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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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!

The post DIY Spring Into Fashion: Make a No-Sew Bag with a Horse Design appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Time to give thanks! The Thanksgiving holiday is coming up, and what better way to get ready than with a horse-related fall DIY craft for your holiday decor? Follow these steps for a decoration that will bring you some luck, and everyone will be thankful for your cute horseshoe décor on Thanksgiving. Happy Horsey Thanksgiving!

STEP 1: Weave twine through the nail holes to create a handle. Start at the bottom and weave until you get to the end of the other side, leaving extra twine at the top so your horseshoe will hang. Don’t forget to tie knots on the back so the twine doesn’t slip through the holes! You might also need to tape down the twine at the ends of the horseshoe so it hangs evenly.

STEP 2: Tape your fall foliage to one side of the horseshoe.

STEP 3: Tape the end of a long piece of twine to the back of the horseshoe. Wrap the twine over the stem of your fall foliage. This will hide your tape!

STEP 4: Once wrapped, secure your twine to the back of the horse-shoe with tape (or ask an adult to help with a little hot glue).

This article on creating a horse-related fall DIY craft appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading

◆ A Thanksgiving Treat
◆ Happy Horsey Holidays: Throw a Horsey Holiday Party
◆ A Rider’s Holiday Wish List
◆ A Horse Owner’s Holiday Season Struggles
◆ Have a Very Horsey Holiday with These Equestrian Gift Ideas
◆ That’s a Wrap: 11 Fun and Fabulous Holiday Gifts for Horsey Kids
◆ Gift Ideas for Horse-Crazy Kids
◆ Homemade Horsey Gifts
◆ Stable Advice: Holiday Gifts for Horse Professionals
◆ 4 Gift Ideas for the Horse Enthusiast Who Has Everything
◆ Luxury Gifts for Horse Lovers

The post A Horse-Related Fall DIY Craft appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It’s time to deck the halls! Everyone deserves to have a little horsey spirit this holiday season, and these colorful felt horse ornaments are sure to brighten up any tree. Make one (or 10) for your own tree, and don’t forget to wrap up a couple of ornaments for your barn buddies. They make perfect presents for trainers, too. You can also make them at your holiday barn parties!

Instructions for Felt Horse Ornament.

STEP 1: Choose a shape (we chose a horse) and print it. Cut it out and place it over two pieces of felt.

Tip: You can even use a needle to hold your pattern in place.

STEP 2: Cut out your felt. Make sure you have two pieces!

STEP 3: Thread your needle by putting the thread through the eye of the needle. Tie a knot at the end of the thread and trim the end. You will need a lot of thread for this project (about five time around your shape). If you aren’t sure, add extra. Better to have too much than not enough!

STEP 4: Pull the needle through the top piece of felt so the knot is on the inside of your ornament and the needle comes out through the front.

STEP 5: Put the needle through both pieces of felt going from front to back. Pull the needle through the loop of the string. Pull tight to close the loop but not tight enough to pinch the felt. The edge should still be straight.

STEP 6: Repeat step 5 until you have almost made it all the way around your ornament.

STEP 7: Fill your ornament with batting and finish sewing up your ornament.

Tip: You can use a pencil to carefully push the batting into any spaces that are a little tight.

STEP 8: Once you have sewn all the way around the ornament, go over your first stitch, making sure the hole is completely closed. Tie a knot and tuck it inside the ornament.

STEP 9: Tie a piece of string or ribbon to the top of your ornament so that you can hang it from your tree.

Happy Holidays!

This DIY article on how to create a felt horse ornament appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Deck The Halls DIY: Felt Horse Ornaments appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Trick or treat! What better way to get ready for Halloween than with horsey crafts to celebrate the festivities with a DIY pumpkin? Follow these steps, and your pumpkin is sure to be the best in the patch (or barn!) on Halloween. Happy Halloween!

STEP 1: Print and cut out your favorite horsey picture.

STEP 2: Gently tape your picture to the pumpkin and trace it.

STEP 3: Place thumb tacks along the line you traced.

STEP 4: Fill in your outline with thumb tacks. It’s OK if they overlap!

This article on creating a horse Halloween DIY pumpkin appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading

◆ Your Horse Can Enjoy Healthy Horse Treats for the Holidays, in Moderation
◆ Featured Video: Mini Horse Carves Pumpkin
◆ Halloween Comes to the Horse World
◆ Halloween on Horseback
◆ Horses in Disguise
◆ Horse Costume Class Tips
◆ Featured Video: Horse vs. Zombies
◆ Are You and Your Horse Ready for Halloween?
◆ Poll: How do you celebrate Halloween with your horse, barn friends, or family?

The post A Horse Halloween DIY: Horsey No-Carve Pumpkin 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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