Advent Barn
The
Celebrate 25 Days of Magical Fun This Holiday Season By Ange Dickson Finn
December 1: You jump out of bed and dash to the Advent Barn. You unbolt the door to Stall 1, flinging it open with great delight. Inside, you behold…you behold…a draft horse. A draft horse? You have to admit to being just a little disappointed, since drafts have never been your thing. A big, shiny, heavy-boned Percheron with a gorgeous neck, and his mane braided with red and green ribbons. Yeah, OK, he’s great looking. But, you had something a little—shall we say—smaller in mind. You trudge away, wondering about this Advent Barn thing. December 2: With a bit less enthusiasm, you saunter into the Advent Barn on the second of December. Your draft horse nickers in welcome, and you sigh. You’ve started this thing, so you might as well keep going. Maybe something good will turn up before the 25th, anyway. Stall 2 has a much wider door, and you’re a little concerned. You slide the door open and a silvery gleam catches your eye. Curious, you push the door open further. The morning light falls on—no, it can’t be! A great big, fancy, one-horse open sleigh! Wow! Red shiny body, sleek polished runners, leather seats, all the traces, even sleigh bells. Now you get it! The Percheron is to pull the sleigh! But there’s no snow on the ground 88
equine Journal
| November 2012
yet this year to enjoy a sleigh ride. December 3: Really curious now, you make the Advent Barn your first stop. Stall 3 also has a wide door, and as you lay your hand on it, it’s quite chilly. How in the world could that be? You throw open the door, and it opens onto a wooded vista covered with white, perfect snow! Quick as a flash you back that Percheron up to the sleigh. You’ve never done this before but the Perch helps you get him all hitched up. You call the family out of the house. Winter coats and blankets are in the sleigh, you guide your Percheron through the magical stall door, slap the reins on his back, and off you go! December 4: What could top yesterday’s Advent Barn surprise? You head out to see. Stall 4 is smaller, thank goodness. You open the door and gasp. It’s unbelievable! It’s your pony, your first pony. Why, she’s been gone for 20 years! But, it’s Tink for sure—she has that scar on her shoulder. You throw your arms around her neck and remember Christmases past and happy times long gone. She and the Percheron will have fun playing together, you’re sure. December 5: On the fifth day, you open Stall 5 curiously. Delight
Don’t you love the holidays and all the rituals that make the season stand out? Like gingerbread cookies, trimming the tree, singing carols, and having parties. The only thing is, our horses are left out of the fun, pretty much. Oh, sure, we might decorate the stalls or use them in our Christmas cards or give them home-baked treats for the holidays. But, that’s about it. So, I’m proposing a novel way to combine our horse passion with our holiday fun: the Advent Barn. Think Advent Calendar, only horse-themed!
Imagine This:
You walk into a beautiful stable decorated like a Victorian Christmas card. Arranged on two sides of a spacious center aisle are stall doors—25 of them! Your heart jumps at the idea that you get to open one of these ornate, handsome doors each day until Christmas. Who knows what horsey/ Christmassy surprises lie inside? Spirited steeds and lavish tack? Delectable treats for horse and human? You can hardly wait to find out.