Horse Illustrated Magazine

Raquel Lynn helps you become the host with the most for the holiday season using these helpful tips and chic accessories with a horse theme.

Stirrup Tray

You can never have enough serving trays or platters, especially for easy appetizers, cheese boards and individual desserts. The stirrup tray is a splurge-worthy lifetime piece.

DIY: If you want the look for less, consider arranging a pair of vintage irons in a similar fashion around a platter of your choice. Secondhand tack shops, eBay and local Facebook groups are a great place to search for well-loved tack to be repurposed around the home.
$192.00; stylishequestrian.com

Horse Napkin Jewels

‘Tis the season for entertaining and showing off your equestrian style. Add the perfect amount of glam to your table with these 24k gold-plated napkin holders. Your guests will love this whimsical and elegant horse design. These are a splurge-worthy table accessory you can cherish every time you host a party.

Décor Tip: Add pops of gold, silver or copper to elevate and add interest to your table. Decorate your table with old (clean!) horse bits, spurs and horseshoes to add more metal and a touch of elegance.
$195.00; bloomingdales.com

Horse Glass Ice Bucket

This timeless ice bucket with hand-cast equestrian pewter details by Vagabond House is ready to chill your favorite bottle of wine or champagne. An ice bucket this beautiful is truly a work of art.

DIY: Make a cocktail station by putting out a large punch bowl with a few bottles of chilled champagne, sprigs of rosemary, mint leaves and slices of citrus (bonus points for blood orange slices). Batch drinks and self-serve cocktail stations save you time and keeps guests entertained making creative drinks. Set up a cute bar area with a small table or use an existing bar cart from your home. Set out a few cocktail recipes (virgin and original versions) and wrap the table or cart with garland for a festive touch.
$319.00; wildlifewonders.com

Julie Wear Cheval Black Luncheon Plate

This chic luncheon plate features a sleek twist on snaffle bits with gold accents against a black background. They are hand-painted on porcelain and made in the United States; also available in brown.

Hostess Tip: Create individual name tags and plan the seating arrangements before your guests arrive. This makes sitting down to eat simple. Be mindful and sit guests where they will be comfortable.
$68.00; shopwhitedogwood.com

Horse Bit Appetizer Board

This simple wooden appetizer board features a single horse bit on the end. It’s perfect for a cheese board.

Cheese Board Tips: Putting together a great cheese board doesn’t have to be expensive; it just needs an assortment of small bites that complement one another. Try a minimum of three different cheeses, an assortment of meats, bread and/or crackers, nuts, fruits or jam, olives, and a savory spread (bruschetta, olive tapenade). Dried fruit, pickles, assorted chocolates and honey are also great additions to a cheese board.
$97.00; farmhousetack.com

Horse Figural Serving Set

Serve up savory side dishes with these pretty horse-head serving utensils. They are handcrafted in sand-cast aluminum by Arthur Court for durability that’s made to last. Pass these around the table for family-style serving that your guests are guaranteed to notice.
$52.00; arthurcourt.com

Highland Fox Hunt Cotton Napkins

Try a set of fox hunt cotton napkins and placemats for the ultimate matching look. Cloth napkins are environmentally friendly, easy to wash, and can be enjoyed year after year.

Style Tip: Arrange the table with red flowers and pine boughs or another greenery to bring out the red and green in these napkins. If you are adding candles for ambience, be sure to use unscented candles at the table; an overly sweet candle can ruin the dining experience.
$49.95; horseandhound.com

Highland Fox Hunt Placemats

Say “tally ho” with these vibrant red, white and green placemats displaying a familiar fox hunt scene. They appropriately feature Christmas colors to help create a festive place setting. A tablecloth can sometimes look too formal, and is risky if you have young kids running around—they pull down very easily. This is where placemats step in to class up the table.
$49.95; horseandhound.com

This article about horse holiday entertaining appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!