Your daughter’s birthday is in three months. All she talks about is horses and, more than anything, she wants a horse of her own. You’ve discussed with her that a horse is not in the immediate future. Between a torrent of tears and heartbreak, she pleaded, “Well, at least let me have a horse birthday party and invite all my friends.” So the two of you are planning an outrageously fabulous horse party.

Since you have 3 months before party time, here are some planning ideas.

Party stores (like I-Party, Sturbridge, MA) and online stores (like PonyPartyIdeas website) stock many horsy party goods, favors, piñatas, balloons and ideas. You certainly can use ready-to-go supplies and save yourself tons of work. If you decide on the prefab easy way, you’ll still need to write a To Do List to include party goods, invitations and the like. However, if you are adventuresome, creative and a workhorse, and if your child is really gallopin’ with ideas and wants to help with this project, here is the how-to for your “mane event.”

Planning Process:

Have fun with your child in brainstorming sessions. Together you will decide on the number of guests, create the list of attendees, develop a schedule of party fun events, and set your budget.

Depending on the type of horse birthday party you are planning, ask yourself few questions –

* Will you be playing horsy games?

* Will you visit a horse farm with your party guests? Car pool?

* Will you rent a pony or several ponies to give rides for an hour or two at your party?

* Will you rent and watch a horse video?

* Are you headed to a horse show with your party guests? Car pool?

* If your child rides at a stable, can you have a horse party there?

* If you can have a party at a stable, can the guests ride?

* Will the stable participate or help run the party?

* Can you take all guests and rent trail horses in your area? Car pool?

* How many guests, total, will attend the party?

* Will you give everyone a horse-type favor to take home?

* Have you set a budget?

These few questions barely initiate your thinking process but they will get the flow of ideas started. Write down any and all thoughts that come to mind until you believe you have enough ideas. Keep the brainstorming list handy, and for whenever a lightbulb turns on in your mind, add the additional thought. Let ideas simmer in your mind for a day; then red line and slash ideas, group thoughts into categories and prioritize them.

You now have the planning of the birthday party, date, guests and all basics worked out. At this point, it is a good idea to develop the theme of your birthday bash.

If your child is taking riding lessons, you could use a Saddle Club theme. Here are a few other possibilities:

* Blue Ribbon Party

* Cowgirl Party

* Horse Racing Party

* Kentucky Derby Party

* Barrel Racing Party

* I Love to Show Horses Party

* Save the Wild Mustangs Party

* Picture Me on the Pony Party

* We Love Horses Party

* We Are Horse Crazy Party

Once you and your child have agreed on the date of the party, number of guests, and the general basics, give yourself lots of time because horse partying is not only addictive, it is work intensive. You’re throwing the horse party of parties in Tolland & Windham Counties in Connecticut.

Oh well, the party planning was the fun part. Now for the creative stuff.

To be continued in Part II: Making Invitations for a horse birthday party