Head to Christmas at the Stables for a meaningful time at EQUAL’s annual outreach and fundraiser event from 5 to 8 December 2024. EQUAL is a charity organisation that helps care for the horses that provides animal-assisted work for beneficiaries. It offers equine-assisted therapy or animal-assisted programmes that support the well-being of people in need.
Christmas at the Stables is a rare opportunity to gain access to EQUAL, get up close with the horses, participate in fun activities, donate to a good cause and get to know the team behind EQUAL.
What to Expect at Christmas At the Stables
Get your tickets – with standard entry including stable tours where you meet 15 horses, 6 of which are miniature horses that the kids will love to pet.
The herd of horses are either retired race horses, polo horses, rescued or rehomed. You can also enjoy tractor rides, horse-themed games, craft workshops and a Christmas Market featuring pop-ups by well-known local brands.
The event is also an opportunity to give back to a good cause with ticket sales and event proceeds keeping EQUAL’s animal assisted programmes accessible for beneficiaries and providing the best care for animal partners.
EQUAL Stable Tour
We went on the EQUAL stable tour where we could meet all the horses and learn more about what they consume, how to tell their moods and so on.
Since we visited after the horses’ lunchtime, the horses were calm and a tad sleepy. This gave us the opportunity to stroke them (on the sides on their faces) and seeing their adorable, drowsy expressions.
Everyone has an opportunity to complete the worksheet and answer all questions to get a unique horse sticker.
Our exuberant guides taught us about horse body language, when to approach them, how to tell they are interested or upset. We also learnt about what the horses are fed – and got to smell the different kinds of feeds.
Since horses are such naturally calm creatures, they are excellent in helping beneficiaries stay calm and even practise breathing techniques with.
Meet- & -Greet the Horses
This was probably our favourite part of visiting EQUAL. You can get the meet-and-greet and show-and-tell add-ons on the spot when you enter EQUAL.
Visitors with a meet and greet ticket can choose to meet a miniature horse or a horse.
We learnt more about their horse body language, and also how to stroke them and hug them. Kids might find the miniature horses a lot more approachable since they are about the same height as a preschooler.
It was such a priceless experience interacting with the horses. Stroking them seemed to take away all the stresses of life away.
For an even more in-depth and hands-on experience to understand how EQUAL cares for these horses, who in turn provide care and healing for those in need, there are “Behind-the-Stables Experiences” to walk with the horses, brush their manes, pick their hooves and even feed them.
Other Highlights at Christmas at the Stables
Since it’s the season of giving, there are plenty of gifting and giving opportunities at EQUAL’s Christmas at the Stable.
Shop at the Christmas market where there are stalls manned by child-preneurs, talented artists. You can also find well-loved local brands such as City Sprouts, Rough Beauty at the market. Plus supporting the stores at the market mean you are contributing to EQUAL as the brands are pledging their proceeds to EQUAL’s cause as well.
EQUAL will also be launching a series of postcards and sticker sets during Christmas at the Stables, featuring artwork by 15 artists including Anngee Neo, Puffingmuffin, OAK & BINDI and In Warm Regard. Each artist had illustrated one of EQUAL’s horses in their own style, and these collectibles be available for a limited time only.
Grab a bite at the food stalls serving familiar cuisine that are very popular – bagels, pies, ice-cream, snacks. You might recognise many of the homegrown brands including Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique, Common Man Coffee Roasters, Brotherbird Bakehouse, Quan Shui Wet Market.
Something the kids might gravitate to is the tractor ride! Here’s a rare opportunity to ride behind the tractor. Other highlights include art workshops involving old horseshoes, recycled and nature-based materials, live performances and`x horse-themed games.
If you find the Christmas lights on the grounds familiar, the EQUAL stable and grounds are lit up with repurposed Christmas lights from Orchard Road!
Support EQUAL’s programmes
EQUAL’s herd of horses help to provide animal-assisted programmes for a wide range of beneficiaries. Their programmes include “Horseibilities”, a programme that builds resilience, confidence and socio-emotional life skills in children and youths, “Horses by Your Side”, an initiative where their miniature horses visit and bring joy and comfort to bed-bound seniors in nursing homes, as well as “At Home with Horses”, an equine-assisted programme for children with adverse childhood experiences, including those in children’s homes and institutions.
Get Your Tickets to Christmas at the Stables
Limited tickets are available via Klook.
Ticket sales and event proceeds directly support EQUAL’s mission to keep their programmes affordable and accessible to more people in need, while ensuring the best care for their animal partners.
Those unable to attend Christmas at the Stables may still extend their support by making a Christmas donation via giving.sg. These gifts will help EQUAL to reach more beneficiaries in need with their animal-assisted programmes.
When: Till 8 December 2024, 10 am to 7 pm
Where: EQUAL, 100 Jalan Mashhor, S299177
Admission: Standard entry + stable tour: $30, meet-and-greet or show-and-tell add-on: $10 (purchase add-ons when entering EQUAL)
Group entry + stable tour: $100
Behind-the-Stables Experience + stable tour: $100
