Quick answer: For riders, small tack that doesn't need exact sizing, such as tooled leather spur straps, is the easiest win, while a saddle pad or turnout blanket makes a bigger gift once you know the fit. For horse fans who don't ride, a Kentucky horseshoe gift or a gift basket works well, and a tick-removal glove is a useful extra for anyone who spends time outdoors.
Horse people are passionate, and their passion comes with a lot of gear. That's good news for gift-givers, because there is always something they could use. The tricky part is that horse gear is personal: saddles, pads and blankets have to fit, and riders often have strong opinions about style.
This guide splits horse gifts into three groups: small tack that is easy to get right, bigger gifts that need one or two facts first, and ideas for horse fans who don't ride. All of the products are real Amazon listings in the Surprise Selections gift quiz. Many come from Black Hoof Saddlery, a tack brand that sells tooled leather spur straps, saddle pads and blankets.
Start with a few questions
Before you buy, try to learn three things, either from the rider or from someone at their barn:
- Do they ride western or English? Spur straps and tooled leather are mostly a western look.
- Do they own a horse, lease one, or take lessons? Owners get the most use out of blankets and pads.
- What is their style? Some riders love bold tooling and turquoise; others prefer plain and classic.
If you can't find out much, stay with the small tack in the next section. It is the easiest place to start.
Small tack that's easy to get right: spur straps
Spur straps hold a rider's spurs on their boots. They are small, they get worn often, and they are a fun way for western riders to show some personality. Black Hoof Saddlery sells several tooled leather designs, so you can match the person's style.
Black Hoof Floral Tooled Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $23
Floral-tooled leather spur straps for western riders, adjustable to fit.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof White Floral Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $13
White floral-tooled leather spur straps for horse riding.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof Turquoise Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $38
Turquoise-painted, tooled American leather spur straps.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof Cactus Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $40
Tooled leather spur straps with a cactus design and copper spots.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof Wing-Shaped Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $35
Two-tone, wing-shaped floral-tooled leather spur straps.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof South West Print Spur Straps
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $25
Spur straps for riders in South West prints.
View on Amazon ↗
A quick style guide to the designs above:
- Classic: the floral-tooled straps are adjustable and are the most versatile choice.
- Light and bright: the white floral straps stand out against dark boots, and were the lowest-priced pick here when we last checked.
- Statement: the turquoise-painted straps use tooled American leather, while the cactus straps add a cactus design with copper spots.
- Something different: the two-tone wing-shaped straps and the South West print straps suit someone who likes a desert look.
Spur straps also work well as a stocking stuffer, or tucked in with a bigger gift. For more small ideas, see our stocking stuffers under $25.
Bigger gifts: saddle pads and blankets
Once you know a little about the horse, a saddle pad or a winter blanket is a gift the owner will use for years. These are the two items where it really pays to check the fit first.
Black Hoof Merino Wool Saddle Pad
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $125
A steam-pressed merino wool felt saddle pad with a contoured shape.
View on Amazon ↗
Black Hoof Winter Turnout Horse Blanket
by Black Hoof Saddlery · Equestrian · around $50
A waterproof, breathable 600D ripstop turnout blanket with 250 GSM fill for cold weather.
View on Amazon ↗
The Black Hoof saddle pad is a steam-pressed merino wool felt pad with a contoured shape. Before you buy, compare the listing's measurements with the saddle the rider uses, or ask their trainer. The turnout blanket is waterproof and breathable, made from 600D ripstop with 250 GSM fill for cold weather. Horse blankets come in sizes, so ask the owner (or the barn) which size their horse wears, then pick that size on the listing.
A gift tip: if you can't get the size without spoiling the surprise, wrap a printed photo of the blanket with a note saying you will order it together. The rider gets the surprise and the horse gets the right fit.
For riders who spend all day outside
Barn chores, trail rides and turnout all mean time in grass and woods. TiCK MiTT makes tick tools that are useful for riders and their dogs. The glove is a textured glove you wipe over pets or people to pick up ticks without chemicals, and the SiDEKiCK is a stainless steel tick-removal tool with a built-in flashlight.
TiCK MiTT Tick Removal Glove (Orange)
by TiCK MiTT · Outdoors · around $20
The chemical-free, portable TiCK MiTT glove in orange for outdoor and pet care.
View on Amazon ↗
TiCK MiTT SiDEKiCK Tick Tool
by TiCK MiTT · Outdoors · around $20
A stainless steel tick-removal tool with a built-in flashlight for spotting ticks.
View on Amazon ↗
These pair well with spur straps for an "everything for the barn" bundle, and both were around $20 when we last checked. Find more outdoor ideas in our outdoors and garden gift guide.
For horse fans who don't ride
Plenty of people love horses without owning one: racing fans, Derby party hosts, or someone who grew up near horse country. For them, think horse-themed rather than tack. A Taste of Kentucky sells Kentucky-made gifts, including a horseshoe-themed gift with mint julep mix and a large sampler basket of Kentucky treats.
Kicked Up Horseshoe with Mint Julep Mix
by A Taste of Kentucky · Food · around $20
A horseshoe-themed Kentucky gift paired with mint julep mix.
View on Amazon ↗
Kentucky Sampler Gift Basket
by A Taste of Kentucky · Food · around $110
A gift basket packed with Kentucky-made treats, a big crowd-pleaser.
View on Amazon ↗
The horseshoe gift is an easy pick for a Derby fan, while the sampler basket is a crowd-pleaser to share at the barn or with a whole family. You'll find more ideas in our Kentucky gift guide.
Putting together a horse lover's gift
Here are three easy combinations at different budgets:
- Under $50: a pair of the lower-priced spur straps (white floral, floral-tooled or South West print) plus a TiCK MiTT glove.
- Around $75: the winter turnout blanket in the right size plus a pair of spur straps.
- The big gift: the merino wool saddle pad, wrapped with the Kicked Up Horseshoe gift for some fun.
Prices are rough guides from when we last checked Amazon. See the full horse lovers gift guide for every horse pick in our catalog, or try the gift quiz and choose "Horses" as an interest.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for someone who rides western?
- Tooled leather spur straps are an easy, personal gift for a western rider, because they are small and get worn often. Black Hoof Saddlery sells floral, turquoise, cactus, wing-shaped and South West print designs.
How do I buy a horse blanket or saddle pad as a gift?
- Find out the horse's blanket size and the saddle the rider uses first, from the owner, trainer or barn. Then choose that size on the listing and compare the listed measurements before you buy.
What are horse gifts around $25 or less?
- When we last checked, the Black Hoof white floral, floral-tooled and South West print spur straps and the TiCK MiTT tools were all around $25 or less. Prices change, so check Amazon.
What can I give a horse lover who doesn't ride?
- Choose something horse-themed rather than tack, such as A Taste of Kentucky's Kicked Up Horseshoe with Mint Julep Mix or a Kentucky sampler gift basket.
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Gift picks sold on Amazon. Products are sold and shipped by their sellers on Amazon; we don’t sell anything directly. Prices are rough guides from Amazon when we last checked, not quotes. Product details come from each product’s Amazon listing.