The Boss scowled as Daniel skittered around the trailer ramp, refusing to be loaded for Sunday’s Christmas Trail Ride. After using all his strength to heft in the mulish and non-portable Baby, his patience was wearing thin.

We were fortunate The Boss was able to help us at all after his terrible accident just days before. In typical gung-ho fashion, he climbed to the top of the straw trailer to deliver a hearty kick to a recalcitrant bale. He plummeted to the ground after failing to carry out a risk assessment of the slippery moss on top of the shed wall, the proximity of the muck heap and the considerable drop to the floor. Nursing a badly bruised bottom, he was in no mood to take any nonsense from our boys.

As ladies at the yard gathered to watch Daniel’s antics, the Boss regretted including loading in the transport package we had negotiated with him. But as we pointed out: “Lift to the trail ride: £20. Loading Baby Horse: Priceless.”

Tied up in the crisp winter sunshine at Craven Country Ride, Daniel watched in dismay as his festively decorated bridle was unpacked. Weeks earlier, he looked on in satisfaction as his hated fly mask was stored away for the summer.

“I’ve just got rid o’ one silly ’at. Now I’m wearin’ a ruddy tea-ara,” he said as we crowned him in black and silver tinsel.

As he lined up at the start of the trail, Daniel was in for another nasty shock.

“Don’t you be running back here on your own,” said Wendy Wild, performing her usual role as steward. She had twice this year caught a fleeing Daniel after he unseated his rider.

“Oh ’eck. I just got rid of ’im at the yard, now Auntie Wendy’s ’ere. I’ll best be gettin’ along,” said Daniel, bustling off with unusual purpose.

Baby set off eagerly in his festive finery, mad amber eyes aglow with excitement.

The boys bucked their way down the first field and enjoyed two hours of chasing uphill and down dale.

Baby puffed enthusiastically over a series of small logs while his brother leapt a variety of formidable fences.

As they crossed the finish line, Steve and Jenny were handed red, white and green Christmas rosettes. It was only Baby’s fourth rosette, and two of those were for effort. As Jenny proudly waved the ribbon, she dropped it in a puddle, forcing Steve to dismount and fish it out.

Ravenous Daniel shared Steve’s seasonal trail ride butty. “I’ve earned mi apple sors and stuffin’,” he said.