What are you getting your barn friends for Christmas? Just looking for some ideas.
Depends on how good of friends you are with them - my barn manager and trainer I generally give them a gift card to a restaurant - I like the ones that have several restaurants on them… and a bottle of wine or something. Not very creative but I figure both would enjoy a night out with their non-horse SO’s. I was at one barn where the owner put up stockings on all the horse stalls and everyone would put a little something in everyone’s stocking - which was a fun idea and kept things pretty simple - like hand or foot warmer packets, chapstick, sunscreen etc. That sort of thing works in a smaller barn.
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I don’t have “barn friends” because I keep my horses at home and have no time to be social…lol. BUT…if I HAD barn friends…
Spray glycerine saddle soap (so convenient!)
Nice hand/body/foot cream
Good lip balm
A tack-sized natural sponge
Wool-blend socks (good for any season!)
Really good sunscreen
A nice double-insulated steel water bottle (love TAL from Walmart…better than Swell, Yeti, etc…but inexpensive!)
Nice hand soap
An Epona Ulta-Mitt (love these)
Happy shopping!
Here are a few items that I’ve gotten this year and other years for my barn fam:
–tiger tongue
–WEG socks and tote (when Dover had them on super sale, I scooped up a few items for myself and friends!)
–saddle pads
–leather cleaner
–gift cards to tack shops or Starbucks, etc
I did a holiday gift guide on my blog with items from small businesses, including some really adorable handmade items at a great price point from etsy sellers. Personally, I love the idea of custom ornaments to look like everyone’s horses- shockingly affordable too! Hope that helps!
https://hunkyhanoverian.com/allthingshorse/2018-equestrian-holiday-gift-guide/
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Someone more ambitious than me may be able to find an old thread that lists the many talented COTHers who have shops or otherwise make gifts.
One example comes to mind is HollyHorse Crafts. She makes totes, saddlepads, wine bottle totes. A great gift that wouldn’t break the bank are her horsie notecards.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=ms.c.eJw90NkNAyAMA9CNqtzH~%3BotVjXE~%3Bn2xIoMTTo7JqPcY~BYd7iabQLWI1GvRcHvXccue7ab~~_DJ3X96UHuT~_PwEob~_txn6pf3Jr2XG712~_fD~_rcuV8xd9ff0U9HvpgJvGvsJcFXbmgz6tfu~%3B3oPGf3D91z~%3Bb2Sbv3yTI3zE~%3BOt0JfaZzne9IVLjpg7uNz~%3Bu8feveH0H7zm~%3BcH9hX7Akm0afk~-.bps.a.603534616693486&type=3
If you are handy with a small paintbrush, pickup a breyer horse at the store/goodwill/yard sale and paint it to match the horse that your friend has. It might collect a bit of dust, but will remind them of good horses and good friends.
