Wassailing the Ponies '24-'25

A wassailing ‘hug’ from Bowthorne Matty and Willowtrail Mountain Honey. photo courtesy Jackie Gericke

As the calendar turns the page during the darkest part of the year, I have a ritual I call ‘Wassailing the Ponies.’ I have been doing it in some form for nearly two decades. It is my way of recognizing the important part of my life that my ponies are and thank them for their presence here, since I know they have choices to be elsewhere. I express gratitude to them throughout the year, but during the wassailing, I am more intentional.

Each year, wassailing is different because my herd is always changing, the weather is always different, and where the ponies are at the time that I wassail them varies. This year, all the ponies were in the paddocks at the barn, and we had bright morning sun which made picture taking challenging but logistics easier.

This year’s gingerbread pony cookies were once again gluten-free, this time with the primary ingredients oat flour and avocado.

One frequent part of the wassailing celebration is partaking of gingerbread pony cookies after we are done. We enjoyed them, despite my gluten-free improvisations!

I am very grateful to my friend Jackie Gericke for participating in the wassailing for the ’24-’25 season. She was also primary photographer, capturing the great images you see here!

Wassailing my stallion Globetrotter Moth. Photo courtesy Jackie Gericke.

This time the camera’s on photographer Jackie with Bracklinn Phoebe.

On the left is Drybarrows Imperial; herd dynamics made it challenging to get to this pony on the bottom of the pecking order! At right are Willowtrail Wild Rose and her daughter Willowtrail Lettie, with Willowtrail Spring Maiden looking on and my canine companion Scotty Springs Taptika hoping for a dropped apple! Photos courtesy Jackie Gericke.

© Jenifer Morrissey, 2025