It's the Horsey Holidays!

From Middleberg to Ocala, I'm getting excited about these equestrian travel experiences.

Happy December 2025!

There’s so much to talk about.

I’m going to keep our equestrian news in the Southeast for this article, just for the sheer volume of horse-related fun available for the holidays. This travel topic is exciting!

Hoofbeats Are Happening in Aiken

First, if you haven’t heard the news, the Aiken, South Carolina Hoofbeats Christmas Parade is happening. There were a few moments when the change of leadership and parade route made it doubtful, but the volunteers have rallied and made a great plan.

This is actually my baby Rugby in the parade with Owner and Head Trainer at Twin Oaks Farm Training & Sales (Aiken, SC) Rhett Destefano.

This will be the first year I’ll attend the parade, but I couldn’t get any reservations at Aiken’s Wilcox Hotel. It’s a hot spot for all things equestrian, offering a touch of luxury downtown. Riders can journey through the famous Hitchcock Woods directly up to the door of the hotel for a curbside beverage. The parade also travels right by its front porch, offering an impressive site of horses, carriages and pups. A festive day for any equestrian, I’m looking forward to the holiday costumes for all the horses.

Photo courtesy of The Wilcox.

Here are the parade details:

Follow the Aiken Hoofbeats Christmas Parade on Facebook.

If you’re in the area and would like to participate in the parade, here’s the link.

The parade is December 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. The parade route has changed a bit, but will still travel past the Wilcox. In the past, it’s been a fundraiser. There’s no information specifically on that now, but I’m sure that’s continuing.

Viewing the parade, courtesy of The Wilcox.

Unfortunately, Hitchcock Woods is currently closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Crews are working hard to restore the area and we hope it will be available to riders soon.

Some notable spots downtown in Aiken - the Hopeland Gardens and the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame are great to visit, but are also closed due to damage from Helene. There’s still plenty of equestrian fun like shopping in downtown Aiken, shows at Stable View and hunting at Fox Nation with the Aiken Hounds.

Middleberg for the Holidays

Speaking of parades, the city of Middleberg, Virginia is hosting one of the biggest equestrian ones in the country. It starts with a parade of riders and hounds down Washington Street, courtesy of The Middleberg Hunt, with the holiday parade to follow. Here are the event details, including information on wine tastings, tree lightings and the city’s Christmas pageant.

Middleberg is an English rider’s delight, with amazing B&B’s, shops and so much tack resale. If you ride, you will come home with something, I guarantee. I came home with a horse.

I’m going to save Ocala for next week. As a teaser, the World Equestrian Center (WEC) and The Equestrian Hotel go all out for the holiday. There’s a gingerbread creation that would rival any in the U.S., usually horse-themed, lights throughout the grounds, and breakfast with Santa. This weekend, the $120,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI3* is offered in the Grand Arena and I’m headed to the cocktail party to watch the competition. I’ll have a whole host of pictures when I get back.

Last year at Ocala’s Winter Wonderland.

The holiday lights run through December 23rd, Wednesday through Sunday, along with an amazing schedule of events to celebrate the month of December. I highly recommend that any equestrian should visit what my friends call the ‘horsey hotel’. It’s worth the trip!

I welcome your comments and suggestions of newsletter topics. Let’s be friends! I spend too much time with animals and not enough with people. Well, maybe. :)

Until next time, as my AI search said,

“May your ride be smooth, the wind be at your back and your journey filled with endless adventure.”

(A little worried that Google AI did such a good job putting that together, but maybe my job won’t be taken over by a computer just yet….)

Jessica

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