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

I think it's a lovely idea.

@sparklingWine4 If its an additional gift, and it was given to me, I would see this as the gift with emotions attached and on that basis, providing there is no bling, which would made it too bridal, I think its a lovely idea. Maybe add a gift card saying something along the following lines:

“May this horseshoe hold luck the way the Irish say it does — and may it bring you the strength and spirit of the horse who wore it.”

“In Ireland, iron keeps away mischief and the U-shape keeps the luck in. This one carried my horse safely - may it carry you too. “A little piece of my horse, and a little piece of Irish luck.”

When you say she is really liking the Irish horse thing, how big an interest or passion is it? If just a mild interest, she might as you thought, think it was more about your interests, though likely a lovely souvenir of you and your friendship. But if she is particularly passionate about horsey things, yes it would be personal to her. So it depends on how keen she is on the cultural horsey vibe.

I love this idea, if I received this I would think it was a lovely thoughtful gift and would treasure it forever :)

I think it's a very thoughtful gift but I'm irish too, I would love it and I'm not into horses, so yes it's lovely

It’s a fab idea!! Could you add a little collage (think The range photo frames and put together photos of your time together and her time in Ireland)?

I think it’s a perfect gift based on what you’ve said. Perhaps personalise it with a ribbon in Irish colours, or in a similar other way that highlights a core memory for her go for it and don’t over think of it. Whilst I’m not into horses, I’d be thrilled with a gift that was obviously personalised in that kind of way as a momento of my time.

Not weird at all

It sounds lovely and so very personal to her and to you. But personally (if I was receiving it) I would prefer it if the shoe looked like it had just come off the horse who wore it, not even gussied up to the point of being all shiny.

@sparklingWine4 You asked for honest opinions. I would hate a gift like this, because the shiny mirror chrome finish would ruin the meaning and authenticity of the object for me.

Having said that, I think it'd be fine to have it bronzed (dull brown bronze like sculptures).

You've already got her main present - jewelry - so I'm sure she'd appreciate the extra very personal gift of the horseshoe, from your horses, in its natural state.

Well the bling would put me off it, not the idea of it. I’d rather the shoe as it was in its natural (albeit clean) state rather than bedazzled.

I think it's a lovely idea and thought.

If it doesn't suit her home style, so have it out so to speak, then she will no doubt just treasure it in the same way you treasure items she has given you but you don't use/admire/wear on a daily basis.

I think this is the most wonderful, thoughtful, personal gift. I think anyone would appreciate that. Most people know about lucky horse shoes. And if she has an interest in horses, even if she doesn't ride, I think she'll adore a gift like that. What a thoughtful friend you are. Definitely go for it! It's both personal (from one of your horses) but also incredibly beautiful - you're not giving her a rusty shoe, but having it transformed into an ornament.

I think it’s really lovely. I know horseshoes that way up are lucky and I’d happily have that in my home. It’s a lovely idea.

Thank you so much for all the feedback!

I totally understand preferring the more rustic/natural appearance. The only issue is it’s got bits of hay and all sorts in all the small crevices, and it needs to be smooth of any of that (so she can take it back home, but also so it doesn’t smell haha)

I’ve found a few places that can do the chrome finish which involves getting it completely clean, and while there probably is somewhere I can get it cleaned with a more rustic finish I haven’t found anywhere and I wouldn’t want to give her something that has bits of hay and horse shit in it haha x

Sorry, but in my day horseshoes were given at weddings for good luck. Your picture with the ribbons looks exactly like one on my cake.

I think it’s a lovely gift. If she doesn’t understand the significance it’s just a chance to explain it to her. I think it’s very thoughtful.

Lovely thoughtful gift, it's perfect

I think its a lovely idea, in this part of Ireland we paint them black and nail them over the door for good luck....so no ribbon and very rustic, and a nice moving present so she could hang it above her door in her new place x

Like this x

It thoughtful. Definitely a yes from me. If you're nervous, add a bouquet with it.

Looks lovely

If the horse shoe is from one of your horses, it’s a great personal and niche present. If you want to make sure she understands it include a card that explains the tradition regarding luck etc

As long as she's not a minimalist (who dislikes anything merely ornamental that has no practical purpose) it seems a really thoughtful and unique gift

I would print out the legend of how the horseshoe became a symbol of luck and place it with the gift. https://luckables.com/blogs/lucky-legends/the-legends-behind-the-horseshoe. I'm sure she'll love it.