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Again, exactly as the BBC weather had predicted! Thursday was a beautiful day for Twin Palms Riding Centre's Kids Christmas Gymkhana.
Around 20 children, ably assisted by the TPRC Santa helper brigade, enjoyed a festive fun packed afternoon.
Ponies donned with bright numnahs and adorned with tinsel were lined up for the festive races. Bending round the Xmas trees was the first race of the afternoon, with the kids all bending their ponies in and out of the, well, barrels - as real Xmas trees would scare the ponies. Fabulous fun and the certain winners being pipped at the post - the trick is to go round, if you miss the 'tree' it was back again.
Next was the fastest reindeer, except of course, reindeers were ponies, and riders had to get their pony/reindeer dashing to the end and back again, allowed to either walk or trot, it was the daring that won this event.
The next race up the Christmas Decoration Dash, had pony and rider dashing to grab their decoration and dash back to the finish line. This caused some fun especially as there were ponies that thought the buckets with the decorations in were actually scarier than the Xmas trees!
The Christmas onion and spoon race was next on the agenda - this particular Santa just loves onions, and it was first to get them to the north pole! The final horseback race of the afternoon was a race to Santa's Snow Queen, who was holding all the goodies. Riders raced to the Snow Queen and grabbed their goodies and then raced to the finish on foot.
Not quite the end of the afternoon for the riders, as their ponies were led away for some well-earned carrots and dinner. There was Musical Santa Sacks to finish off the afternoon's events.
Of course, to actually round off the afternoon the main man himself came riding in with his sack of presents for all the children.
The day was rounded off with festive fodder and drinks. A great afternoon as the children left for home with gifts and goodies; happy and tired.
