Healthy horse standing in pasture with environmental water conservation symbols, promoting sustainable horse keeping practices.
Perfect Gifts For your Horse And Human Friends
Festive horses wearing Christmas wreaths in snowy landscape.

If you’re reading this newsletter, you’re a horse person, right? And you know just how much muscle and hard work is involved in performing barn chores in the winter and keeping horses fit.

You and your friends, furry or otherwise, deserve a break! We thought we’d share a few of our top holiday-season gift ideas, for both horses and humans:

  • Lend a hand. Nothing is more appreciated during this time of year than a little break from cold, hand-numbing chores. A ‘gift certificate’ for a day-off of barn chores is easy on the pocketbook and a thoughtful way to show you care.
  • Give a gift of photography and art. Rarely do we take the time to “memorialize” our favorite friends by having them photographed or painted. A gift certificate from an artist is a great way to lift someone’s spirits and to help create more beauty in the world.
  • Give an experience. Whether it’s for yourself, your horse, or a friend, giving the gift of a horse-related experience can be a wonderful break from everyday routines. An ‘experience’ is environmentally friendly versus buying more “stuff,” and helps employ local horse businesses at the time of year when they need it most. Whether it’s a gift of a lesson, clinic, horse massage, people massage, or something more unique—experiences are appreciated by all!
  • Support your local economy. Giving a gift certificate to a local feed or tack store is always welcome and can come in handy.
  • Gloves, gloves, and more gloves. You can never have too many gloves (or long underwear for some of us). Hot Chili’s still remain one of our favorites for long underwear, and any glove that fits and is warm is always put to good use.
  • Homemade horse treats and boredom busters. Imagination is key, think outside the box and use fresh produce along with items you have on hand to make wonderful winter treats. Get a few ideas from our post Horses Get Winter Blues, Too.

Last, as always, our newsletter The Green Horse is free—feel free to suggest it to friends who may be interested in our blogs or in attending upcoming events. Sign up here.

Picture of Alayne Blickle
Alayne Blickle
Alayne Blickle is a lifelong equestrian, ranch riding competitor, and the creator and director of Horses for Clean Water. Well-known for her enthusiastic, down-to-earth approach, Blickle is an educator who has worked with horse and livestock owners since 1990, teaching manure composting, pasture management, mud and dust control, water conservation, chemical use reduction, fire preparedness, and wildlife enhancement.  Blickle and her husband raise and train their mustangs and quarter horses at their eco-sensitive guest ranch, Sweet Pepper Ranch, in sunny Nampa, Idaho.
Picture of Alayne Blickle
Alayne Blickle
Alayne Blickle is a lifelong equestrian, ranch riding competitor, and the creator and director of Horses for Clean Water. Well-known for her enthusiastic, down-to-earth approach, Blickle is an educator who has worked with horse and livestock owners since 1990, teaching manure composting, pasture management, mud and dust control, water conservation, chemical use reduction, fire preparedness, and wildlife enhancement.  Blickle and her husband raise and train their mustangs and quarter horses at their eco-sensitive guest ranch, Sweet Pepper Ranch, in sunny Nampa, Idaho.

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