Holiday Ideas?

As a Barn owner.. What do you do? What were your flops?

As a Boarder? ... What does your barn do? or wish they would do? Also.. Do you expect a "gift" from your barn owner?

Party, gifts, exchanges, at the barn.. or at a resturant? Please put the size of your barn with your ideas or thoughts...

Years ago when I was a teenager I had a pony that I kept at livery, we did a 'secret Santa' thing where everyone drew someone's name out of a hat and had to buy that person a present... I can't for the life of me remember if we gave the yard owner or her family a present!

I've been riding at the yard I'm at now for at least 10 years and I usually give them a box of chocolates or tin of sweets, which I will probably do this year (my first as a livery) I never see any of the other livery owners at the yard so I've no idea what they do about gifts...

I have been at my barn for approx. 4 years and each year we have had a "barn holiday party" at either the barn owners home or another boarders home.
All family members are invited and each family makes a covered dish to share.
Several weeks before the party we exchange names and do a secret santa exchange at the party too.

I board at a pretty small barn it is a co-op barn where everyone pitches in with feeding , stall cleaning , hay , repairs etc...and there are about 15 ppl who belong to the barn i. e. horse owners , share boarders or just extra hands that like the barn and to help out.
In the past I have always bought each horse owner a horse ornament or something else horse related as a small token of friendship. Sometimes I also make each horse a " treat bag" and leave it for the owner of the horse.
Due to money constraints this year I do not know if I will be able to do that this year but I will think of something fun for my friends at the barn.
One the thing that the barn owner does is hang horse related Xmas cards on each stall tied with ribbon. I love that idea , I think it brings a festive feel to the barn during the cold winter months : )
Hope this helps you some and I cant wait to hear what other members do for the holidays ..

Our barn has a little schooling show - flat/equitation classes and some hunter/jumpers - just for fun and then after the show we set up a big potluck dinner in the indoor for everyone. We exchange gifts (usually we all pool together and buy the barn owner something nice), and spend the evening together.