DD has been riding with the same trainer for 10+ years and will soon be heading to college. Would like to get trainer a special gift to show our appreciation for being such a fabulous teacher, mentor and friend to our daughter. Any recommendations?
I often get commissioned to do custom stained glass panels of trainers and their horses for presents. visit www.equiglas.com for some ideas if you are interested
There are a lot of neat personalized ideas out there right now. My biz does custom hand painted grooming brushes/brush boxes you can do trainer’s logo… I know lots of other business do unique gifts with vinyl decals. Wooden saddle stands, tack trunks, etc.
I’ve been the lucky recipient of some really nice trainer gifts, but the ones that make me smile every time are the handmade items. Stained glass among them, funny enough!
A book? My Amazon wishlist has zillions of horse books on it! For that matter, an Amazon gift card. 
When my kids left for college we gave their trainer a framed collage as a present. It showed pictures of the kids throughout the years. Showed them growing up and some of their sucesses they got with the trainer
Maybe embossed spur straps or gloves from Personally Preppy or a company like that… it’s unique and can’t be stolen 
I gave my coaches embroidered saddle pads for Christmas one year. They loved them, and still use them on a frequent basis.
Personalized stuff is all nice, but to me that doesn’t say “going off to college, thanks for the years of support.” That seems like more of an anytime gift. I think the idea of a photo collage or even one of those nice coffee table photo books you can get at Snapfish etc. would be really thoughtful. When my former trainer retired, someone put one together-- scanning really old photos and mementos for the book. The trainer cried when she got it
Also a really heartfelt, detailed, written (handwritten) card/note describing what the trainer meant to your daughter would be a stellar finishing touch.
It’s hard to say without knowing more about the trainer - do they need/want things for the barn or their business? What’s their home decor. A photo collage or album showing the years together in pictures is lovely.
I love the photo book idea, especially if you have been with them for a long time. Those sites also have other personalized things like calendars- which someone gave my trainer for Christmas a couple years ago and she loved it.
A pencil sketch of trainers horse. Check out Facebook Shannon’s sketches they r nice
I work as an independent contractor (not in the horse industry) and I have to say, something like a heartfelt note and an Amazon or Visa gift card, even if not for a huge amount would be most welcome.
Depending on your financial means, something genuinely needed for the barn/ business I’m sure would be lovely.
Another idea is the gift card with a painting of the trainer’s favorite horse (from a photograph). BTW–if that is something you’d be interested in, PM me because a friend of mine is a professional artist who has done a number of commissioned paintings of horses.
[QUOTE=Impractical Horsewoman;8113353]
Another idea is the gift card with a painting of the trainer’s favorite horse (from a photograph). BTW–if that is something you’d be interested in, PM me because a friend of mine is a professional artist who has done a number of commissioned paintings of horses.[/QUOTE]
I had a portrait commissioned by Debbie Goldring in Canada. She does beautiful work and coincidentally also does notecards with a photo of the portrait on them. They make beautiful gifts.
Depending on your budget… Years ago we bought then-trainer a then-totally-on-trend hunt coat. It was something I liked and thought someone else might like, too. I didn’t really think about how appropriate it really was.
She wore it a ton. And, all these years later I think I understand better: When you’re a working horse pro, there’s not always a lot of cash for pretty things when the classic old coat will do just fine. For a long time after she would send a text or tag on FB when she wore it.
If a coat isn’t in the budget, maybe a splurge shirt or absurdly spendy gloves?
One of my favorite items, personally, is a bridle with a dear friend’s nameplate across the crown. I miss her a ton and I love being reminded of her daily. Maybe a nice bridle, even for schooling, with a sweet messgage where the name plate would be?
But personally I’m not one for dustcatchers and love functional gifts, especially with some heart.
[QUOTE=Meany;8113624]
Depending on your budget… Years ago we bought then-trainer a then-totally-on-trend hunt coat. It was something I liked and thought someone else might like, too. I didn’t really think about how appropriate it really was.
She wore it a ton. And, all these years later I think I understand better: When you’re a working horse pro, there’s not always a lot of cash for pretty things when the classic old coat will do just fine. For a long time after she would send a text or tag on FB when she wore it.
If a coat isn’t in the budget, maybe a splurge shirt or absurdly spendy gloves?
One of my favorite items, personally, is a bridle with a dear friend’s nameplate across the crown. I miss her a ton and I love being reminded of her daily. Maybe a nice bridle, even for schooling, with a sweet messgage where the name plate would be?
But personally I’m not one for dustcatchers and love functional gifts, especially with some heart.[/QUOTE]
Just to add to this: when I was a WS (and also worked corporate full time and didn’t own a horse) I came to the barn with my brand new TS Trophy hunter breeches and was SO proud of them because my trainer really cared about turnout. And then I realized that it make her feel bad because she has been beating the hell out of her faded, old TS low rise side zips and really envied me. I couldn’t afford to get her breeches but as a random gift I gave her a really beautiful ribbon belt I bought for myself since I bought two. She was beyond thrilled and wore it very often to teach.
We get our trainer a really nice photo book on Shutterfly (hard binding etc. I could send the link if you wanted to see it). Extra pages, beautifully done about $125. Other ideas are one of those custom made brush boxes.
What about a lovely framed shadowbox? You could gather a few photos of your daughter with trainer, her horse, etc., some special ribbons, and a couple treasured items (maybe a letter?) and put it together for the trainer. I usually go for the more material gifts for my trainer at Christmas and birthdays, etc., but this particular situation calls for something more personal IMO.
Examples:
http://www.velvetrider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ribbon-shadow-box.jpg
http://www.flaxartandframe.com/site/pics/640/121515/409754/560625/DSC_0152.JPG
If your trainer shows, maybe there is something they would love to have for their setup at shows? An extra set of drapes or maybe some beautiful stall or halter plates. It’s functional and something they’ll use for a very long time.
[QUOTE=541hunter;8114520]
What about a lovely framed shadowbox? You could gather a few photos of your daughter with trainer, her horse, etc., some special ribbons, and a couple treasured items (maybe a letter?) and put it together for the trainer. I usually go for the more material gifts for my trainer at Christmas and birthdays, etc., but this particular situation calls for something more personal IMO.
Examples:
http://www.velvetrider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ribbon-shadow-box.jpg
http://www.flaxartandframe.com/site/pics/640/121515/409754/560625/DSC_0152.JPG[/QUOTE]
Those are SO NICE
