At first guess, it seems like it would be pretty easy to shop for a horse lover. Just pick out some decor, a household product or an item of clothing with a horse on it, right? Maybe, maybe not. Most horse lovers are pretty discretionary. They’ve got their favorite breeds, they’ve got their favorite equestrian styles and disciplines, and they’ve already got all the tack, how-to books and riding gear they need. Shopping for a person like that is a challenge; you don’t want to buy a race-horse themed throw if they’re really only into dressage, or a book that helps them overcome a problem they already know how to deal with. And chances are if you’ve known that horse-loving person for a while and you do know all the ins and outs of her hobby, you’d really like to find something usual, something that will actually be a welcome surprise when it’s opened.
Here’s a short list of ideas to get you started:
If your budget allows, consider commissioning a portrait of your horse lover’s favorite horse. Choose a photograph of her first horse or a favorite photo of her and her horse in action, and send it to an artist who specializes in animal portraits. Sometimes these artists commission their work on eBay, or you could try searching the directory at the Equine Art Guild (www.equineartguild.com/equine-artists-directory.php). If you choose a skilled artist, this kind of gift is almost guaranteed to be a welcome surprise.
If you have a smaller budget, The Little Book of Horse Poop (www.littlebookofhorsepoop.com) is a really unique gift with a small price-tag. If your horse lover maintains her own barn/pasture, she’s dealing with mountains of horse manure on a daily basis. This humorous book is filled with trivia, horse poop history and tips for dealing with horse manure, and is a gift that is sure to make your horse-lover’s day.
If you have the time and a little bit of artistic skill, try making your favorite equestrian a horse-themed scrapbook. If she competes, make copies of any articles that mention her wins, and include plenty of photographs. Choose pictures that show her showing her horse as well as pictures of her at work at the barn, or just interacting with her favorite equines and equestrian friends. If you’re not the crafty type, you can sometimes commission these kinds of scrapbook albums, or you can buy scrapbooks that are predesigned (check your local craft or scrapbooking store). You can also use traditional photo albums (choose an archival, acid-free product with slip-in pages).
In general, “unique” is a safe bet whenever purchasing any gift, so if none of these gift ideas appeal to you just try searching eBay for “horse” or Googling “unique horse gift” and see what you come up with. The internet has given us a lot of buying options, and some clever searching is sure to reveal a gift idea that is just right for your favorite equestrian.
