GLAD tidings, comfort and the joys of excessive eating might be coming our way soon but our horses will ensure we remain grounded in everyday reality. As sure as day follows night and night follows day, our equine charges will keep us busy throughout the holiday season. They might not shower us with gifts or greeting cards but few things can equal the soft, early morning whinny of a horse truly pleased to see you.

Christmas at Stellor Sport Horses is one of my favourite times. Freed from the demands and pressures of competition, our daily tasks are peppered with sound bites of poorly-sung Christmas carols and real bites from yet another tin of chocolates (fortunately, the tight and sparkling whites of competition jodhpurs are a mere dot on the horizon for now).