The arena is under snow, the water buckets have a lid of ice, and there’s a wreath on the tack room door. It’s Christmas at Pentonville Lodge — so before the quiet few days arrive, we wanted to stop, look back at the year, and say thank you.
A year to be grateful for
It’s been a good one. Young horses have grown up and gone to their first shows. Old favourites have jumped clear rounds they had no business jumping. Foals have arrived, wobbled to their feet, and turned into the cheekiest things on the yard. And through all of it, the same people have turned up at the gate, in all weathers, because they love their horses. That’s the yard. That’s what makes it work.
Christmas on a yard is a funny thing
For most people, Christmas morning means a lie-in. For horse people, it means the alarm goes off in the dark as usual, because nobody has told the horses what day it is. They still want their breakfast at the same time, still want their hay, still kick the door if you’re two minutes late.
And honestly, we wouldn’t swap it. There’s something lovely about a frosty Christmas morning on the yard: the quiet, the steam coming off warm backs, the robins waiting for spilt feed, a flask of tea going cold on the tack room shelf. The rest of the world is asleep, and you’re out there with the best company in it.
Looking after them through the cold
If you’re new to keeping a horse through winter, the festive stretch is a good moment to keep an eye on a few things. Make sure they can always get to water that isn’t frozen. Keep plenty of forage in front of them, because hay is what keeps them warm from the inside. Check rugs are dry and not rubbing, and keep looking at the horse underneath rather than guessing from the weather. And keep feet picked out and moving, however grim it is outside.
If you’d like the longer version, our winter horse care guide goes through rugs, forage, mud fever and feet properly.
A thank you, from all of us
To everyone who keeps a horse here, trains here, has bought a horse from us or simply stops at the gate for a chat — thank you. A yard is only ever as good as the people and horses on it, and ours are the best. You’ve made this a place we look forward to every single morning, Christmas included.
So from Nikki, the horses, and everyone at Pentonville Lodge: Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year. Here’s to clear rounds, happy horses and good days out together in 2027.
When in doubt, call your vet. Every horse is different — youngsters, veterans and horses with health conditions may need a different approach.
Nikki Ward · Pentonville Lodge
For the latest from the yard, follow us on Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · X.