Equestrian top tips to save time with your horse on Christmas Day

Who doesn’t love Christmas? It is the one day of the year we can sit back, relax, laugh, stuff our faces and act like kids again. Many of us love spending as much time at home with loved ones as possible. However, as any beloved pet owners we know that whatever the day, they come first. So, like every normal day, we still have to pop down to the yard to sort out our precious ponies.

We asked our lovely bunch of supporting friends how they make the most of the big day. Learn what ‘real life’ top tips they use to make their Christmas Day on the yard/with your horse quicker and easier. Check out what they do, so you can get back to opening your gifts and eating your lunch in no time.

Preparation is key!

• Make up a couple of haynets, you can prep the next days in advance saving you time, especially if you have to soak.
• Prepare feeds in advance.
• Fill up buckets of water so it is just a case of topping up their buckets with those, rather than waiting for a big tub to fill.
• Buddy up with someone on your yard- you bring in, they turnout or vice versa
• Christmas Eve huge muck out! Top up with lots of bedding and if able to deep litter for one day or 2. This can help be quick on Boxing Day as well.
• If you haven’t had heavy rain down leave them in their turnouts. This means not faffing about unnecessarily with rugs and shaves off extra time.
• If the weather is really kind, they can stay out overnight too. If your ponies don’t mind being out, then this is a perfect way to save time in the evening. The time you would save by not bringing them in, would definitely give you time for at least, two extra mince pies!

If you are fortunate to have the option of assisted livery over the festive period. It's not a case of how to make things quicker and easier for you. Instead how you can help your yard owner on Christmas day. Although livery is a service we pay for, it is not something we should take for granted. Those working on Christmas day also want to get back to their family and tuck into a tin of Quality Street; so here are some tips for helping this happen:

• Prepare hay nets along with a couple of extra
• Portion feed
• Check the weather and leave required rugs ready
• Deep clean stable and top up bedding
• Spread a little Christmas cheer (a little tipple or box of chocolates usually do the trick)!

Christmas is a special time to spend with family, particularly after this difficult year. If you can help the person caring for your horse get home a little earlier, I'm sure they'd be extremely grateful. After all, Christmas is a time for giving!

Whatever hack you choose for Christmas Day make sure you make some time for kisses and cuddles with your four-legged friend!

Merry Christmas everybody!