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SUSAN HELLARDMindy looks forward to a traditional Christmas – and where better to spend it than in a stable?
How excited are we? The Hammond tree is holding up its spiny skirt, ready to receive piles of presents, and the stockings are ready to dangle in the fireplace. I can’t see the back of the fridge, so if I’ve forgotten something I won’t even find out until the big day. But I don’t care – we have the important stuff and best of all, we have lots of friends and family coming to visit.
With Izzy at her new school, we were treated to two carol services, and as usual I had to bring out the hanky (am I the only person in Britain who blubs at Hark the Herald Angels Sing?). But school’s out now and even Richard has finished work, so we managed our usual family pilgrimage to the horse show at Olympia. Richard and the girls even sneaked in some last-minute shopping between the Shetland Grand National and the showjumping.
The dogs each have their own stocking this year (well, it’s Blea’s first Christmas) and the cats get a toy (as well as the chance to play in the wrapping paper on Christmas morning). And while I’m on the subject of pets, we all know the rule – no animals for Christmas. It’s upsetting for them if they end up unwanted and it’s unfair on the recipient if a puppy is more of a shock than a surprise. So our new arrival isn’t a Christmas present – it’s just that it took me until now to find her.
Izzy’s original pony, Tom, proved a bit too much of a handful.
He needed more from life, so we sent him off to do eventing, showjumping and various other feats of derring-do. At first Iz was happy to wave him off and conclude that riding wasn’t for her – but then she changed her mind and the pleading began.
That’s how we found ourselves at a trekking centre recently, expecting to try a 13-hand pony. We didn’t know what she looked like, except that she was accustomed to novices.
But there, standing next to a hay net, was Kitty – all 14 hands of her.
I was worried that Izzy would take one look and turn tail, but she didn’t. She walked quietly up to Kitty and began stroking her. A few minutes later, she was on board, and as soon as I saw her beaming smile I knew these two would be right for each other.
Kitty has been with us on trial for a couple of weeks now. She and Izzy have bonded, and Max the fell pony is hopelessly smitten (Kitty won’t talk to him over the fence, even though he stares at her with lovesick eyes).
As a result of all this, the girls have made a plan for Christmas morning that involves all of us – even Daddy – trooping out to the stables, mucking out, and wishing all the ponies a merry Christmas with a carrot and a bowl of treats.
Offers of help in the stable are never spurned, so the place has been hung with festive decorations, and beautiful Kitty – who is a traditional black-and- white cob with a flowing mane and feathers on her feet – has a pink tinsel tiara (well, she is a lady). On Christmas morning, we’ll all be together with the animals we love. Will I cry? You bet I will.
That’s it for now, except to say happy Christmas to all my wonderful readers, and to all those you love, whether human, furred or feathered. Thank you for sharing our stories.
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