Which native pony had the best Christmas-decorated stable at Olympia?

1, Windy’s Christmas grotto

It was a tough decision, but we liked this stable’s festive theme the best. A Christmas tree, star, paper chains, lights and oodles of tinsel — what’s not to like? Well done to Murthwaite Windrush’s rider Steph Peto and owner Jenny Crane.

2, Winter Wonderland

There is a lot to like about this tastefully decorated stable too. Housing Tayla Lewis’ Nipna Flora, H&H loved the baubles showing the Dales pony’s name, as well as the wintery scene on the outside and Santa and his reindeer flying across the inside in a starry night scene.

3, Festive igloo

A significant amount of wrapping paper went into the making of this stable, expertly crafted by Shanbo Rory’s owner and rider Sophie James. The Christmas trees sitting outside, plus the tinsel, stockings, beads and the unicorn wreath are perfect finishing touches.

4, White Christmas

A beautifully crafted winter wonderland — complete with snowflakes and ice skating boots — was constructed to house Christina Gough’s Fell stallion Lunesdale Dixie.

5, Red for Rocket

Another perfectly wrapped Christmas stable — we wonder how long Jo Bates’ Robert Fallon-owned Connemara Cashelbay Rocket spent trying to reach the carrots in the stocking?

6, Santa’s coming

There really is a Shetland pony in there! A beautifully colour-coordinated festive stable for Emily Stobbart’s Lotuspoint Cassisus both on the inside and the outside.

7, Posing for presents

Sandra Burton’s Connemara Banks Timber expertly poses for the camera — we particularly loved the box of presents outside his stable.

8, Frosty The Snowman

Fitting décor for a real-life snowman — although Margaret Sumner’s Shetland Pony Briar Snowman, the ride of Grace Litherland, is too small to see over the door! We like the ‘cold’ blue and white colour scheme — and the nod to Frosty The Snowman.

9, Rustic Rudolph

Less colour but just as eye-catching a design for the stable of Elizabeth Houghton’s Dartmoor Langworthy Swift Ghost, complete with fairy lights and a snow-coloured wreath.

10, Santa galore!

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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.