Your ultimate guide to the perfect gift for your horse enthusiast this year.
Jump to:
- Best gifts for horse lovers
- For the horse person who has everything
- Best horse books
- Practical gifts
- For horse girls
- Horse tack gifts
- Gifts for horses
I will let you in on a secret: this list is sort of my wish list, combined with the best gifts I’ve ever received.
I think I’m a very typical horse lover (who also has her own horse at home), so there should be inspiration in this gift guide for just about every horse-loving friend.
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Best gifts for horse lovers
1. Hydration (or libation) with style
This glass with a lid is unique and beautiful. It can be used for water or any beverage to hydrate on the go or at home.
2. Horse riding helmet
Helmets need to be replaced fairly often. If your favorite equestrian was honest, it’s probably been too long since they replaced theirs. Especially if they’ve had a fall in it.
3. Equestrian spa gift set
Like this one or create your own. You can include things like a candle, hand cream, epsom salt (handy for a bath after a fall or a tough ride. Also handy for soaking hoof abscesses!) or bath salt.
4. Horse head catchall tray
I love catchall trays. They make it so easy to keep a home tidy and beautiful (creating a beautiful and restful home is one of my callings). This tray is lovely for any style home!
5. Nice leather riding gloves
If your favorite horse lover goes to horse shows, they will truly appreciate a really nice pair of gloves to show in. If not, a nice pair of gloves to protect the fingers while riding or handling their horse is still really important. I wear gloves every time I ride, and I go through pair after pair, if I don’t have really quality leather ones.
6. Barn tote bag
If your barn is not at your home, you need a stylish way to carry your things there. Enter one of these beautiful tote bags specifically for the barn.
7. Personalized tack holder hook
I would really love these tack holder hooks, since I have my horses and a couple boarder horses in one small barn. This is a lovely way to organize everybody’s tack so there’s no guessing what belongs to whom. No grabbing the pony’s halter for The Bay (does not fit!) by mistake.
8. Cowboy hat
If the horse lover on your list is a cowboy hat wearer, you’ll know. And if they are, it’ll be the ideal gift. I’m a sunhat wearer myself (I’d pick this Groundwork Sunhat), so I’ll defer to this list of the best cowboy hats to be sure you pick a good one.
9. Beautiful embroidered greeting card
Like these from my friend Linh’s Etsy shop. Ok, so it’s not a horse-related gift per se, but I can’t think of a more beautiful vector to deliver an offer of barn help or hold a gift card. They are legitimately frame-worthy (I have some framed in my house).
10. Auto tracking camera system
A real splurge gift. Every horse rider I know wants a movement tracking system to video their own rides and lessons. Some that work well for equestrians are Pivo, Pixio/Move N’ See, Soloshot, and Mevo.
11. Entry fees to a horse show
If your horse person shows, paying some entry fees can be a very thoughtful gift. Showing online can also be really fun, and cheaper than away shows. Dressage Show Online has gift cards for their classic dressage, therapeutic rider, and Western dressage monthly shows.
Equestrian gifts for the horse person who has it all
12. Horse wine set
Wine lovers will love this matching set of horse-etched wine glasses, chiller, and tray.
13. Personalized small saddle bag
This little cell phone holder for your saddle is so pretty and convenient!
14. Custom tea towel
This hand towel is so stylish, and a home can never really have too many tea towels.
15. Gift card
Gift cards are always the perfect fit for a horse lover who has everything!
Best horse books
16. The Ultimate Book of Horse Bits
This is the best horse reference book I’ve ever come across. It has in-depth information about how every bit works, and why they have certain affects on horses. Including hackamores and bitless bridles. I think everyone who handles horses should read it.
17. My Horses My Teachers
This book is an interesting read for horse lovers who also love history. It gives a personal perspective of dressage at the Spanish Riding School and the famous Lipizzaners, from a man who became the director there during and after World War II.
18. Centered Riding
This book changed my riding. It is a classic, full of mental imagery to help riders use their bodies to the best possible advantage.
19. Riding Through
An interesting read. The personal story of Debbie McDonald, a US medalist in dressage. The book also includes helpful guidance for practicing dressage.
20. Horse Brain Human Brain
This book is on my reading list, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. I have heard it is a must-read full of lightbulb moments about how horses think and how we can understand them better.
21. Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband
A fun and interesting book by Justing Long, husband of “the most famous horse doctor in all of podcasting”, Erica Lacher of the podcast Straight from the Horse Doctor’s Mouth. This one is also still on my reading list, I can’t wait to start it.
22. Never Trust a Sneaky Pony
Another one I can’t wait to read! Real-life stories of treating all kinds of horse ailments by Madison Seamans, DVM.
Practical gifts
23. Winter riding gloves
So valuable to anyone who rides in cold weather! The SSG 10 Below Winter Gloves are my pick. You can find out why in my full review here.
24. Winter riding boots
Equally as crucial as quality gloves for cold weather riding. The Ariat Extreme Waterproof Insulated Tall boots keep my feet toasty on cold days.
25. Fleece helmet cover
Last winter I was a little embarrassed to discover these for the first time. I’ve been riding in winter in Michigan for so many years, trying to keep my ears warm doing crazy things. I won’t even mention the things I tried wearing on my head under my helmet to see if it would fit and cover my ears. Just get your loved one a fleece helmet cover and their ears will thank you.
26. Time with a horse trainer for their horse
This can be a very thoughtful gift if your horse lover has a horse that could use a tune-up or some new skills.
27. New muck boots
I’m a fan of both the Itasca River Boots (read my full review of them here), and the Ridgecut Farmsteader boots.
28. Horseback riding lessons
Whether the horse person on your list is working their way up the levels, wanting to try a new horse sport, or has never actually been on a horse before, lessons are a great way to show you care!
29. Access to an online equestrian learning course
I got myself the Stacy Westfall Resourceful Rider program for Christmas this year. I just started going through the videos and attending her live Zoom calls. I’m already really impressed with the depth and breadth of resources included in one place. And, her way of teaching and explaining things is a really great fit for me.
Ride IQ is another popular training app I’ve heard great things about.
30. Clippers
A nice pair of clippers would be a great surprise splurge gift! Horse owners that clip their horses really like to have nice clippers.
31. Leather conditioner
A great stocking stuffer, leather conditioner is always needed. Bonus brownie points if you offer to help clean tack.
32. Fly spray
Another sure-fire stocking stuffer. People with horses can never get enough fly spray.
33. Shampoo/conditioner
You can choose a luxury horse shampoo like this one for a perfect horse gift stocking stuffer.
34. Cold-weather/ wet-weather riding coat
I have one from Outback Trading Company. I think the one I have, the Singleton Jacket, is discontinued. But I’m sure every one of their jackets are the same when it comes to durability, waterproofness, and style (I always get comments on how good my jacket looks).
35. Hand cream
Being outside in the weather and doing horse things can really dry your hands out. Hand cream is a great bet.
36. Vet wrap bandaging tape
A nice little stocking stuffer, you never seem to have any when you need it. It’s so useful for so many things.
37. Horse first aid kit
You can make your own or buy this ready-made one.
38. A day or two of barn chores
Believe me, there are no breaks for someone who has a horse at home. And we do like to do other things, sometimes. But horses eat and poop. So even if you just clean a stall or pick the paddock, that time and energy is a great gift to horse owners.
Gifts for horse girls of all ages
39. Lip balm
Such a cute little stocking stuffer!
40. Sterling silver horse jewelry
You can’t go wrong with a little bling for a horse girl (of any age).
41. Horse necklace
I’m in love with this unique necklace, since they have lots of different breed options. I’m proud of my Thoroughbred (but sometimes wish she was a Quarter Horse), so it’d be really cool to show off that breed specificity.
42. Horse bracelet
This monogram one is so dainty and has a wear-with-everything vibe that I really like.
Want unique gifts for horse-loving kids? click here.
Horse tack gifts
43. Saddle pads
Saddle pads make great gifts because you don’t have to get the perfect fit and it’s fun to use different ones on different rides, matching them to your outfit or leg wraps.
44. Leg wraps
Leg wraps can be given as a matched set with a saddle pad or by themselves. They’re sure to be appreciated.
45. Sparkly browband or blingy headstall
These things are easy to fit and fun to collect. Dressage riders like to have different sparkly browbands, and Western riders sometimes like to switch up different fun headstalls.
46. Halter
A horse can never really have too many halters. They can wear out, or sometimes get lost in the field. And they just don’t look that good after awhile. If you’re taking your horse somewhere, you want one that looks good. So a brand new one is a great horse gift.
47. Saddle fitting
This gift is at least as much for the horse as for the rider. Many horse people don’t get their saddles professionally fitted because of the cost of a saddle fitter consultation, plus any work they need to do on the saddle. Get your horse person a saddle fitting. Their horse will love you.
Horse gifts (Gifts for horses – best horse treats)
The horse riders on your list will be happy you thought of their horses too with these, the best horse treats I know of:
48. Outlast supplement treats
A wise choice for horse guts, and they taste good too!
49. Probios Probiotic horse treats
These bring a boost for the all-important microbiome.
50. Kelcie’s Pumpkin Spice horse treats
One of my boarder horses flips for these treats. Her owner always, always has a bag at the barn.
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