Horsin' around for the Holidays! Back

It is time for our annual Holiday Readers Poll! (Check out December 1999 to see our first Holiday column.) What we're looking for are your favorite horsey things to do for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, with your four legged and two legged friends! It could be anything from costume classes at your local horse show for Halloween, what you're most thankful for like a new saddle or a special barn buddy, horse related gifts you've given or received, or simply making sure you're in the barn with your horse at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. We'd also like to know where your favorite places are to shop for gifts (on-line and off), your answers may appear in our Holiday Gift Giving Guide! Click on the image to send your stories, favorite shops, and activities, to us by e-mail to The Right Lead, and keep checking this site as they may appear on this page and/or in a future column. Have fun, be safe, enJoy! Happy Holidays from TRL!!! Halloween Thanksgiving Christmas Shopper's Guide New Years 2002 Home   One of my favorite things to do for Halloween is go on horseback scavenger hunts! It is sooo much fun and gets tricky if you don't finish before dark! Joy B., Buda, Texas.   We're going to a Halloween party at our local riding club. Price of admission is two cans of food for our local Gleaner's Club and everyone (horses included) has to be in costume! I CAN'T wait for the 'Horses Bobbing for Apples' contest!!! Jenni, Spokane, Washington.   We had our special Halloween Horse Show last weekend and two of our daughters competed in the costume class for the first time. Our oldest went as Wonder Woman with the red, white, and blue costume and used her American Flag sleezies on the horse. They took second in their age group. Our baby went as a pumpkin on my old mare (on a lead line) and the judge awarded all three little ones first place because he felt they were all too cute to single just one out. The girls had a lot of fun and we have plenty of blackmail photos for when they turn 16! Happy Halloween everyone! Jim and Lynnette from Florida. Top of Page or Home Page Happy Thanksgiving! Example: For Thanksgiving, I give my horses a special warm bran mash with grated carrots and a touch of cane syrup on the top. Joy B., Buda, Texas. This year, we're grateful to have all our family accounted for. I'm especially grateful for my extended horse family. Even though some of us are separated by miles, e-mail and message boards helps us stay in touch, and our shared love of our horses binds us together. I believe, that maybe this year more than any in recent history, we also realize how lucky we are to live in such wonderful country. God Bless all of you, God Bless our President and Allies, and God Bless our men and women in uniform whether it be Military, Police, Fire, or Postal Service. Happy Thanksgiving! Joy B. Top of Page or Home Page Everyone on our ranch has something under the tree every Christmas. The horses usually get tubs of horse cookies, bags of carrots, halters, etc. For my two-legged friends I like to make huge platters of cookies, candy, and other goodies and deliver them in person right before Christmas. Joy B., from Buda, Texas. This is such a fun topic! I love planning gifts for my horse owning friends. Some of my favorite items are handmade- windchimes made out of old horse shoes, old bits, or other neat old stuff that you may no longer have any other use for. Door knockers and handles are also easily made out of that old metal stuff that may be lying around your barn. I also love to give friends photos of the horses, their children on horses (or on my horses or donkeys) in a nice frame and I feel that is a wonderful and thoughtful gift for someone you know. You can also make a horse-oriented photo album out of an old binder covered with burlap or material with a horse design. You can purchase material and photo holding pages at stores like Wal*Mart. Merry Christmas! Nanci Falley, Rancho San Francisco in Lockhart, Texas. Top of Page or Home Page SHOPPER'S GUIDE My favorite places to shop for horses and humans are Callahan's General Store on US Hwy 183 in Austin, Texas, and on-line at State-Line Tack and Valley Vet Supply. Joy B. from Buda. (Note: be sure to send link information so I can include it with your post. TRL) Catalogs are another great place to find gifts. My favorites are Back in the Saddle, Country Supply, and State Line Tack. In our Central Texas area, we have some great stores like Sheplers and Callahan's in Austin and D&D Farm and Ranch in Seguin- all great places to find unusual and horse oriented gifts. Nanci Falley, Rancho San Francisco in Lockhart, Texas. Two more great places to shop for horse related gifts in Austin are The Leading Rein at 7739 Northcross Dr., (512) 458-6637, and Seven Bar - 13030 W. Hwy 290, (512) 288-5025. Joy B.  If you're wanting to shop on-line, over the phone, or would like a catalog, check out:   * Back in the Saddle (800) 865-2478 for gifts for the horse person on your list. Clothes,   jewelry, accessories, and precious toys!   * State Line Tack (800) 228-9208 for show apparel, gifts, accessories for both horse   and rider!   * VideoRanch General Store (on-line only) horse, and non-horse, related gifts. Figurines,   wrought iron, leather jackets (coats and vests, too), candles, glass, and much,   much, more at great holiday discounts.   * Sierra Trading Post (800) 713-4534 of Cheyenne, WY. Outdoor apparel for both   men and women. Working clothes and footwear, as well as equipment for sports and   camping/hunting.   * Rod's Western Palace (800) 325-8508 for show tack and apparel, beautiful sweaters   and jewelry and great novelty gift ideas like bucking horse PJ's!   * EHorse offers a great selection of horse related apparel and gifts for both adults and kids.  * Horseco.com (877) 81-HORSE offers unique gifts for the horse lover on your list!  * Sheplers Western Wear - An Austin shopping institution - check them out!!!   * Wrangler Western Wear - An American tradition in jeans and shirts and official sponsor of   the National Finals Rodeo.  * National Ropers Supply - (800) 467-6746. Everything you need for your favorite roper on   your Christmas list! Equipment, ropes, apparel, books and videos. Top of Page or Home Page   Happy New Years!   Example: Every year since we've been on the ranch, I've made it my tradition to be out in the barn with the horses at the stroke of midnight- usually in Gryphon's stall. I was raised with the tradition that the "people" you're with, and the things you do exactly at midnight, are the ones you'll be with and what you'll be doing throughout the new year. I can't think of any place I'd rather be! Joy B., Buda, Texas.   Back to Home Page