They decided having horses as the stars would be the perfect way – although it was thought a better idea to film this rather than perform it live, and then invite residents of local care homes to watch.
Student Caitlain Smith told H&H the premiere was last Friday (13 December), and that the audience appreciated the horses’ efforts.
“We wanted to invite some older people to do taster days with horses and thought that as it was Christmas, a Nativity was what we wanted to do,” she said.
“One of the other students helped us make the costumes, and the horses were quite co-operative.”
In a twist to the tail, the story opens with piebald Mary, who is eating grass when the Angel Gabriel, Rocky the dog, arrives to tell her she is in foal.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
She and her handsome gelding husband Joseph travel to Bethlehem, where all the stables are full so they have to sleep in a barn. Here they are met by equine wise men and a suspiciously large-looking sheep.
“We tried to use the well-behaved horses!” said Caitlain, who thanked her tutor Danielle Haughton for directing the film and putting it together. “They still wanted to go where there they wanted, and there were people standing in the wrong places, or not speaking at the right moments; there were more mistakes from people than the horses!”
Donations collected at the screening went to the Croft End retired horse fund, which supports retired riding school equines.
Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free
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
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
