Gifting your trainer, fellow boarders and horse friends with useful, unique or thoughtful gifts is often one of the most rewarding aspects of the holiday season. After all, our barn families are an integral part of our horse lives, so it’s always nice to show them a little extra appreciation.

This year, we’ve pulled together a manageable list of utilitarian, creative, splurge-worthy—and budget-friendly—gift ideas, including unique stocking stuffers and DIY presents. Whether you’re searching for special gifts for the dressage riders in your life or need to give your loved ones some less-than-subtle hints about what you want from Santa this year, our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide will provide plenty of inspiration for everyone on your list!

For the Dressage Diva

Elevate your winter schooling style with the KL Select Taylor Riding Vest. Perfect for layering during the changing seasons, the vest features diamond quilting, contrasting faux-leather piping and four-way stretch side panels, and its sleek, tailored fit is flattering while also allowing for freedom of movement. Available in black with cognac piping, navy with black piping and black with black-patent piping.

Crafted out of supple Italian leather, the KL Select Elite Dressage Bridle features the brand’s signature peaches-and-cream crystal browband, elegant cognac piping and stainless-steel hardware. The anatomic, liberally padded crownpiece is contoured behind the ears and was specifically designed for comfort and dispersion of poll pressure. The bridle’s flash crank noseband measures 1 ½ inches and narrows to 1 inch on each side for recess to prevent bit interference and allow for clearer rein aids. Additionally, the bridle includes hook-stud fittings on the ½-inch cheek pieces and a roller buckle on the adjustable noseband. klselect.com

A Perfect Match

This new-for-fall (and winter) 2025 ThinLine x Sixteen Cypress Dressage Field Plaid Pad in autumn tones pairs ThinLine’s shock-absorbing, non-slip, shimmable half pads with the sophisticated style and design of Sixteen Cypress’ signature pads. Designed for performance and longevity, the pad features a durable leatherette binding, breathable sport mesh interior for enhanced airflow and an anatomically contoured spine for clearance and freedom of movement. thinlineglobal.com

Safety in Style

The new ASTM- and SEI-certified Tipperary Caledon MIPS Helmet, available in an understated matte black or a high-gloss trim topped with sparkle accents, is designed out of a high-density shell for impact resistance and features the newest helmet technology with its Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS). Strategically placed vents channel front-to-back airflow to help keep riders cool, and the Tipperary Retention System™ locks in a precise fit for additional security and comfort. The helmet is lightweight, features a low-profile design and includes a removeable, washable liner. tipperaryequestrian.com

For the Tyke Rider: Make Learning Easy

Specifically engineered for young riders, the Arena Children’s All Purpose Saddle features a specially engineered seat shape designed to work with growing bodies instead of against them. With an innovative positioning of the stirrup bars and a tree created for youth riders, the saddle helps beginners find a natural, secure position to make fundamentals like posting trot and steering easier. arenasaddles.us

Great Grays for Winter Days

With fabrics inspired by elegant houndstooth and herringbone patterns, LeMieux’s Aspen Collection blends sophisticated style and technical performance for luxe looks in the schooling ring.

Designed out of a herringbone quilting pattern, the LeMieux Aspen Dressage Saddle Pad features a friction-free binding for a smooth, flat profile, and its eco-friendly, bamboo-blend lining is sweat-wicking and naturally antibacterial. The pad also includes LeMieux’s signature girth defense to protect the fabric from your boots and spurs and ensure its longevity.

Match your horse’s look with the LeMieux Ladies Aspen Herringbone Long-Sleeve Base Layer. With its sharp lines; black quarter zip; cuff accents; soft, thermal knit fabric and handy thumbholes, this top is perfect for layering on colder days or wearing solo in milder weather. lemieux.com

For Your Horse: Essential-Oil Spa Day

Treat your well-deserving equine partner to a spa day with The Infused Equestrian’s essential oil-infused grooming products. Seeking non-toxic, chemical-free formulas for their own horses, this family-owned operation started with organic fly spray and has grown to include a wide range of essential-oil offerings tailored for both horse and rider to help calm, focus and restore natural balance.

Free from sulfates, silicones, dyes, alcohol and parabens, their Splash Intensifying Shampoo is formulated with coconut and palm oil, oatmeal and aloe to help lock in moisture for hydrated, itch-free skin and a silky, shiny coat and works to simultaneously condition, deodorize and detangle.

Specifically designed without silicones, the Shiny Mane & Tail Conditioner is formulated with 100% pure, therapeutic essential oils, including coconut oil, rosemary, cedarwood and clove. Old-school shine sprays were effective at pumping up shine, but they were loaded with silicones; these compounds repel water, reduce the hairs’ moisture content and make protein bonds in hair less stable and more prone to breakage. This spray’s unique combination of natural ingredients deeply conditions and nourishes mane and tail hair and serves double duty as a mane, tail and coat shine enhancer without those harmful silicones.

The Pedi Hoof Conditioner is also formulated with natural ingredients including olive oil, balsam fir, juniper, carrot seed and tea tree oil and helps prevent dry, brittle hooves; cracks; thrush and bacterial buildup. The conditioner works to moisturize and nourish hoof tissues and was designed to allow your horse’s hooves to breathe while also supporting heathy growth and natural strength. theinfusedequestrian.com

For the Equestrian Entertainer

Whether you’re toasting a win or other noteworthy success or you’re ready to relax after a long day at the barn, Foxheart’s stemless Barn Cups add a touch of equestrian elegance to your barware. Made out of shatterproof stainless steel, the cups are durable and feature unique engraved and enameled designs representing dressage, show jumping, cross country and fox hunting. You can choose your discipline of choice or mix and match. foxheart.us

Timeless Equestrian Style

This elegant, equestrian-themed line of Salta (Spanish for “jump”) Light Sweaters by 70° in collaboration with Ellany is designed out of an ideal blend of super-soft lyocell/nylon, viscose and poly yarn blend and pair perfectly with breeches for after-barn errands or to show off your equestrian flair on the town or at work. These easy-fit, washable sweaters feature a jumping-horse silhouette, crew neck and oversized cuffs and come in a variety of colors including sky and mint, camel and orange zest, mint and pink, olive and black metallic, snow and rose metallic and black and silver carbon metallic. Also available in “Warmblood.” 70degreeslife.com

Versatile Elegance

Crafted from eco-tanned, buffalo leather, Horseware’s Micklem Multi Bridle can be used as a traditional bridle, bitless bridle, longe cavesson or head collar and offers an elegant and versatile option compared to traditional bridles. This innovative piece of tack was anatomically designed to avoid five key facial pressure points to promote better breathing and clearer communication for a more relaxed horse. The contoured headpiece relieves poll pressure and allows full ear clearance, while the shaped noseband sits higher to protect the nasal bone and reduce facial nerve interference. The crownpiece, browband and noseband feature soft-touch padding, and the noseband’s center D-ring allows for secure and comfortable longeing. Plus, its solid brass hardware creates a polished look. horseware.com

Good Reads

“Finding Purpose: A Life Managing the Passion, Compulsion, and Borderline Addiction Called Horses”: In her debut memoir, dressage rider and Mustang advocate Chelsea Canedy talks about how horses pulled her through self-doubt and the pressures of performance to serve as a guiding compass in navigating her career, family and life. Blending raw personal stories with lessons from her decade-long meditation practice and career studying equine behavior, she reflects on resilience, identity and the joy of choosing a life built on passion. trafalgarbooks.com

“Luna’s wildness was still very much intact, and watching her navigate the human world all alone broke my heart. She was so genuine in her reactions to me and to everything around her. She hadn’t asked to be there, without her herd or her freedom. She hadn’t had a choice, and even though I knew she was better off with me than in so many other situations she might have landed in, I could not help but cry for her fate.”

“Centerline Love”: Cuddle up by the fire with this new, dressage-based romance novel by J.C. Malik. Dressage trainer June Tarlin is training a young horse with Grand-Prix potential, and they’re on the cusp of having the stars line up for their best ride ever. But suddenly, she finds her world upside down when she encounters Preston James. Preston—a rock‑star‑handsome, work‑first‑always, no‑ties‑ever kind of guy—who never breaks his rules or brakes for anyone. But this time, he hits pause and stops—for her. Is it circumstance or love that keeps him from moving on and starts the pursuit of more than just a girl after a horse? amazon.com

For the Cookie Monsters—Naughty & Nice

Tribute Equine Nutrition takes a fun twist on their holiday-themed treats this year with Lumps of Coal: Horse Treats for the Naughty Pony. While they resemble coal lumps, these treats are soft and chewy, 100% soy-free and are made out of ground oats, molasses, alfalfa and natural flavoring for a yummy taste your horse will love. tributeequinenutrition.com

Pretty in Pink

Stand out in the training ring with PS of Sweden’s Rose Quilt Dressage Saddle Pad. Fusing elegance with functionality, the pad is anatomically designed to optimize your horse’s comfort while also featuring the brand’s signature style with its satin, quilted-rose pattern. Stop cushions prevent the pad from sliding and its quick-drying and moisture-wicking inner fabric helps keep your horse’s back cool and dry. Also available in vanilla. Fun feature: As a tribute to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the pad’s iconic PS of Sweden spine quote read J’aime—“I love” in French. psofsweden.com/us

Puff Piece

Stay warm and cozy this winter with LeMieux’s luxurious, soft-touch Aspen Puffer Jacket. Featuring a detachable hood and detachable faux-fur trim, the jacket’s outer material is water-resistant and its sustainable DuPont fill makes this jacket not only warmer than traditional down, but also lighter. Zip vents under the arms provide breathability as needed and the coat’s form-flattering shape and two-way zip offer freedom of movement. Plus, soft-stretch cuffs with thumbholes and fleece-lined pockets make the jacket extra warm and cozy on cold days. lemieux.com

Smart Packers

Designed out of a high-quality, lightweight material with water- and stain-repellent properties, Huntley’s Grand Prix Deluxe Backpack is the perfect carryall for equestrians on the go. Elegant and practical, this backpack contains multiple zippered pockets to keep smaller items organized and includes a large compartment for bigger items like your tall boots, helmet or extra clothes. Versatile and travel-friendly, this backpack is equally durable with an extra layer of construction to prevent tearing. huntleyequestrian.com

Foxy Fun

Keep your horse entertained with Foxheart’s adorable Fox Horse Toy. With its cotton rope, outer leather material and cotton jute and coconut fiber stuffing, this fun stall toy is super durable and will give your bored horse something to play with, which can help reduce stress and make him overall happier. At 17-inches tall, this fox can also serve double duty for an equestrian-themed sofa or chair pillow for your den or barn office. foxheart.us

Cinch It Up

Top of your equestrian style with these super fun Stirrup and Snaffle Bit Elastic Belts by Huston x Ellany. The sophisticated look, flexible construction and fully adjustable design make these belts perfect for equestrians of all shapes and sizes and prevents buckle bulge and gaps in the back of your breeches. They’re available in rainbow of classic and bold colors and patterns and you can choose between rose-gold, gold, gunmetal or silver stirrup or snaffle bit clasp; one size fits most at 24 to 65 inches. hustonxellany.com

Cream of the Crop

Kerrits Double-Up Reversible Crop Vest offers two sporty looks—one side features a smooth, water-resistant canvas with corduroy details in castiron-brown, while the other is designed out of a cozy, sherpa fleece. The vest’s 140-gram, poly-loft fill provides core warmth, and it features a front-flip collar, adjustable draw-cord waist and dual-side pockets. kerrits.com

Smooth Operator

Featuring advanced Brushless Motor technology for a longer life span and reduced maintenance, the Harmony Plus Clippers provide consistent, smooth power for both professional grooms and horse owners. The pre-tension, snap-on wide blade options deliver faster coverage, and a variety of interchangeable blades provide precision for all coat types and clipping styles. Cordless, easy to use and exceptionally quiet, the clippers are also ideal for nervous or young horses. liveryman-equine.com

Bright Transitions

Shine bright in low light and transition into cooler weather with Kerrits Thermo Tech 2.0 Reflective Riding Tights and Quilted Vest. The lightweight winter tights feature a brushed interior lining for warmth, four-way stretch with light compression and a high-rise waistband with power-mesh lining. The insulated, mid-weight vest includes quilted front and back panels to help regulate core warmth and a wind- and water-repellent exterior. Plus, both feature Kerrits’ playful “Happy Herds” reflective print and piping to boost your visibility during lower-light rides at dawn and dusk. kerrits.com

STOCKING STUFFERS

Keeping It Fresh

Confession from this PH editor: I’ve owned helmets with removeable, washable liners for years—maybe decades—and am not sure if I’ve ever washed one. For others who often forget this important task, The Infused Equestrian’s Noggin Helmet Spray is formulated with ingredients like lemon peel, citronella leaf, lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood and tea tree leaf that work to eliminate bacteria, sweat and germs, as well as neutralize odors. As a bonus, the cedarwood in the spray helps support healthy hair growth. While the spray was originally designed for helmets, it’s also handy for boots, gloves, air vests and other horse gear. theinfusedequestrian.com

Bar Bliss

Formulated with natural ingredients like cocoa and shea butter to deeply moisturize and nourish your horse’s skin, coat, mane and tail, the Bex Bar Barn Buddy Shampoo from Kensington is a handy, portable and eco-friendly option compared to traditional shampoo and conditioner bottles. Super easy to use, simply wet and lather like you would a normal bar of soap, then rinse. Each bar lasts for approximately 12 to 15 horse baths, depending on your horse’s size and how dirty he is, and they’re also safe for use on people and dogs. Available in bergamot breeze, citrus splash and eucalyptus rain. Designed out of sustainable bamboo, the Bex Bar Shampoo Barn Storage Box (sold separately) keeps the bar dry and fresh between uses, preventing premature dissolving and ensuring maximum longevity. kensingtonproducts.com

Tidy Tresses

The innovative Ellsworth Hairnet, designed by Bethany Lee of My Equestrian Style, includes a traditional opening around the forehead but also feature an elastic hole at the back that acts as a hair tie and hairnet all in one to eliminate the dreaded blob. If you’re one of the few riders who haven’t yet discovered these gems, Lee’s Ellsworth Hairnets are sold at wide range of equestrian retailers. They come in packs of two and are available in auburn, dark brown, medium brown, warm blonde, platinum blonde and black. ellsworthofficial.com

Made to Stand Out

These ManeJane Spur Straps from Dreamers & Schemers with custom-made charms combine classic luxury leather with fun options to show off your unique personality. At 18 inches long, the straps are designed to ensure a smooth fit with your spurs and remain securely positioned. Handcrafted from premium black leather with a non-stretch interior to help the straps maintain their shape, each pair features a stainless steel buckle, two keepers and your MaryJane charm of choice for a signature look—that’s not only fun, but will also ensure you never mix up your straps with a fellow barn friend. From funny animal faces, fruit, wine glasses, ribbons, stars to dumpster fires, holiday themes, hearts, flowers and insects, you’ll be sure to find the perfect charm to reflect your unique self and style. dreamersnschemers.com

Trailblazing Ties

The Safe-T-Ties from Kensington provide a safer and more efficient method for tying your horse than traditional ties with an adjustable setting and the ability to release at 300 pounds of pressure. The five adjustable settings allow you to customize the release pressure based on your horse and the situation. These handy ties can be used anywhere—on the wash rack, barn cross-ties, in the trailer, for use with a quick release knot or directly to your horse’s halter and lead rope. Portable and reusable, these ties are game changes in the event your horse panics or spooks. Available in packs of two, these ties come in a variety of colors including black, dark blue, hunter green, purple and turquoise, so you can choose your favorite hue or match your barn colors. kensingtonproducts.com

DIY GIFTS FROM THE HEART

Framed Tack Art

Simple to create, these subtle equine accents add elegance to any room while dually serving to preserve the memory of a special horse. All sizes and shapes of bits make for interesting displays; other unique framing options include a beloved horse’s shoe—replete with pits and scratches incurred during enjoyable rides—or an engraved halter cheek-piece plate.

Supplies:

• Item to frame.
• Burlap fabric (Pre-wrapped burlap panels from craft stores also work well, or you can purchase burlap pieces separately and wrap around a sturdy piece of cardboard, securing it to the back with a hot glue or other adhesive.)
• Frame (Recycled or vintage frames add a unique touch, but you can also use inexpensive faux-wood frames. Or, if you happen to have old braided reins you no longer use, you can attach with glue to create a custom equestrian-themed frame.)
• Gorilla Glue
• Cotton swabs
• Clear-coat varnish
• Utility knife

Bit prep: Use a toothbrush or scouring pad to thoroughly clean bit with water and vinegar solution. Or, if you like the distressed look, leave it as is.

Horseshoe prep: Some rust can add an element of creativity and texture to your frame project, but if you want a clean, shiny shoe, start by using sandpaper to remove rust and other debris. For any residual rust you can’t remove with sandpaper, mix a bucket of hot water with powdered citric acid (about 1/3 cup per gallon of water) and soak the shoe until you see results (it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day). Allow the shoe to dry completely and apply a clear-coat varnish to prevent further rusting.

Cheek-piece prep: Using a utility knife, cut cheek piece and engraved plate from halter, keeping both the O-ring and square hardware piece attached.

Create: Remove glass from frame and replace existing foundation mat with pre-wrapped burlap panel or burlap-wrapped cardboard. (Or, glue braided rein pieces at edges of burlap to construct a frame.) You can center your item within the frame—or some bits make interesting displays when folded or bent. Once content with your placement, dab a cotton swab in water to mark where the metal—or leather—touches the burlap. Place small dots of glue on wetted areas and attach your item.

Tips:

• Pair your item with a variety of frames to determine what look speaks to you. The frame should complement your tack display but not overpower it.
• When gluing snaffle bits, work from the middle joint outward to the cheekpiece joint and rings to ensure it lies flat.
• You can paint or add antique finishes to horseshoes to complement a variety of color palettes and design themes.

Horseshoe Frame

Create a custom frame for your trainer or special barn friend using her favorite horse’s shoe. Oval-shaped frames work best but try pairing the horseshoe with a variety of frames to find what looks best.

Supplies:

• Horseshoe
• Frame
• Sandpaper
• Nails, screws or Gorilla Glue
• Optional: powdered citric acid, clear-coat varnish, wooden letters, paint

Shoe prep: Apply the same technique as outlined in Framed Tack Art (above).

Create: You can keep the horseshoe’s original steel finish or paint it to complement the frame or honor a horse’s signature colors. If you opt to add paint, wait until the shoe has completely dried before attaching it to the frame. You can attach the horseshoe by nailing or screwing through holes in the shoe (depending on the material of your frame) or using Gorilla Glue. To further personalize it, add a favorite photo and the horse’s name—inexpensive wooden letters commonly found at arts and crafts stores work well, but you can also use stickers or whatever might work best on your frame.

Photo Magic

Surprise your trainer or barn friends with a unique photo of their favorite horse. You can either snap one yourself or request one of their fave personal pics and apply special techniques through a variety of software programs. Photoshop offers a number of special effects, but there are also many free programs; simply Google options to find what might work best for you. Pair your photo with a special frame to create the perfect keepsake for the horse lovers in your life.

Happy Holidays 2025 from your DT Editors! We hope our Gift Guide helps you find the perfect way to let your horse and barn family know you care!