South Africa: Creating our own summer traditions

Here in South Africa, we have the unique opportunity to create our own Christmas traditions with horses and ponies – ones that make sense for a hot, sunny December! While we might not have snow and sleigh rides, we can celebrate in ways that honour our climate and our horses’ needs.

Many South African stables and riding schools now hold Christmas morning rides where riders dress festively and enjoy an early morning hack before the day gets too hot. These rides often include stops to sing carols, share treats (for both horses and riders), and take festive photos. The key is timing these rides early or late when temperatures are manageable.

Some stables organise Christmas parties for their horses, complete with frozen treat stations and cooling misters where horses can splash and cool off. Horses might receive special Christmas stockings hung on their stable doors, filled with appropriate treats, new grooming brushes, or toys.

South African riders are also starting traditions of giving back during Christmas. Some riding schools organise charity drives where children bring food and grooming supplies to donate to horse sanctuaries and rescue centres.

The true spirit of Christmas

Looking at Christmas traditions from around the world, we see a common thread: horses and ponies are valued, respected, and included in celebrations as important members of the family and community. Whether it’s a Polish farmer sharing his Christmas Eve meal with his horse, a Spanish child leaving water for the Three Kings’ horses, or an Icelandic family ensuring their ponies are warm and comfortable through the dark winter, these traditions all show the same thing – Christmas is about caring for those we love, including our four-legged friends.