12/25/2025
From a post in 2012. December 23, 2012
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The Night Before Christmas
(As told by Pronto – Head horse at Cedar Gate Farm)
T’was the night before Christmas and at Cedar Gate Farm, not a creature was stirring in the old barn
The stockings were hung in each stall with care, in hopes that St Nicholas would soon be there.
The hens were all snuggled warm in their beds, as visions of chicks filled their small feathered heads.
With Pache in his stall and I eating hay, we had just settled down from a busy horse day.
When out in the pasture there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the stable to see what was the matter.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to to my wondering eyes should appear,
A huge flock of geese with a large herd of deer.
With a squawk and a squeak they were running so quick,
They were startled I thought, it must be St Nick.
If horses can dance, laugh and cry,
then it makes sense to me those deer can fly.
I watched as the geese and the does took to flight,
they flew over the fences, and into the night.
Then through the mist on this magical this eve,
Appeared a faint shadow and rustling of leaves.
It was Bill, my best friend approaching our barn,
with bags of apples and carrots in arm.
The roosters were crowing their wings flapped with glee,
Their feathers were floating like snowflakes on me.
Toby and Pache ran towards the gate, while I just circled around in my haste.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know we had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the buckets, then turned with a jerk.
There were horse treats, sweet mash and tasty fresh hay,
Abundance for all on this new Christmas Day.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
Giving a nod, to the barnyard he rose
He sprang to his truck, then gave a whistle,
And away more geese flew back into the thistle.
Then I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
