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The best Christmas gifts for horse owners are the things they use at the barn every day: a hoof pick that clears packed snow, a good body brush, leather balm for the saddle, and gear that keeps hands and feet warm through winter chores, like heated socks, rechargeable hand warmers and winter riding gloves. For horse lovers who don’t own a horse, pick a horse ornament, a horseshoe necklace or a horse book. Leave saddles, bridles, helmets and treats to the owner: tack has to fit, and many horses are on a set diet.
I grew up on a small farm in the south of France where we kept two horses, a gray mare called Fleur and an old bay gelding who had pulled a cart in his youth. Winter there is short but sharp. Some mornings the water trough had a skin of ice that my father broke with a mallet before the sun was up, and I did the hay with fingers that had stopped working through thin cotton gloves. The Christmas gift I still remember is a pair of fleece-lined gloves from my grandmother. The horse-print scarf an aunt sent me every year went straight into a drawer. Horse people on Reddit’s r/Equestrian say the same thing every December: they want useful things, consumables they run out of and warm gear, not more horse-themed decorations. This guide starts there and ends with the horse-themed gifts that do get used.
Christmas gifts for horse owners at a glance
| Gift | Best for | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Hoof Pick | Packed winter hooves | Barn tool |
| Haas Diva Body Brush | Riders who have everything | Barn tool |
| Tough 1 Jelly Scrubber | Stockings | Barn tool |
| Effax Leather Balm | Anyone with a leather saddle | Tack care |
| Lexol Leather Cleaner Wipes | Quick wipe-downs after a ride | Tack care |
| ZUOYI Rechargeable Heated Socks | Cold feet at morning chores | Winter gear |
| UNIHAND Rechargeable Hand Warmers | Every barn person | Winter gear |
| SSG 10 Below Gloves | Winter riding | Winter gear |
| Muck Boot Women’s Arctic Sport II | Mud, snow and frozen paddocks | Winter gear |
| Coast XPH30R Headlamp | Chores in the dark | Winter gear |
| Stanley Classic 1.1 qt Bottle | Hot coffee at the barn | Winter gear |
| SHARPTEMP-V Veterinary Thermometer | Every first-aid kit | Horse health |
| Vetericyn Plus Wound Care Spray | Scrapes and nicks | Horse health |
| Dr. Kellon’s Guide to First Aid for Horses | The tack trunk | Horse health |
| Tapo C500 Outdoor Camera | Owners who keep horses at home | Big gift |
| Hallmark Warmblood Dream Horse Ornament | The family tree | Horse lover |
| RANDES Sterling Silver Horseshoe Necklace | Partners, moms, daughters | Horse lover |
| LaserGram Horse Head Tumbler | Barn days and road trips | Horse lover |
| Catalonia Horse Print Sherpa Throw | The couch after a cold ride | Horse lover |
| Imagery Horse Socks | Stockings | Horse lover |
| Bits and Pieces Horse Barn Christmas Puzzle | Christmas week at home | Horse lover |
| Horses in the Mist 2027 Wall Calendar | Painting fans | Horse lover |
| Personalized Horse Stall Name Plate | A personal gift for one horse | Personalized |
| The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity | History readers | Book |
| The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion | Science readers | Book |
| The Eighty-Dollar Champion | Show jumpers and underdog fans | Book |
| The Ride of Her Life | Trail riders and road-trip fans | Book |
| The Horse Encyclopedia | Breed lovers | Book |
| Breyer Black Beauty Horse and Book Set | Kids 8 and up | Kids |
| Schleich Horse Club Lakeside Country House and Stable | Kids 5 to 12 | Kids |
| My Book of Horses and Ponies | Kids 5 to 9 | Kids |
Barn tools horse owners use every day
A horse owner picks out four hooves at least once a day and grooms before every ride. The tools wear out, get lost in the arena sand and walk off with other boarders, so a second or a better one is never wasted. These gifts are safe if you know nothing about horses: none of them depend on the discipline, the breed or the size of the horse.
Best hoof pick
1. The Ultimate Hoof Pick
The Ultimate Hoof Pick has a following among riders. Its hook is shaped to dig out packed snow, frozen mud and gravel in one pull, and the long handle gives more pull than a standard pick. One barn owner on r/Equestrian wrote that she bought one for every boarder instead of engraved picks because it is faster and easier on cold days, then tied a strip of leather to each one and put it in a gift bag.
Buy two: one for the grooming tote and one for the trailer. It is the gift for a rider who owns six cheap hoof picks and none of them work well in January.
- Hooked pick that does not bend under pressure
- Ergonomic handle sized for a full grip
- Bright colors that stand out in a tote
Good: clears winter hooves fast. Not great: costs several times a basic pick, and the version sold here has few Amazon reviews.
Best luxury barn gift
2. Haas Diva Body Brush
Haas is a German brush maker that riders name whenever someone asks for “the thing they would never buy themselves”. Haas brushes came up twice in this season’s r/Equestrian gift threads. The Diva is a soft finishing brush: natural horsehair bristles in an oval wood back with a lambskin hand strap. It lifts dust and spreads the oil in the coat for shine after the curry and the dandy brush have done the heavy work.
It is a small object that costs more than a full grooming kit, which is exactly why it makes a good gift for someone who has everything.
- Natural horsehair bristles
- Lambskin hand strap
- About 200 x 85 mm
Good: the brush riders ask for and rarely buy. Not great: a finishing brush only; it will not shift caked mud.
Best under-the-tree filler
3. Tough 1 Rubber Jelly Scrubber
A jelly scrubber is a palm-sized rubber curry with soft nubs on one side and firmer ones on the other. It loosens dried mud and winter hair without scratching, and it doubles as a bath scrubber with shampoo in summer. Riders in the r/Equestrian thread on barn gifts listed it alongside socks and treats as a gift that always gets used.
- Soft side for the face and legs, firm side for muddy patches
- Works wet or dry
- Several colors
Good: inexpensive and loved by horses and owners alike. Not great: it is small and easy to lose in the tack box.
Tack care gifts
A leather saddle and bridle can last decades if they are cleaned and conditioned, and leather care is something riders run out of all year. On Sunday afternoons on our farm the saddle went on the back of a kitchen chair next to the stove, and my father and I worked through it with a sponge and a tin of glycerine soap while the radio played. Clean tack is safer tack: dry, cracked leather is what breaks at the stitching.
Check what the rider uses before buying a large tub of something new. Many riders are loyal to one brand. These two are safe picks because they are among the most widely used.
Best leather conditioner
4. Effax Leather Balm
Effax Leather Balm is a German leather conditioner stocked by most tack shops. It goes on a clean saddle with a sponge, soaks into dry leather and leaves a soft finish that does not make the seat slippery. Riders who already use it will be glad of a spare, and riders who don’t can try it without risk: it is safe on most smooth tack leather.
- 500 ml tub (150 ml and 50 ml sizes also sold)
- Conditions and protects smooth leather
- Used on saddles, bridles, boots and leather halters
Good: one of the most trusted names in tack care. Not great: not for suede or nubuck panels.
Best quick-clean gift
5. Lexol Leather Cleaner Quick Wipes
Most riders do not do a full saddle clean after every ride. A canister of pre-moistened wipes in the tack trunk handles the quick wipe-down: sweat off the flaps, mud off the bridle, dust off the boots. Lexol’s cleaner is pH-balanced for leather. “Leather wipes” were on one rider’s list of the gifts that are always popular at her barn.
- 25 pre-moistened cleaning wipes
- pH-balanced leather cleaner
- Safe on saddles, bridles, reins and riding boots
Good: fast and fits in a stocking. Not great: cleans only; follow with a conditioner every few weeks.
Warm gifts for winter barn chores
Horses still need feeding, water and turnout in a snowstorm, so a horse owner spends more time outside in December than almost anyone they know. The most popular answers in the r/Equestrian gift threads were warm ones: heated socks (“freaking amazing”, one rider wrote), hand warmers and insulated bottles. Gloves and boots are the two items here where size matters, so check the size chart and keep the gift receipt.
Best for cold feet
6. ZUOYI Rechargeable Heated Socks
Feet are the first thing to go cold when standing in a barn aisle or sitting on a horse in winter. These socks have heating elements across the whole sole and a rechargeable battery pack in a cuff pocket at the top. They come in two sizes and four heat levels, and the batteries come out so the socks can go in the wash.
- Full-sole heating with 4 heat levels
- Two rechargeable batteries, about 4 hours to charge
- Two sizes, M and L: check the size chart
Good: the warm gift riders rave about most. Not great: thicker than normal socks, so tight riding boots may not fit over them.
Best gift for every barn person
7. UNIHAND Rechargeable Hand Warmers, 2 Pack
A pair of rechargeable hand warmers fits in jacket pockets during chores and between rides at a winter show. These two can be used one in each pocket or clipped together into one palm-sized heater. They have three heat levels with a maximum of 130 °F and charge over USB, so the rider is not buying disposable packets all winter.
- Two warmers that combine into one
- 3 heat levels, up to 130 °F
- 6000 mAh total battery
Good: over 9,000 reviews and useful to anyone who works outside. Not great: needs remembering to charge the night before.
Best winter riding gloves
8. SSG 10 Below Gloves
SSG is a glove brand most riders know by name. The 10 Below is its cold-weather riding glove: waterproof and windproof shell, five layers of insulation including Thinsulate, and a grip that still lets the rider feel the reins. The fingertips work on a phone screen. They are thin enough for riding and warm enough for barn chores, which is the balance ordinary ski gloves miss.
- Waterproof and windproof
- Five insulation layers
- Touchscreen fingertips, machine washable
Good: made for riding, not just for keeping warm. Not great: glove sizing runs by hand measurement, so check the chart.
Best big gift
9. Muck Boot Women’s Arctic Sport II Tall Boot
Muck boots are the barn boot. The Arctic Sport II is the tall winter version: 5 mm neoprene with a fleece lining, a rubber shell that is waterproof to 16 inches, and a comfort rating from -40 °F to 40 °F. It handles a muddy paddock in March and a frozen one in January. A rider with old, cracked barn boots will wear these every day.
- 5 mm neoprene, fleece lined, waterproof
- Rated -40 °F to 40 °F
- 16-inch height, women’s last
Good: the most practical big gift for a horse owner. Not great: boot sizing matters, so check Muck’s size chart and keep the gift receipt.
Best for chores in the dark
10. Coast XPH30R Rechargeable Headlamp
In December, the morning feed and the evening check both happen in the dark, and many paddocks and run-in sheds have no lights. A headlamp leaves both hands free for buckets and gates. The Coast XPH30R twists from a wide beam for the stall to a long beam for the far end of the pasture, charges over USB-C and detaches from the strap to become a magnetic work light that sticks to a steel stall door.
- Up to 1200 lumens (turbo), 500 lumens on high
- Twist focus from flood to spot beam
- USB-C rechargeable, magnetic base
Good: bright and useful far beyond the barn. Not great: heavier than a basic headlamp at 4.4 oz.
Best for hot coffee at the barn
11. Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle, 1.1 qt
A thermos of hot coffee or tea at the barn is a small luxury on a cold morning. The Stanley Classic is the green steel bottle that has been on farms and job sites for decades. It keeps drinks hot for up to 24 hours, the cap doubles as a cup and the steel shell survives being dropped on concrete. “Insulated water bottles” were on the list of popular barn gifts in the r/Equestrian thread.
- 1.1 quart capacity
- Hot or cold up to 24 hours
- Cup lid, rust-proof 18/8 stainless steel
Good: tough and over 55,000 reviews. Not great: hand wash only.
Horse health and safety gifts
Every horse owner should have a first-aid kit at the barn, and many have one that is missing half its contents. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends that owners learn their own horse’s normal temperature, pulse and breathing rate, and puts a thermometer on its first-aid kit list. A healthy adult horse runs about 99 to 100.5 °F, and Extension advises calling the vet above 101 °F. These gifts help an owner know when a horse is sick and when to call.
Best first-aid gift
12. SHARPTEMP-V Veterinary Thermometer
A fever is often the first sign of colic, infection or a respiratory virus, and a vet will ask for the horse’s temperature on the first call. A human thermometer works but is slow and short. The SHARPTEMP-V has a 5-inch stainless steel probe with a rounded tip, reads in 8 to 10 seconds and beeps when it is done, which matters with a horse who does not want to stand still.
- Reads in 8 to 10 seconds, beeps when ready
- 5-inch stainless steel probe, rounded tip
- Reads 90 to 107 °F, Fahrenheit only
Good: fast enough to be practical with a horse. Not great: its 4.1-star rating is the lowest of the picks here.
Best wound care
13. Vetericyn Plus Horse Wound Care Spray
Horses find ways to scrape themselves on fences, trailers and each other. Vetericyn Plus is a hypochlorous spray used to flush and clean small cuts, scrapes and irritated skin. It does not sting, so a horse who dances away from other sprays will usually stand for it. It is a common item in barn first-aid kits.
- 16 oz trigger spray
- Hypochlorous formula, pH balanced and non-irritating
- For cuts, scrapes, sores and skin irritation
Good: gentle and widely used. Not great: for minor wounds only; deep cuts and punctures need a vet.
Best book for the tack trunk
14. Dr. Kellon’s Guide to First Aid for Horses
Written by veterinarian Eleanor Kellon, this spiral-bound guide covers the conditions that need fast action, from colic and choke to wounds, eye injuries and tying up. It is small enough to keep in the tack trunk, and the spiral binding lies flat while the owner works. It does not replace the vet. It helps an owner decide how urgent a problem is and what to do while waiting.
- 352 pages, spiral bound
- Organized by condition for quick lookup
- Pocket sized, about 4 x 7.5 inches
Good: written for the barn, not the bookshelf. Not great: dense text, few photos.
Best for horses kept at home
15. Tapo C500 Outdoor Pan/Tilt Camera
Owners who keep horses behind the house check on them from the kitchen window, and in winter they would rather check from bed. A pan-and-tilt camera mounted in the barn shows the stalls on a phone, sees up to 98 feet in the dark and can be turned to follow a horse around the stall. Two-way audio lets the owner talk to whoever is at the barn.
- 1080p, 360° pan and 130° tilt
- Night vision up to 98 ft
- Weatherproof, local SD card or cloud storage
Good: peace of mind during foaling season or a sick night. Not great: needs a power outlet and Wi-Fi that reaches the barn.
Christmas gifts for horse lovers
These are the gifts for the friend who loves horses, rides once a year on vacation or kept a Breyer collection into adulthood. They also work for owners, as long as the horse theme is subtle. Riders in the gift threads said they don’t want baskets of cheap horse-themed odds and ends, so every gift here does a job: keeps a drink hot, keeps someone warm or hangs on the tree every year.
Best Christmas ornament
16. Hallmark Keepsake Warmblood Dream Horse Ornament (2026)
Hallmark’s Dream Horse ornaments are a yearly series, and many horse lovers collect one every Christmas. The 2026 ornament is a warmblood in glossy brown with a black mane and tail, sculpted by Hallmark artist Debra Nielsen. It arrives in a gift box marked with the year, so it works as a first ornament for a new rider or the next in a collection.
- About 4.25 x 3.5 inches
- Dated 2026, comes in a gift box
- Part of the yearly Dream Horse series
Good: a gift that comes out every December. Not great: plastic, not porcelain or glass.
Best jewelry
17. RANDES Sterling Silver Horseshoe Necklace
A horseshoe pendant is the classic piece of horse jewelry, and it is subtle enough for people who don’t wear animal designs. This one is sterling silver with rhodium plating and a row of channel-set cubic zirconia, hung open-end up, the way a horseshoe is hung to keep its luck. It is a good gift for a partner, a daughter who rides or a friend you are riding with for the first year.
- 925 sterling silver, rhodium plated
- Cubic zirconia stones
- 18-inch rope chain with lobster clasp
Good: easy to wear every day, hypoallergenic. Not great: too sparkly for riders who prefer plain silver.
Best drinkware
18. LaserGram Horse Head Tumbler, 20 oz
This 20 oz steel tumbler has an engraved horse head on a rustic faux-leather wrap and a sipping lid. It is double-wall vacuum insulated, keeping coffee hot for about 8 hours and water cold for 24, which makes it as useful at a horse show as at a desk. It is a horse-themed gift that the owner will use rather than store.
- 20 oz, double-wall vacuum insulated
- Hot up to 8 hours, cold up to 24
- Sipping lid
Good: horse-themed without looking cheap. Not great: 20 oz is small for riders who want a full day of water.
Best cozy gift
19. Catalonia Horse Print Sherpa Throw Blanket
After a cold afternoon at the barn, a throw on the couch is where every rider ends up. This Catalonia blanket has a horse print on one side and fluffy sherpa on the other, measures 60 by 50 inches and goes in the washing machine on cold. It comes in several prints, from galloping horses to farmhouse designs.
- 50 x 60 inches
- Reversible: horse print and sherpa
- Machine washable, many prints
Good: soft and warm, with over 1,000 reviews. Not great: synthetic fleece holds dog and horse hair.
Best stocking stuffer for horse lovers
20. Imagery Horse Socks for Women
“I love fun socks” was the most upvoted answer in one r/Equestrian thread about gifts for horse people. These crew socks are a combed cotton blend with galloping horses on a pale blue background and a seamless toe. They fit women’s shoe sizes 4 to 10.
- 65% cotton, 35% spandex
- Seamless toe
- Women’s shoe sizes 4 to 10
Good: cheap, cheerful and always welcome. Not great: too thin for winter riding boots.
Best for Christmas week
21. Bits and Pieces Horse Barn Christmas 1000-Piece Puzzle
This 1000-piece puzzle shows four horses looking out of a snow-covered barn decorated for Christmas, painted by Russell Cobane. It measures 20 by 27 inches when finished. Bits and Pieces cuts every piece differently, so no two pieces fit in the same place, which saves arguments at the family table between Christmas and New Year.
- 1000 pieces, 20 x 27 inches finished
- Random cut: no false fits
- Recycled cardboard with thick backing
Good: a horse gift the whole family can share. Not great: a Christmas scene, so it comes out once a year.
Best calendar
22. Horses in the Mist 2027 Wall Calendar
Persis Clayton Weirs paints horses in soft, misty landscapes, and her Lang calendar has been a horse-lover favorite for years. A wall calendar is a gift that hangs in the kitchen or the tack room for twelve months. This one measures 13.4 by 24 inches open.
- 12 paintings by Persis Clayton Weirs
- 13.4 x 24 inches open
- Fits standard Lang calendar frames
Good: a full year of horse art for little money. Not great: only useful for 2027.
Best personalized gift
23. LHS Engraving Personalized Horse Stall Name Plate
A stall plate with the horse’s name is a personal gift that costs very little. This one is engraved to order in Denver in a choice of colors, and it is UV-protected plastic that does not rust or fade outside. The buyer picks the mounting: adhesive, holes for screws or a hanging cord. Barns that swap boarders often appreciate the hanging option.
- 2 x 8 inches, engraved to order
- UV-protected, weatherproof plastic
- Adhesive, screw holes or hanging mount
Good: personal, with dozens of color options. Not great: allow extra shipping time for engraving before Christmas.
Books for horse lovers
A good horse book suits owners and fans alike. These five cover history, science, true stories and breeds.
Best history book
24. The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity
Historian Timothy Winegard tells the story of the last 6,000 years through the horse: the steppe peoples who first rode, the cavalry that built and broke empires, the horse-drawn cities of the 1800s and the horses that pulled artillery in the First World War. It is a long book that reads fast, written for general readers.
- By Timothy C. Winegard
- Hardcover, 544 pages
- Published by Dutton
Good: a big, readable history. Not great: more about humans than horse care.
Best science book
25. The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
Science writer Wendy Williams follows the horse from its 56-million-year-old ancestor the size of a fox to the wild horses of today, with chapters on how horses see, think and live in herds. It is the book for a rider who wants to understand why their horse does what it does.
- By Wendy Williams
- Paperback, 320 pages
- Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Good: evolution and behavior in one readable book. Not great: more science than horse care.
Best true story
26. The Eighty-Dollar Champion
In 1956, riding instructor Harry de Leyer bought a gray plow horse for 80 dollars off a truck headed for the slaughterhouse. Two years later Snowman was a show jumping champion at Madison Square Garden. Elizabeth Letts’s bestseller tells the whole story, and it is the book horse people press on non-horse friends.
- By Elizabeth Letts
- Paperback, 368 pages
- A young readers’ edition is also sold
Good: a feel-good story that horse people and non-riders both love. Not great: light on technical riding detail.
Best for trail riders
27. The Ride of Her Life
Also by Elizabeth Letts. In 1954, 63-year-old Annie Wilkins was told she had two years to live, so she rode a horse named Tarzan from Maine to California with her dog. The book follows her across a country that was just starting to build interstates. It has over 10,000 reviews on Amazon.
- By Elizabeth Letts
- Paperback, 336 pages
- True story, 1954 to 1955
Good: a perfect pick for older riders. Not great: a slow, reflective story, not an action book.
Best reference book
28. The Horse Encyclopedia
DK’s Horse Encyclopedia profiles more than 150 breeds with large color photos, from Arabians to Shires to rare native ponies, with sections on horse history, anatomy and behavior. It is a heavy coffee-table book, and a good one to leave out where visitors can browse it.
- By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
- Hardcover, 360 pages
- Over 150 breeds
Good: the standard illustrated breed reference. Not great: big and heavy; not one to carry to the barn.
Christmas gifts for kids who love horses
Many horse lovers start as a child with a model horse and a horse book. These three gifts suit different ages.
Best for kids 8 and up
29. Breyer Classics Black Beauty Horse and Book Set
Breyer model horses have been on Christmas lists since the 1950s. This set pairs a 1:12 scale model of Black Beauty with a paperback of Anna Sewell’s novel, the story of a horse from a quiet farm to the streets of 19th-century London. It suits a child who is ready for a chapter book; the model is rated for ages 4 and up and the book for 8 and up.
- 1:12 scale Classics model
- Softcover book, 186 pages
- Book suits ages 8 and up
Good: a classic story and a classic toy together. Not great: the model is a smaller Classics scale, not the larger Traditional size.
Best big kids gift
30. Schleich Horse Club Lakeside Country House and Stable
Schleich’s Horse Club line is the playset many children ask for by name. The Lakeside Country House set has 192 pieces: a house, a stable with opening doors, horses, riders and the gear to groom, feed and tack up. It connects with other Horse Club sets, so it can grow with birthdays.
- 192 pieces, with horses and rider figures
- Ages 5 to 12
- About 22 x 15 inches assembled
Good: hours of play, durable figures. Not great: large and costly; needs floor or table space.
Best book for young kids
31. My Book of Horses and Ponies
A fact-filled DK picture book for ages 5 to 9, with breeds, colors and markings, how horses live, and what a horse needs every day. It is a good companion to a model horse, and a good first book for a child who has just started riding lessons.
- 96 pages, hardcover
- Reading age 5 to 9
- Photo-led, short text
Good: clear, accurate and well illustrated. Not great: older kids will outgrow it fast.
Gifts you can’t buy on Amazon
- A riding lesson or a clinic. A lesson with a trainer the rider admires, or a spot in a weekend clinic, is the gift many riders want and never book for themselves. Ask the barn for a gift certificate.
- A photo session with their horse. Most owners have hundreds of phone photos of their horse and none of themselves with it. Equine photographers work in most areas.
- A portrait of their horse. Commissioned paintings and drawings from a photo are popular on Etsy. Order by early December; most artists close commissions for Christmas well before.
- A gift card to their tack shop or feed store. Riders are particular about brands and colors, which is why a coffee or tack shop gift card is “always a hit”, in the words of one rider.
- Time. Offer to do a morning feed or a stall clean so the owner can sleep in on Christmas Day.
Gifts to skip
- Saddles, bridles, bits and saddle pads. Tack has to fit the horse and match the rider’s discipline, and many riders have strong color and brand preferences.
- Riding helmets. A helmet has to be fitted to the rider’s head, and riders should replace it after any fall with a head impact, because the foam liner crushes and does not recover. Penn State Extension recommends an ASTM/SEI-approved riding helmet and replacing it after five years even without a fall. If you want to give a helmet, give a tack shop gift card and let the rider get fitted.
- Horse treats, unless you ask first. Many horses are on low-sugar diets for insulin resistance or a history of laminitis. My father had one rule for visitors at Christmas: ask before you feed anything. The owner knows what is safe. If treats get the go-ahead, our Christmas gifts for horses guide lists low-sugar options.
- Generic horse-print knickknacks. Riders on r/Equestrian say they would rather get one useful thing than a basket of horse-themed odds and ends.
- A horse. A horse needs board, feed, a farrier and a vet every year for 25 to 30 years, as our horse years calculator explains. The ASPCA supports pets as gifts only when the person has asked for the animal and is ready to care for it.
How to choose a gift for a horse owner
Ask where the horse lives. An owner who keeps horses at home does every chore every day and gets the most use from warm gear, a headlamp and a barn camera. A boarder has fewer chores but more grooming and tack care.
Ask how they ride. English riders (dressage, jumping, eventing) and Western riders use different saddles, gloves and boots. Grooming tools, hoof picks, first aid and winter gear work for both, which is why they make up most of this list.
Look at what they run out of. Riders in the gift threads suggested consumables: leather care, detangler, fly spray in summer and hoof products. A spare of something they already use is a safe gift.
Buy for the rider, not the horse. Gifts for the person are easier to get right than gifts for the horse, which depend on its size, diet and health.
Shopping for more animal people? See our Christmas gifts for dog lovers, Christmas gifts for cat lovers and the rest of our buying guides.
FAQ
What do you get a horse owner for Christmas?
Something they use every day at the barn: a good hoof pick such as the Ultimate Hoof Pick, a Haas body brush, leather balm for the saddle, or warm gear for winter chores like heated socks, rechargeable hand warmers and winter riding gloves.
What is a good gift for a horse lover who doesn’t own a horse?
A Hallmark Dream Horse ornament, a sterling silver horseshoe necklace, a horse book such as The Eighty-Dollar Champion, a horse calendar or a riding lesson with a local trainer.
What are good stocking stuffers for horse owners?
The Ultimate Hoof Pick, a rubber jelly scrubber, leather cleaning wipes, horse socks or a pair of rechargeable hand warmers. All of them fit in a stocking and all get used.
What do horse girls want for Christmas?
Most riders want useful barn gear in their own favorite colors and brands, warm winter clothing, and time or money for riding: a lesson, a clinic or a tack shop gift card. Fun horse socks and jewelry are popular small gifts.
Should I buy a riding helmet as a gift?
Only with the rider there to be fitted. A helmet must fit the rider’s head, carry ASTM/SEI certification for riding and be replaced after a fall. A tack shop gift card is the safer choice.
Can I give horse treats as a Christmas gift?
Ask the owner first. Many horses are on low-sugar diets for insulin resistance or laminitis, and owners are particular about what their horses eat. If treats are fine, buy the brand the owner already uses.
What is a good Christmas gift for a horse trainer or barn owner?
Something for the barn that tends to go missing, such as scissors, hoof picks and grooming brushes, or a personal gift like a Stanley bottle, heated socks or a tack shop gift card. Group gifts from all the boarders work well for bigger items like a barn camera.
Is a horse a good Christmas gift?
No, unless the person asked for that horse and has board, care and money arranged. Horses live 25 to 30 years and need board, feed, farrier and vet care for all of them.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension. Basic horse first aid and preparing for emergencies.
- Penn State Extension. How Hard Is Your Head?
- ASPCA. Position Statement on Pets as Gifts.
- r/Equestrian. Christmas Gift Ideas.
- r/Equestrian. Gift ideas for Horsey People.
- r/Equestrian. Gift inspiration asked.
- r/Equestrian. Gift Ideas.
