Of course we’d encourage you to eat, drink and be very merry, but as the Christmas period is one of the few times most amateurs get an extended break from work, it might also be wise to schedule a few hours to complete some of those chores you’ve been putting off for a while.
Here are nine things you could do over the Christmas break to get your ducks in a row and storm into 2025 ready for success.
1. Tidy your tack room
A classic. As the year progresses it’s likely that your tack room has become a dumping ground for anything and everything, while the storage system you implemented last time you gave it a clear out has fallen by the wayside. Why not have a big sort out and get everything in order, so you can actually find that bit when you need it?
2. Service the lorry
Your horsebox may have been sitting around for a while, and when you do decide to venture out there would be nothing worse than being unable to start it. Make sure everything is in working order and all services are up to date. Once the exterior is all checked over and ready to go, give the inside a good spring clean as well as the horse area.
3. Clean your competition clothing
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You’ve worn your jacket throughout the season, including for hours in sweltering summer heat, so now is the time to check it in for a deep clean at your local dry cleaners. Now is also a good time to give your boots a good clean, and ensure all your other competition kit is in working order and doesn’t need replacing.
4. Give your horse a tidy up
If you are someone who lets yourself — and your horses — go during winter, so make use of the daylight hours to give your horse a trim so he heads into the New Year as fresh as a daisy and ready for work.
5. Wash your rugs
Send them off to your local rug washer, use the facilities on your yard or you may be brave enough to put your own washing machine to the test (we don’t recommend this for anything heavier than an odd summer sheet). If you’re not sure where to start, check out our helpful guide to cleaning horse rugs. It’s also a good opportunity to fix any holes or tears, and decide if any need replacing.
6. Pay off outstanding bills
While there isn’t often much free cash floating around in the run up to Christmas, if you get any financial gifts on the day, they could help you go into the new season with a clean slate. If you can clear any outstanding vet, farrier or physio payments, then that will be a weight off your mind.
7. Plan your competition schedule
While some schedules won’t be out yet, many of the championship and major competition dates are already in the diary so you could take an hour or so to mark off select days you’ll need to book off from work, especially if you work shifts. Consider if you’ll need to book accommodation, too, and if you’ll need to ask a friend or relative to tag along as groom. The earlier you ask the better!
8. Join your governing bodies
Similarly, getting all your relevant paperwork in line to send off to the necessary organisations is something you could do while you have some spare time. Deciding which ones to join, gathering documents and filling in forms is the perfect task to do while sitting in front of a Christmas movie with a box of chocolates. Some societies may offer a discount if you join in January, so it’s the perfect job to tick off the list.
9. Make a training plan
Want to source a new trainer in the New Year? Make contact with the people you have in mind. Haven’t decided when to bring your horse back into work after his winter break? Pop a deadline in the diary. If you have certain aspirations in mind then it’s a good idea to draft some sort of plan, however brief, so you can achieve those goals. Dreams don’t work unless you do!
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
