First Christmas with a horsey partner? Here are 8 things you really need to know…
Surviving Christmas with a horsey partner isn’t easy, but forewarned is forearmed so bear these tips in mind and your festive period with your horsey other half should go swimmingly.
1. Never complain
Whether you like horses or not, they are number one in your partner’s life and always will be. You signed an unwritten agreement the moment you embarked on the relationship and complaining about your partner doing the horses on Christmas Day will only lose you brownie points (and potentially presents). So don’t even bother.
2. Man up and put up
Regardless of whether you want to stay snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire watching festive films and eating an abundance of chocolate on Christmas Day, your partner will at some point have to visit the horse to turn out/muck out/put him to bed, and let’s face facts — you will be dragged out in the cold to help. Trying to avoid it will only ruin the day for everyone.
3. Your partner WILL spend more on their horse than you
It’s a fact. It doesn’t mean they love you less, but their horse NEEDS things, and they usually cost a small fortune.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
4. Get a horsey present
Want to earn major Christmas brownie points? Buy your horsey partner a great horse-related gift. Equestrians love nothing more than a photo of themselves with their beloved equine. And while practical presents related to the home (think pots, pans, hoover, iron etc) may get you the cold shoulder at best, the same does not typically apply to practical horse gifts – believe it or not a wheelbarrow could earn you brownie points galore. Check out these last-minute horsey gift ideas.
5. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
Learn to ride and get yourself a horse for Christmas. That way you’ll never feel left out, and you will see your partner way more. Win win.
6. Appearance isn’t everything
While it’s Christmas Day, it’s still a normal day when it comes to doing the horse, so don’t expect too much in the way of fancy clothes, clean fingernails and tidy hair. A Christmas jumper adorning the odd bit of straw and whiffing of horse is par for the course.
7. Gift expectations
Don’t be surprised if you end up with a pair of wellies and a waterproof coat for Christmas – see point above about practical presents. You’ll need to be appropriately dressed if you’re to help out at the impending horsey events (which if you decide to hang around, you will).
8. Deck the halls
While our horse’s stable will be fastidiously tidy, adorning the most festive of Christmas decorations, probably hand made from foraged items while out hacking, and their feed lovingly prepared using a variety of ridiculously priced mixes and supplements, don’t expect the same at home. If you’re lucky there will be a Christmas tree up and didn’t you say you were cooking Christmas lunch this year?
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows in 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
Horsey gifts for the person who has everything
59 great gifts for the horse obsessed
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.