The Christmas Rider Edit

Welcome to the First Sunday of Advent
It’s the moment the season begins to shape itself; lists appear, plans take form, and the countdown starts in the background of our day. Horses continue their routines, dogs trail behind us, and yet the shift toward Christmas is unmistakable. A softer light, a slightly different pace, a sense of something beginning.

I often think Advent invites us to notice what we might otherwise rush past. Small pleasures, thoughtful gestures, unexpected joys. The little surprises that make the season feel brighter.

This year, that sense of Surprise and Delight feels particularly welcome.
Not the grand gestures, but the simple things that stay with us.
A gift chosen with someone in mind.
A familiar decoration brought out of storage.
A breakthrough moment with your horse that you didn’t see coming.
A shared smile, a kind message, a pause that reminds you of what matters.

As riders, our December plans often weave between the practical and the hopeful.
Fitting in rides around weather, seeing friends, choosing gifts, and finding moments of calm in busy days. It can be a month of reconnection, with our horses, with each other, with the ideas and traditions that make Christmas feel like Christmas.

This is also the time of year when I enjoy watching people rediscover their own version of the season. What they look forward to, what they choose to gift, what they hope will surprise them. There’s a sense of shared anticipation, even though each of us experiences it differently.

Introducing The Christmas Rider Edit.
A weekly December edition, curated with the things I’m enjoying, noticing, exploring, and saving for myself and others.
A companion to the Advent Calendar, offering a little extra inspiration and a digital Christmas present for those who join.

You can sign up here if you’d like to receive it:
Join The Christmas Rider Edit

If you haven’t already bookmarked it, the Advent Calendar opens a new door each day, filled with handpicked gifts, discoveries, and seasonal favourites from brands I love.
Explore the Equestrian Advent Calendar

A Season of Possibility

As we share Advent together, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to enjoy the season fully. Notice what delights you. Choose something that makes you smile. Reflect on what you’d love this Christmas, practical or playful, equestrian or otherwise.

Perhaps this is the year to enjoy the countdown rather than rush through it.

Wishing you a thoughtful, hopeful, gently festive start to Advent.