Is this a weird present? Be honest please!

[sparklingWine4]

Just asking for opinions as I’m totally overthinking this!

I’ve got a really close friend who isn’t European. She moved here from across the world, we met at uni, and have been best friends ever since. She’s moving away for a new job and I’ve been trying to think of a nice personal present for her. She got me a cracking gift for a big event in my life and it was really personal and meaningful so I wanted to do something similar for her. I’ve got her some jewellery and other things as the main present, but I’ve had an idea and I’m just not sure now if she’ll like it and I’m over thinking it!

shes always been fascinated by the Irish rural equestrian sort of culture, and while she doesn’t ride herself, she really likes horses and that sort of vibe. I do eventing and have a set of 4 lucky horseshoes (taken off my horse) which I’ve got one in a frame and 3 basically in my outhouse.

I decided to get one of them redesigned into an ornament for her, as a keepsake from her time in rural Ireland. I know it’s not lucky for her in the same personal way it is for me, but it’s sort of a running superstition that if you keep it upright it’ll bring you good luck and she loves that sort of good luck / fortune kind of thing. And it’s just an ornament/ keepsake. But now I’m totally overthinking it and I’m thinking what if she thinks wtf why has she given me a horse shoe, what am I supposed to do with this etc, or that it looks like I’m forcing my interest on her

ill attach a pic of what it’ll look like to give an idea

is this a nice present given the context above? I don’t want it to look like a weird present that I’m forcing on her because I’m horsey, but I know she’s always loved that sort of thing and I know she wants some kind of meaningful keepsake from her time here

if someone could give me an honest opinion I’d be really grateful haha. Thanks so much! X

Noooo !

Horseshoes should be kept with the ends up, otherwise the luck runs out !

I'm from the NW if that's relevant ?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/what-hanging-a-horseshoe-on-your-front-door-is-really-saying/ar-AA1INXiZ

If she likes knick knacks she may like it, you know her best.

Just to have a friend that makes an effort and has put thought into a gift, is a lovely thing in itself.

What about a photo book of some of the locations you all really enjoyed hanging out at (a dozen or so photos) and maybe on the front you could put a photo of a horseshoe. Just another thought.

I think it’s a great idea, given you know her so well. I’m horsey too and really like this thoughtful idea.

I have to laugh on these threads where the poster describes looking for something quite specific, the reasons why and what might work and then someone comes up with something totally irrelevant and not in keeping with the whole vibe.

Go with the horseshoe.

I think of all the ideas suggested here, you should stick with yours OP.

A frame will be a pain in the arse to travel with. Your friend can easily stash a horseshoe in her luggage and it's not fragile!

I think it s very thoughtful and even though i m not into horses, I would have loved it for that reason. If she likes horses, even more so.

Could you get a smaller version and make it into a necklace? Small enough that it doesn’t take up much room!

I think that would be lovely!!

I think that’s a really lovely idea. Just make sure you include a nice card explaining what it is. It’s a really thoughtful gift.

It's a lovely present, I'm from rural Ireland we used to have a horseshoe above the front door for good luck, they were often gifts for weddings .

That is not good luck. The devil sits in a horseshoe that way up and if you hang it the other way the luck runs out. I wouldn't welcome this gift.

I've never heard that. The different superstitions surrounding horse shoes is fascinating,

Yeah, the bling is really off-putting to me.

I have one right next to me that was reworked into a rustic heart shaped, stamped with our wedding date and initials. It was one of my favourite gifts.

As soon as you said you had 3 spare horseshoes in your outhouse I immediately thought of making an ornament out of them. Can they be soldered or glued together so they are standing upright in a triangular shape? I would also keep them rustic and not made “bling”. They are even more sentimental as they came from one of your horses.

Beautiful idea so personal.

I imagined it in a stand with a few clover leaves

I don’t like the white ribbon either, but flag ribbon is a great idea.

such a special gift!

I love it when someone has thought about the gift for me even if I don't much love the gift. She'll probably love it but even if she doesn't she will love that you have thought about it. I would be really pleased with this gift even though I'm not much of a horsey person.

Really thoughtful. What a lovely friend you are

I don’t think I’d do the ribbon, looks too weddingy.

I'm a 'yes' to the idea too, I think it's lovely

although I'm a little biased as I actually asked a friend if I could have one of their horses shoes (obviously after they were done with it lol) and I've had it outside my front door for years now.

If she's into horses it sounds like an excellent present.

I can’t think of a reason she wouldn’t love it! What a nice idea!