Plan a spectacular birthday party your little horse fanatic will love with our Pony Party Ideas! Read on for general party planning tips as well as great pony-themed decorating, food, game, and activity suggestions.
Party Planning
For peace of mind, begin planning 6 - 8 weeks in advance to allow time to purchase and mail invitations, as well as to give your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase attendance.
To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, take a look at our When & Where to Have the Party page, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.
What Do I Need for the Party?
If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be helpful when placing an order. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.
Decorating & Food Ideas
Fun Ideas To Set The Mood
- If you are hosting an outdoor party, go to a local farm and get a few bales of hay to use as decorations or seats.
- If the party is indoors, make stirrups from construction paper, and attach them to the backs of the party table chairs.
- Cut horseshoe and cowboy hat shapes out of construction paper, and hang them on the walls throughout the party area.
- Line the walls with "fences" made with cardboard "planks," scissors or an X-Acto knife, a marker, and packing tape.
- Decorate with cornstalks, if they're available.
- Rent a saddle and a riding helmet from a tack shop. Set the saddle on a bale of hay, and have your partygoers take turns wearing the helmet and sitting on the saddle while you take their pictures. Send copies of the pictures out with your thank you notes as fun party keepsakes.
Saddle Snacks
When it comes to food, partygoers are usually perfectly content to eat pizza or hotdogs, which is certainly much easier on the hosts! However, if you have the time and would like to serve some pony-themed snacks, consider these ideas:- Serve your guests little piles of "straw" (i.e. French fries). Thinly-cut fries will have the best effect.
- Give each child an apple. Instruct them to try to eat their apples like horses would—that is, without hands!
- Set up a Chuck Wagon, and serve Sloppy Joes, chili, or grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. Set out condiments and/or sandwich toppings along one side of the counter, and let your guests customize their meals.
- Bake Horseshoe Biscuits by shaping biscuit dough into horseshoe shapes. For ease, use pre-made dough from the refrigerator section of your local grocery store.
- Make S'mores by melting marshmallows and chocolate bars in between graham crackers.
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