BY TPH BLOG EDITOR LAUREN MAULDIN
I’m many years past qualifying for junior classes, and the older I get the harder my holiday wish list is to come up with. Sometimes I think I’d rather get rid of my horse’s sticky stifles than add a trinket to my shelf, but occasionally I like to peruse glossy toy catalogs and pretend I’m a pony kid again. These six horse gifts are a great way to embrace your inner child and escape adult amateur reality for a while.
1. Cortes C Breyer Model Horse
My own Olympic show jumper! Though potentially a tad less scopey than Beezie’s real mount, this is as close as I will likely ever be to having a Grand Prix horse in my possession. Hey — at least he’s an easy keeper!
2. Wildkin Horse Dreams Lunch Box
Nothing says “I’d rather be riding my horse than attending this meeting” than a lunch box covered in ponies. You can use the illustrated horses running across the box as a reference for doodling on the margins of your company agenda, and there’s plenty of room to stash some carrots in here for when you’re finally able to break free and head to the barn.
3. Fantasy Stables Board Game
The biggest fantasy in this game is that all horse shows award prize money and salaries for equine industry jobs are highly profitable, but I can personally vouch that Fantasy Stables is genuinely entertaining. It’s like a complex equestrian monopoly where players buy, train and show a variety of horses. The game is at least a little bit realistic though, since horses can get injured and force to be retired. I guess we can’t have it all!
4. 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
If the weather outside is frightful, you can snuggle up under a pile of barn dogs and blankets and start this festive puzzle! Relax and create this beautiful winter wonderland while you prepare to smash through frozen water troughs later and contemplate how wild your horse is going to be when the arena finally dries out.
5. Schleich Icelandic Pony Mare Toy Figurine
For when you really want a fluffy pony with a luxurious long mane, but aren’t really into grooming all that hair. This little pocket pony is the perfect way to curb your craving for a magical dream horse.
6. Breyer Chloe Care for Me Vet Set
Want a break from calling the vet to diagnose your own horse’s mystery lameness? This is the perfect toy for you! You’ve got all the tools you need to cure any ailment this pinto pony could ever have, and the best part is that there’s no vet bills.
The holidays are a great time to remember what it’s like to be a kid. Whether you’re relieving childhood memories through toys or special traditions, take a little time to yourself this season to escape reality for a while!
About the Author: Lauren holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of California Riverside, and is a lifelong rider and writer. Beyond equestrian journalism, she explores body positivity, mental health and addiction through personal narrative. She enjoys showing on the local hunter/jumper circuit in Austin, Texas.
Read More from This Author »
