I got a horse for Christmas when I was 13yrs old. I had been riding her in lessons for a few months and knew she was for sale. Just before xmas, my instructor had even hinted that someone was getting really interested in buying her so I sobbed on the way home, and then fairly often the week before xmas. Then xmas day, for gifts I didnt’ have much under the tree compared to my sister. I got a saddle pad, and then a brush set and then her leather halter with her name plate on it! I was so excited. I made them immediately take me to the barn afterwards. Still makes me cry nearly 20 yrs later.
Oh Shorty… you should have posted that video with a Three Hanky Rating warning :sadsmile:
Good thing my co-worker left the office. I’m bawling!
These stories are adorable! I have never cried so much!
I want a Christmas pony! :yes:
Its my birthday today, and there is a manila folder in a bag with a couple other presents with my name on. I know breed papers in the folder could never happen, but there is the little piece of hope in me :o
a girl who rides at my barn got one of the school ponies for christmas; nice little morab mare that her grandfather bought for her.
we adults were VERY jealous. 
[QUOTE=vxf111;6656304]
two sticks, adorable![/QUOTE]
Thank you! 
It was a very very special day!
All of these stories are wonderful, and making me extremely jealous, too! Needless to say it was my dearest wish to wake up one morning and find my heart’s desire tied to a tree in the front yard. Or, failing that, to find it standing at the barn with a bow on its neck. You guys who’ve actually had that happen better appreciate how lucky you are!
Two Sticks, LOVE your pictures. I have to say I like the idea of having pony in a decorated stall with a bow and nameplate, to be shown to giftee after he/opens a box holding a halter with nameplate. Any old way at all would have been fine with me, though, as long as the pony or horse really was mine!
(Wish someone had thought of leasing when I was a kid - the folks would have gone for that…)
[QUOTE=RiderWriter;6657208]
All of these stories are wonderful, and making me extremely jealous, too! Needless to say it was my dearest wish to wake up one morning and find my heart’s desire tied to a tree in the front yard. Or, failing that, to find it standing at the barn with a bow on its neck. You guys who’ve actually had that happen better appreciate how lucky you are!
Two Sticks, LOVE your pictures. I have to say I like the idea of having pony in a decorated stall with a bow and nameplate, to be shown to giftee after he/opens a box holding a halter with nameplate. Any old way at all would have been fine with me, though, as long as the pony or horse really was mine!
(Wish someone had thought of leasing when I was a kid - the folks would have gone for that…)[/QUOTE]
Thank you! I feel extremely lucky to have experienced my dream come true. I opened a box at home with a saddle and bridle, and thought that was a big, awesome gift (which of course it was) and had no idea that a horse came with it too! I was completely surprised and it was wonderful. My dad actually passed away suddenly a few months later and this was the last birthday I spent with him, making this memory even more special for me.
These stories are all so amazing.
I’m glad I’m not the only one crying here!!
My parent’s surprised me with my first horse when I was 13. I was given the choice of riding lessons or leasing a horse for a month. I chose the lease. I was supposed to leave for girl scout camp a week after the lease ended. My mom told me she leased him for another week so I could ride him before I went to camp. The whole time at camp I was thinking what a bummer it would be to not be able to ride and spend time with the horse anymore. When I got back from camp, my mom wanted to drive up and see the horse because my dad was back home (worked out of state) and hadn’t seen the horse. I really didn’t want to go because I thought he might not be there anymore and I just didn’t see the point. Well my mom convinced me we should go so we all got in the car with my dad driving. My dad who is the typical absent minded professor, drove past the main entry for the stables (normally my mom would have had a fit at him for missing the turn off). He continued down the road to where the privately owned horses lived. And there was the horse I had leased… in a corral. I was absolutely speechless. Just writing this and reliving it brought tears to my eyes because it was such an incredibly emotional experience. I had the time of my life with that horse. Unfortunately, we had to sell him when I left for college but I still think of him a lot and miss him. My surprise was 36 years ago and I can remember it like it happened yesterday!!! I hope it is that way for your daughter.
You are THE BEST PARENT IN THE WORLD!!!
[QUOTE=ottbee;6649654]
One of my secret ‘things’ that I don’t tell a lot of people about, is that when I am in a bad mood I watch YouTube videos of parents surprising their kids with a pony for birthdays or Christmas. One of my favorite setups is when someone rings the front door, with the pony on a lead with a bow on its halter. Watching those kids go from shock, to excitement, to pure bliss … just kind of makes some chronic emotional hurts in my life go away for a minute. I hope someday to have the opportunity to surprise a kid with a pony.[/QUOTE]
ottbee- just… [[[HUGS]]] and much love to you. :sadsmile:
[QUOTE=bits619;6653719]I think a really cute idea (it’d require a bit of planning and ‘doing’ but worth it imo) would be to plan for a family portrait, like at a studio or home. Set everyone up, and take a photo or right before you do, have the photographer or assistant tell the kid, “hey Sally, your parents wanted me to tell you, you’re getting a pony!!” And then take the series of photos of her reaction, with the smiling parents, too of course you could just do the kid alone in a pic but i think the whole family together would be a sweet touch.
And if you could get the logistics right, the surprise could include the pony being revealed and included in pictures, too![/QUOTE]
Love this idea!!! I also like the scavenger hunts, and anything involving ponies covered in ribbons/bows/glitter and [gratitude-induced] crying children.
[QUOTE=DMK;6656195]here is the counterpoint to that adorable video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibJHFCEUcoE&feature=youtu.be[/QUOTE]
HAHAHAHAH
This video at least makes me feel somewhat better about not getting a pony like I asked for so many times when I was a kid. :winkgrin:
These stories are so wonderful! One of my best friends was surprised with the horse she had been leasing for her birthday one year, I think we were both about 16 then. Her mom and the horse’s owner handed her a box full of wooden letters, and told her they spelled something special and she had to figure it out. The letters spelled out “WHISKERS, Owned by Paula” and were for a carved wooden stall sign. It was awesome! She was soooooo happy.
Just want to throw out there that if you’re NOT getting a pony/horse for christmas, don’t put surprises for your children in the barn. Because if you ever say “go out to the barn” for a christmas present, “ponyyyyy!” is the only thing they’ll be thinking of. So the awesome tackbox, which would be otherwise well appreciated and loved, will only seem like a letdown. ;p
My first horse died in a freak accident shortly before I graduated from high school. Up until that point I had been dreading going away to college.
During the summer after my sophomore year I started working with a horse at a rescue where I volunteered. I got VERY attached to her but knew I could never have her since I was away at school.
About 2 weeks after I went back to school for my junior year I got a letter from my parents in the mail. (yes, an actual paper letter - I’m SO old ;)) It said that they went to meet the horse and liked her so much that they thought she should be mine. AND they agreed to ship her to me at school.
Yes - I seriously lucked out in the parental department. They have always been the most amazing parents in the world as far as I am concerned.
Anyway, when I read the letter I ran up and down the hallway of my dorm screaming at the top of my lungs and waving the letter. Everyone thought I had gone mad! :lol:
[QUOTE=maigenesis;6656729]
Its my birthday today, and there is a manila folder in a bag with a couple other presents with my name on. I know breed papers in the folder could never happen, but there is the little piece of hope in me :o[/QUOTE]
Ahhhh…yes. When I graduated from grad school, I was given a manila envelope at a celebratory dinner - I was PRAYING it was the papers for an amazing jumper mare I had been riding for my trainer. Alas, it was just the paperwork for Lasik - “The gift of Sight”. A very nice gift, but I wanted the HORSE!
Well I didn’t get my horse as a surprise per say, but it was kinda. I had been leasing the same horse from a distant relative of mine and my dad swore he would but the trailer, truck, and any other equipment we needed but not the horse. (He is a diesel mechanic, so he was all for that). However, my relative told me and my mom one day that she was moving and my horse I was leasing was not going with her. I remember going home and begging for her, just to be told no. I cried and cried. Well, turns out my mom was attached to this horse as well. The horse is great with me and will do anything I ask, but with other people if I am around, she tended to be rude and obnoxious until I was in her sight again. For all I knew before this, my mom disliked her. Well, I got home from school one day a few weeks before Christmas and went to the barn like normal. My mom asked me after my ride if I was sure this was the horse I wanted, because it was going to be my Christmas and Birthday present. I don’t think I have ever hugged a person or horse that much
My Trainer and parents were very happy with my riding and decided to give me the horse(Danika) I love! They decided to give me my own horse to break and take care. I went to my stable in the afternoon and found her with a huge red ribbon and on the stall door in the owners box was my name! Although she was only a two year old we were BFFs!!!
[QUOTE=Danika The Bay Mare;7772958]
My Trainer and parents were very happy with my riding and decided to give me the horse(Danika) I love! They decided to give me my own horse to break and take care. I went to my stable in the afternoon and found her with a huge red ribbon and on the stall door in the owners box was my name! Although she was only a two year old we were BFFs!!![/QUOTE]
Random question, but Danika is a more rare name so I have to ask… Is her registered name VF Danika?
