Shopping

Horse-lover gift guide

Let our roundup of equine-themed gifts help you give a little giddyup to the horse lover on your holiday list.

Bag and beautiful

m.andonia has introduced new vintage Western designs that put horses on purses: "ABC Ranch" recalls a Western childhood, "Wildly Beautiful" features wild herds, "Open Range" showcases bucking broncs, and "Dakota" pairs horse and Indian — all with classic frames, leather details, sturdy hardware, and clear vinyl overlay. In tote, large overnighter, large and small kiss, large and small cosmetic case, and wristlet, $54 – $350. Here, ABC Ranch small kiss with denim detailing ($156) and Wildly Beautiful small overnighter ($310).
• www.mandonia.com

 

Card-carrying cowboy

Five years ago, graphic designer Kimberly Parker Russell pulled up her Atlanta roots and moved to New York City, where she screen-prints Sidepony cards by hand in her home studio. Her mom, who owned a plaster shop in Georgia, would be proud. Cowboy thank-you card set, three folded blank cards with brown envelopes, all recycled, 4.25 x 5.5, $12; Buck Wild card, folded blank recycled notecard with gold envelope, 4.25 x 5.5, $4.
• www.elsewares.com

 

Pillow talk

Inspired by the wild Sable Island horses that live off the coast of Nova Scotia, Kristie Thinnes hand screen-prints "Wild Horses" onto pillows, tea towels, and totes. Her equine inspiration also roams to the American West: She does pillows with hand-sewn mustang appliqués, too. Items are made of cotton and organic cotton, and inks are water-based. Wild Horses 18 x 18 pillow cover, $38 (with insert, $56; with kapok insert, $88); tea towels, $12; tote bag, $24. Mustang collection pillow, $62 (cover only, $44).
• www.humble.bigcartel.com

 

Shoulder the load

For "the coolest shopping for horse-crazy kids," Wild Horsefeathers comes up with some cool shopping indeed. The "RIDE like there's no tomorrow" shoulder bag caught our eye, and we bet it will catch the eye of saddle-savvy youngsters on your list. Dyed a soft cilantro with raw edges, natural canvas webbing, and antiqued-brass hardware, the bag has an inside pocket and embroidered design. $24.95
• www.wildhorsefeathers.com (item H330)

 

 

Ranch reading

Ranches of the American West (Rizzoli, 2009) is our idea of a coffee-table book. Linda Leigh Paul and principal photographer Michael Mathers profile 25 ranches — in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Oregon, New Mexico, and Texas — in this glossy, rich book. Perfect reading for your ranch. List price: $65.
• Available at www.amazon.com

And for the inside of that ranch, there's Horses & Homes (Gibbs Smith, 2009). Incorporating love of all things horses, from the polo fields to the rodeo grounds, author and photographer Jenifer Jordan beautifully illustrates interior design for the passionate equestrian lifestyle. List price: $40.
• Available at www.amazon.com

 

Shoeing off

Philip Crangi and his sister/business partner, Courtney Crangi, began creating unique pieces from their New York City studio in 2001 and launched two collections that use age-old techniques and a palette of gold, wrought iron, steel, brass, vintage African beads, and mixed metals. Now known as one of fashion's most influential jewelry designers, Crangi was named a runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2007. This whimsical horseshoe lariat necklace in sterling is part of the Giles & Brother collection. $150.
• www.gilesandbrother.com

 

Mug shot

Jacqueline Stanford is best-known for her horse-hair pottery, which uses actual horse hair to create one-of-a-kind art pieces. For horse lovers who take their coffee with their favorite four-legged companion, she does custom wheel-thrown mugs in porcelain. Your horse's name is inscribed on the hand-etched horse crest. Dishwasher- and microwave-safe. $25 plus shipping.
• www.castlewoodpottery.com

 

All the pretty horses

"The spirit of the horse is a magnificent teacher to humanity," says Tony Stromberg, who left a successful career in advertising photography to find the meaning of life in the soul of the West. Since being introduced to horses, Stromberg has made a creative life of capturing the animal with his camera to create limited-edition archival pigment prints (signed and numbered by the artist). Many images are also available as lithographic-poster prints (not signed or numbered). Poster prints $20 – $30.
• www.tonystromberg.com (for limited-edition prints, contact listed galleries)

 

Head horse

Before Bob Berg became a well-known Western jewelry designer, he was a rodeo cowboy. So it's no surprise that his one-of-a-kind work shows not just his love of craftsmanship but also his love of the lifestyle. What do we love? For cowgirls who need more than one horse, how about the double-horse necklace? The limited-edition piece is sterling silver with 10kt- and 14kt-gold scrolling, multiple clear stones, and Berg's traditional beading on a hand-braided sterling silver chain. $1,450.
• www.crossbargallery.com (item #BB145)

Issue: December 2009