This gift requires some work, but like a previous poster mentioned…if the horse wears shoes how about making a frame out of his horse shoes with a picture of them in it? My dad (who loves to weld things) did this for my childhood best friend and she still displays it in her house, years after she sold her mare. Not sure if you know a welder, and of course this one takes more time and effort, but it is indeed special.
One of our own COTH posters (spacytracy) makes horsehair jewelry and made this piece for me. She used snippets of tail in the resin piece - it wouldn’t take very much hair to have one made for the special girl. She used green for the resin since my mare’s colors were hunter and black.
Thanks all! She’s showing him this weekend so I’ll talk to her parents then and see what they think.
I wish I could give her a full week with him, but since he’s for sale, the logistics of that would be tricky. She will absolutely get a handwritten note.
I do have a couple of his older shoes but those are already re-purposed.
Spacytracy–I’ll pm you.
ERollison is the COTHer who makes AWESOME custom horse head ornaments. Another great idea–especially as I think she probably does already have a ton of pictures.
His shoes were just reset. I have a couple of old ones, but they’ve already been repurposed.
I’ll let you know what we decide on. And if I get any great pics this weekend of the two of them, I’ll be sure to share per COTH bylaws. 
Very nice of you, I’m going outside the box and say look for a Breyer horse maybe that looks like your guy. There are so many models of just different breeds if your guy is a pretty standard color type you can get her one that could be him. I know my dd that is 12 lovesssssss her Breyer models! If you can’t find one a nice picture from the show in a frame with maybe their names on it would be nice also.
I don’t know how into the whole horse thing this girl is, and whether it is likely that she will continue with it, but when I was 10 I was doing ballet and riding on the side 2 days a week. I rode this great old hunter horse for a few years, and his owners (a couple who had other event/trail horses) gave me a set of 4 gorgeous polos (keenland wraps, super high quality and long lasting). I used them on him, and then put them away when I no longer rode him. (I rode other horses in lessons, worked up to half-leases, and then eventually bought my own horse). Now I use those polos on my mare. After all these years they look great, and every time I wrap I think of old Trev. He’s long gone now, but seeing the polos always makes me smile because they bring memories of him.
Something like that would be awesome if you think she’ll continue riding. Otherwise I would go with the picture in a frame with an engraved plate (Dover has them for fairly reasonable prices, I believe) and sign it “From (horsename)”.
I vote for the bracelet because I’ve seen so many girls wear them and proudly talk about the names on them. Also, it’s hard to lug a frame to school every day, whereas the bracelet goes anywhere.
The bracelets are always a hit, but one other thing I found that the kids (and adults too!) love is personalized clothing.
I’ve done fleece jackets/pullovers/polo shirts with their name on one side and their favorite horse’s show name (above a jumping horse/head silhouette, etc.) embroidered on the other side.
It’s actually pretty affordable if you get the jacket/shirt/whatever at Old Navy or Target and then use a local embroidery shop. We have one in the mall that only charges about $15 to embroider anything you bring in.
Every time I’ve done this as a gift the kids have LOVED it and everyone else wanted one too. 
My DD and I had the same experience albeit with a different ending. The owner did show up one day and was very appreciative of what we had done for her horse (including buying blankets!). Then a few months later, she moved him to a barn closer to her home (she was also expecting). My DD was crushed but kept in touch and 6 months later, she let us know she could not keep him. He is now ours!!
Anyway, the Christmas before, I had decided to do “Monets”… I bought canvas, big fat paint brush and finger paints. Both her mare and the gelding painted for her. Then I clipped a piece of tail, made a little bow with a ribbon and glued it on the canvas. She loved it! the mare was much more willing to “paint” than the gelding! Both “paintings” are in her front hallway!
In my kitchen I have a plain unadorned horse shoe from a horse I used to ride when I was 12 at camp.
I’m in my 40s, have two almost adult children, have been married and divorced, have had many careers and didn’t sit on a horse at all for years and years as an adult.
Through all my moves and life changes that horse shoe has always been “displayed” in my homes.
I like them because they are so indestructible and a very physical memoir of a relationship. I don’t have any shoes from horses that I have owned as an adult but that one hit a sentimental chord for me.
So even if you don’t have one available now I’d get one from the next farrier appointment to give her. Otherwise I think the bracelet is a good idea.
“but when I was 10 I was doing ballet and riding on the side 2 days a week.”
I just happened upon this thread and read it quickly as Bluebuckets being 101 years old, doing ballet & riding ! :lol: :lol: :lol:
No offense there, BB, obviously. It make me laugh so I’m passing it on. :winkgrin:
Best update ever!!
The leaser’s parents decided that Leslie needed Gus and we were able to come up with terms that worked for both of us. Tonight I meet them to sign the bill of sale. My heart horse has found his heart human and I’m so happy for them. There will be some tears shed, but this will mean I still get to see him and will likely still be his retirement home after he takes her up the levels until she goes off to college.
We usually say “This It Be Right” in conjunction with sending one over the bridge, but it’s equally apt here. Thank you to all who chimed in with ideas.
That is wonderful!
Best. Update. EVER!!!
That’s awesome, what a perfect solution for all involved.
Must. Post. Pictures.
So happy for her!! Dang, it’s dusty here at work . . .
Yay! What a lucky girl!
That is lovely!
Yes, an update like that does require photos.
That is wonderfull!
Now you get to have the horse hair bracelet made for you!
Congrats! What a wonderful updated - so great that your horse will have such a kind and loving new owner
