this Christmas

What could be better than flopping on the sofa with a good DVD when you come in from doing your horses this Christmas?

Enjoy photos of leading eventers out in the field, including 4-star winners, Olympic horses and championship medallists

Getting in a Christmas card panic? Take a look at our pick of the best charity Christmas cards for 2013

Never change your bit again with the new Universal Bit from John Whitaker

Sick of changing your bit for different activities and disciplines? The new Universal bit from John Whitaker International is suitable for all events and horses — say goodbye to constant bit changes!