Every year, the Monday after Thanksgiving is my big Christmas shopping day. I go through the wish lists my nieces, nephews, kids, and parents send me and do my best to stick to them. After all, everyone likes to get exactly what they’ve asked for, right? But sometimes, I feel like the magic of gift-giving gets a bit lost without a fun surprise or two.

Did you know that holiday gift-giving used to be all about handmade presents? Before we had department and box stores, people had to craft gifts themselves, and in some places, it’s still a tradition to make something for someone you love. Even though we buy most things now, there’s something special about a handmade gift—it carries a bit of your spirit with it.

Whether you own a horse, take riding lessons, or just love all things horse-related, these three easy DIY horsey crafts made with horseshoes are the perfect gift for all your barn buddies. Plus, they make for some fun, equestrian-themed Christmas decor. You can grab some horseshoes from a tack or farm supply store, or if you know a farrier, ask if they have any extras. With a little notice, they can usually hook you up with a good stash.

If you’re using a previously worn horseshoe, be sure to clean it thoroughly—otherwise, the glue won’t stick. (I’ve even tossed them in the dishwasher to get them clean and sanitized).

Horseshoe Ornament or Wall Decor

This DIY horsey craft is a simple, versatile Christmas gift that’s totally customizable. I found small decorations at my local dollar store, but you can also check box or craft stores. You can stick with classic Christmas colors or mix it up. One of my friends requested one in purple and green as a good luck charm—with a Halloween twist. You could add little bats, pumpkins, or even some sparkly black accents to give it that spooky-cute flair or long, flowing ribbons at the bottom for a birthday party craft. 

Materials Needed:

• Horse Shoe
• Twine
• Small Bow
• Glitter glue (optional)
• Decorations
• Hot glue
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Start by weaving the twine through the holes of the horseshoe, beginning at the bottom. Pull the twine from back to front to hide as much as possible.

2. If the twine is tricky to thread, add a tiny bit of hot glue to the end, let it cool slightly, then roll it between your fingers to create a stiff “shoelace” tip.

3. Once you reach the top hole, twist the twine inward, looping it around the shoe three more times, then tie it off. Add a drop of super glue to secure it.

4. Repeat on the other side and tie the two ends together at the top.

5. Finish by gluing on your decorations and a small bow.

Tip: If your horseshoe has grips, you can skip threading the holes and just wrap the twine around for a simpler look.

Horseshoe Coasters

These coasters are festive and super easy to make. You can use cork for a rustic look, but I went with silver glitter foam paper for a little extra sparkle. The foam paper isn’t as thick as cork, so don’t put anything really hot on them, but they really make a statement. You can pick any color foam paper that you want.

Materials Needed:

• Horseshoe
• Glitter foam paper
• Festive ribbon 
• Twine to tie them together for presentation
• Scissors
• Hot Glue
• Pencil or Marker

Steps:

1. Flip the foam paper over and trace the outline of the horseshoe (both inside and outside).

2. Draw a dotted line just inside the outer line (about a centimeter) and cut along this new line.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon to fit across the bottom of the foam paper cutout, angle the ends, and glue it in place.

4. Finally, glue the foam paper to the back of the horseshoe.

5. Make a set of four coasters and tie them together with twine for a cute, gift-ready presentation.

Bonus: Paint the horseshoe with glitter glue for a little extra pizzazz.

Horseshoe Picture Frame

This project combines elements from the first two crafts to create a personalized photo frame—the perfect DIY Christmas gift for a horse lover that needs a way to display their favorite horse photos.

Materials Needed:

• Horseshoe
• Festive ribbon
• Printed 4×6 picture
• Decorations
• Scissors
• Hot Glue
• Wire cutters
• Pencil

Steps:

1. The first thing you’ll need to do is get a picture printed. You need to make sure it’s a vertical picture and make sure your subject is as centered as you can get them. I had mine printed at the store for about $0.50 but you can also print a picture and laminate it. 

2. Clean the back of the horseshoe with a wire brush and soapy water to ensure the glue will stick.

3. Tie off the twine at the top of the horseshoe using the method from the ornament craft. If your horseshoe has grips, skip weaving and just wrap the twine around.

4. Lay the photo over the horseshoe and use a pencil to mark where it needs to be trimmed. Push hard—you can’t see the pencil marks unless you hold it up to the light. Cut off any excess.

5. Glue a ribbon across the top of the photo for a festive touch.

6. Attach the photo to the back of the horseshoe with hot glue, pressing firmly.

7. Add decorations around the frame for a personal touch. I only put a ribbon at the bottom because I didn’t want to cut off any faces. 

These DIY horsey gifts are not only fun to make but also thoughtful and personal—perfect for any occasion, from holiday presents to birthday surprises or even a little good luck charm for a friend. Plus, there’s something special about giving a gift you’ve made with your own hands.

So, whether you’re decorating for the holidays, crafting for a friend, or just looking for a creative way to repurpose old horseshoes, these projects are sure to impress. Happy crafting, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!

More DIY Horsey Christmas Gifts

• DIY Wood Slice Barn Ornament
• DIY: Felt Horse Ornaments
• DIY Horse Head Wreath
• DIY Horsey Ornaments
• DIY Dala Horse Cookies

This article about DIY Christmas crafts for decor and gifts is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Outdoor Shade Structure

Cost: $110 – $135 per structure

Need:
◆ Shade tarp
◆ Four 10-foot-long 4″x4″ pressure-treated posts
◆ Four bags of quick concrete
◆ Concrete-mixing receptacle like a wheelbarrow
◆ Posthole digger or posthole-digging shovel
◆ Heavy-duty zip ties

Providing shade to animals during the sunny summer months is important, and if trees and run-in sheds aren’t available, building a very simple shade structure is another option. Luckily, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Harbor Freight sells mesh tarps ranging in size from 8’x10′ to 12’x 20′. These tarps have a close-knit weave that blocks approximately 60 percent of light, and can be doubled up if needed. The tarps cost $33 to $55.

Purchase four pressure-treated wood 4″x4″ posts with a minimum height of 10 feet from a hardware store, and dig four 2-foot-deep post holes in the appropriate configuration for the tarp. These posts cost approximately $17 each.

Drill ½-inch holes through the beams within 4 inches of the top for fastening the tarps with heavy-duty zip ties.

Mix quick concrete to slightly drier than package instructions, and cement the posts into the holes, checking for plum lines and even spacing.

Allow the concrete to set for 24 hours before using a ladder to secure the mesh tarp to the tops of the posts with heavy-duty zip ties. Be sure to watch the shade structure for any wear and tear, including holes in the tarp or failing zip ties.

Five-Gallon Bucket Safety

Cost: $5

Need:
◆ Electrical tape

Five-gallon buckets are used for all sorts of things around the barn, including storage, step-stools and their intended purpose—watering horses. Their universal nature is appreciated, but when used as water or feed buckets, the small hooks attaching the handle to the bucket can pose a hazard to a horse.

Itchy horses can rub their faces on the small hooks and damage a nostril, eyelid or catch long hair in the tight space. To remedy this, buy some electrical tape from a local hardware store and wrap the electrical tape tightly around each of the two hooks on a five-gallon bucket. The tape will make the hook less accessible, and the stretchy nature of electrical tape means it will grip more tightly as it is applied.

As a safety bonus, make sure all double-ended snaps are facing toward the wall when the bucket is hung. This means there is less opportunity for scratching horses to snag anything on the clip.

Safer Grain Storage

Cost: $50-100

Need:
◆ Deep freezer or heavy-duty bin
◆ Clear tape to hang feed tags

Storing grain in a consistent environment can be difficult, especially if the feed room is more rustic. No matter the location, keeping pests and mold out of the grain bin is critical for your horse’s health.

A classic grain storage hack for your barn is using an unplugged deep freezer to store the feed. Freezers are insulated, durable and seal to keep animals out. Plus, they don’t have to freeze things to keep grain safe. They’re frequently available on local sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for less than $100. Any other type of other tight-sealing, heavy-duty storage boxes that you already own or can find for second-hand purchase will work, too.

As a bonus hack for your barn, save all feed tags and tape them to the grain bin for reference while feeding that bag. The white tags located on the bottom of grain bags list the lot number of grain and sometimes “best by” dates.

Should something go wrong with the grain, knowing which lot the grain came from is vital for feed companies.

Metered Fly Spray

Cost: $25 each

Need:
◆ Automatic bathroom scent sprayer
◆ Batteries
◆ Canister of metered fly spray

Flies are a constant hassle of horse ownership, and controlling them can feel like a never-ending task. Employing fly boots and misting horses daily with the bottle is nice, but automatic fly-spray systems in barns take fly control to the next level.

Although metered fly-spray devices are available at feed stores for around $50 each, you can save by making them from battery-powered bathroom scent sprayers. You’ll need to make sure the device matches with the brand of metered fly spray you purchase. With some leg work, an automatic and adjustable fly spray system perfect for your barn and run-in sheds is within reach.

Muddy Spot Remedy

Cost: $0-50

Need:
◆ Shovel
◆ Organic material to fill

A muddy spot at a gate or barn door is not only irritating; it can also pose a danger to horses. Mud can be slippery and promote thrush-causing bacteria growth. Try this hack for a muddy barn area.

The first step to helping a muddy spot is to see if a small ditch can be dug to direct any pooling water away from the area. The width and depth of the ditch will vary with the size of the issue, but should measure at least 6 inches wide and several inches deep. Using some elbow grease and a digging shovel, dig a channel away from the muddy spot.

If digging an escape route for water isn’t possible, adding product to a muddy spot can help too. Some of the common options are woodchips, gravel and sand. Local tree-care businesses often have woodchips from jobs for free, as long as you pick them up yourself.

Gravel and sand are also widely available at local landscaping shops. Or buy by the yard, and not by the bag, at a hardware store.

Whatever material used, add to the problem area when it is dry and get a nice, sloped base draining toward the lowest point. When it becomes muddy, add material as needed until the mud is subdued. Eventually, the place will be built up with fill material and less water will be able to pool there.

DIY Corner Feeder

Cost: $30 each

Need:
◆ One 55-gallon plastic barrel
◆ Drill with ¼-inch drill bit
◆ Jigsaw
◆ Coarse sandpaper
◆ Cleaning supplies
◆ Heavy-duty zip ties
◆ Wall eyelets

Feeding horses with their heads in a downward position is the most natural and has been proven to put less strain on their bodies. There are several large, plastic corner feeders on the market, but they start at $100 and climb in price from there.

Make a budget-friendly corner feeder for grain and hay using a 55-gallon plastic barrel. These can be purchased second-hand on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or from local businesses (make sure they only ever held food-grade materials) for approximately $20 each.

Once the barrel is home, measure and mark where it will be cut. Cutting one in half will yield two corner feeders, although the top portion will not be as suitable for feeding grain due to the grooves from the lid.

After measuring, drill a hole into the line of division and use a jigsaw to cut around the barrel as it lays on its side. Jigsaws can be purchased for about $30 or rented for about $15.

Once cut, thoroughly wash the barrel with hot water, dish soap and diluted bleach. Sand the rough plastic edge with a coarse sandpaper. Drill at least two small holes in the barrel near the top to secure it to the wall.

Using eyelets screwed into the wall, secure the feeder to the corner with heavy-duty zip ties and trim them short.

Making life easier around the barn is a constant journey, but one horses deserve and owners will be thankful for. These hacks should improve life around the barn for your horse, so give them a try.

This article about DIY barn hacks appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming—it’s the perfect time to create your very own horse halter planter! This year, use your green thumb to plant some beautiful blooms in a fun, festive pot set inside a halter. You can repurpose an old halter or buy a new one. Either way, your new horsey planter is sure to brighten someone’s day.

Materials for a Halter Planter ◆ horse halter ◆ flower pot ◆ potting soil ◆ flowers

Important: Make sure to measure your halter and flower pot so the flower pot will fit nicely inside the halter. For reference, we used an 8″ garden pot and a large halter measuring 11.5″ around the nose.

Step 1: Fill your flower pot a little more than halfway with potting soil.

Step 2: Place your flowers in your pot and arrange them how you would like. We used prim-roses, calendulas, and pan-sies, but any of your favorite flowers will work perfectly.

Step 3: Fill the remaining space around the garden pot with potting soil. Don’t forget to give your flowers a little water!

Step 4: Fasten your halter (the part that normally goes around your horse’s nose) around the garden pot, making sure it’s secure when hanging.

Step 5: Hang your horsey halter planter at home or at the barn so all your barn buddies can enjoy the bright, beautiful blooms of color.

This article about how to make a DIY horse halter planter appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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As you get ready to spend more time at the barn this season, prepare for the sunshine with these super easy, no-sew retro bags with a horse design! Find a new or old horsey T-shirt that you want to turn into a bag (we got ours on Amazon.com), and then follow the steps below. Grab all your barn buddies, some T-shirts, and a pair of scissors, and within minutes you’ll all be ready to strut into school or the stables with your new no-sew spring bags. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Materials ◆ Retro horsey t-shirt ◆ Scissors

Step 1: Cut the sleeves off the shirt.

Step 2: Cut out the neck of the shirt. You can cut it a little lower and wider if you want to create a larger handle.

Step 3: If your shirt has a bottom hem, cut that off too.

Step 4: On to the fringe! Cut strips along the bottom of the shirt. These strips can be any length you want. If you want shorter fringe, cut shorter strips. For longer fringe, cut longer strips.

Step 5: Now, take each strip (the front piece and the back piece) and tie them together. Make sure to tie a double knot.

Step 6: Fill your bag and take it to the barn!

Tip: Don’t worry if your cuts aren’t perfect. T-shirt material will likely fold in on itself (which is exactly the look you’re going for), and you won’t even be able to notice!

This article about how to create a diy no-sew bag with a horse design appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Tiz the season for festive greenery and glistening lights. Instead of going store-bought, this may be the year to customize your décor with something one of a kind—a horse head wreath.

Creating a horse head-shaped wreath is easier than you think; it can be made in an afternoon while sipping on spiked eggnog and listening to Christmas music. Grab your barn mates and throw a wreath-making party together.

1. Gather your supplies and find an appropriate workspace. The chicken wire has sharp edges, which can scratch delicate surfaces and your hands. Be aware of this and cover your table if necessary.

One of the most challenging parts of this project is finding the right horse head shape. I suggest drawing out the outline of a head on poster board first. Don’t stress if your drawing isn’t perfect. Most of the fine points will not be captured within the wreath’s shape.

Once you have your horse head drawing, carefully unroll the chicken wire. Cut off a square section that is as large as your piece of paper or poster. The wire is thin and breaks with regular scissors. I used my trusty old barn scissors for this.

2. Bend the wire into the shape of a horse using the drawing as your guide. Make cuts in the wire as needed so you can roll the wire when shaping the ears and jaw.

3. Repeat this process a second time to add an overlay of thickness to the wire base. It should be durable enough to hold several layers of garland. If you opt to use real greenery, a third sheet of wire might be required since it’s considerably heavier.

4. Now it’s time for the fun part—adding the greenery! Attach the garland to the chicken wire using small pieces of wire to secure the garland every few inches. First, work with larger strands. Then cut the garland as needed to fill in any thin spots.

5. Don’t skimp on the garland; you want to create a thick, full wreath. Make sure your garland is attached well, especially if it will hang on an outside door.

6. After the garland is attached, jazz up your wreath with additional decorations. Make a halter from ribbons and adorn the wreath with your favorite horse show winnings. Be creative! When you’re finished, it’s time to hang and admire. Simply hook the back of the wreath onto a nail with the back frame of wire.

This straightforward DIY might look intimidating at first glance, but it’s one of the easiest craft projects I’ve ever done. It took about two hours to complete and cost around $30 for supplies. Gallop over to your local craft store and make a horse head wreath you can enjoy year after year.

This article on how to make a horse head wreath originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Can you believe it’s already time to go back to school? With these super-easy DIY back-to-school horse projects, you’ll be on trend. All of them can be done in three simple steps with only three materials each! Now you can head back to school in style-horsey style, that is.

Pencils & Clips

Materials:
◆ Pencils
◆ Foldback clips
◆ Washi tape

Instructions
Step 1: Cut washi tape to the length you want.
Step 2: Wrap around the pencil or clip. For the pencil, you can wrap in a spiral or the length of the pencil.

TIP: You can make your own horse washi tape! Design your own washi tape with your favorite horse pictures, and print on a clear full-sheet label (we used Avery 18665). Cut it out and add it to your favorite pencils and notebooks.

Horsey Notebook

Materials:
◆ Plain notebook
◆ Gold Sharpie

Instructions
Step 1: Print out a picture of a horse or horseshoe. Using a small piece of tape under the picture, place it on the center of your plain notebook.
Step 2: Using a gold Sharpie, place little dots around the edge of your picture.
Step 3: Continue to add dots, spacing them out a little bit as you go, until you get to the edge of the notebook.

Gold Shoes

Materials:
◆ Plain white shoes (we found ours at Hobby Lobby)
◆ Tulip Color Shot Instant Fabric Color in Gold Shimmer
◆ Horse charm

TIP: I would also recommend using some blue painter’s tape and plastic bags to cover the parts of the shoe you don’t want to be gold. (If you want the entire shoe to be gold, you won’t need these!)

Instructions
Step 1: Remove the laces and prepare the shoes to be painted (if you want to keep part of the shoe white, like we did, use blue painter’s tape and/or a plastic bag to cover it).
Step 2: With an adult’s help, follow the directions on your spray paint bottle and spray the shoes. We used Tulip fabric spray paint, which is amazing! You only have to wait five minutes between coats. Spray as many coats as needed to reach the color you want.
Step 3: Once dry, put the laces back on. Don’t forget to add a cute horsey charm!

This article on DIY back-to-school horse projects originally appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Add a Touch of Gold With These Back-To-School DIY Projects appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

This Valentine’s Day, show your barn buddies that they are the frosting to your cupcake with this amazing horse cupcake cake. You’ll be the hit of the stables when you walk up with your masterpiece. It’s easy to make, yet super impressive. Let’s get baking!

Materials ◆ 38 cupcakes (about 2 boxes of cake mix) ◆ 4-5 tubs of frosting ◆ Colored cupcake liners ◆ Decorative sprinkles & pearls (optional) ◆ Food coloring ◆ Pastry bags or plastic bags Decorating tips and couplers

Step 1: Bake your cupcakes. You can use any flavor you want. We used half vanilla and half chocolate and put them in colorful liners to match the frosting that would be going on top. This isn’t necessary but adds a fun touch!

Step 2: Let your cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

Step 3: Color your frosting. You can make your own frosting, but we just used store-bought tubs of frost-ing and colored them with food coloring. For example, you can add green food coloring to white or vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting for the grass. You can also add white food coloring to chocolate frosting to make a lighter brown for the horse’s body. All food coloring can be found at your local craft or grocery store.

Step 4: It’s time to get ready to decorate! These cupcakes have piped frosting, and just because it looks fancy doesn’t mean it’s hard. Let’s break it down:

◆ Cut a small hole in the bottom of a pastry bag (or use a plastic bag).
◆ Insert the base in the bag.
◆ Place the tip on the outside of the bag and screw the other piece of the coupler in place (if you don’t have a cou-pler, you can still make this work
by inserting your tip into a bag and using a little tape to secure it on the outside).
◆ Fill your bag with frosting and you are ready to go!

Step 5: When decorating the cup-cakes, you can use any design or tip you want. These cupcakes were frosted using a 2D drop flower tip. Starting on the outside, make a large circle of frosting and continue toward the center of your cupcake until it’s filled with frosting. Squeeze one last time in the center and then stop squeezing and lift up the icing bag. Continue until you have decorated all of your cupcakes.

Step 6: If you want to add flowers to your grass cupcakes, use the same 2D tip and squeeze a little frosting in one place without moving your hand. Place a pearl in the center.

Step 7: It’s time to assemble! Following the diagram, assemble your cupcakes to form the shape of a horse.

Step 8: Once assembled, you can add details with frosting, like an eye and halter. Your cupcakes are now picture perfect and ready to enjoy. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heart-Shaped Cupcakes If you have leftover cake batter, you can make heart-shaped cupcakes to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit! Before you fill your cupcake liners, place a marble between the pan and the liner to create a heart shape. Don’t have marbles? Don’t worry! We used foil to create a little ball, and it worked perfectly. Bake as directed, and when you frost your cupcake, make sure to add a tip at the bottom with frosting to complete your heart shape.

This article on making a horse cupcake cake appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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