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

Ah OP, I think you sound like a lovely thoughtful friend and it sounds like a lovely idea for a present xx

As someone else from rural Ireland, who has owned horses, i wouldn't see any issue with it if it's what she associates with us. I'm fairly sure you could probably find a horse shoe in every gift shop in Ireland. If not a novelty one then definitely you'd get a Belleek, Donegal China or something like that. So yeah, fire on with it. Id say she'd love it.

Sounds like a really thoughtful gift.

It’s a lovely gift 😊 one of my favourite gifts I’ve ever received was from former colleagues in Ireland, a necklace depicting an Irish folk legend. Makes me smile and brings back fond memories of my time there whenever I wear it

its a lovely gift, I like horses but not into them and I have a horse shoe screwed up on my wall for good luck, I’ve had it since I was 12 (44 now)

Yes with luck of the Irish with it im half irish

I think it sounds good!

If it were me I would be grateful. It's personal and thoughtful and means you have thought of her in a deeply meaningful way. Gifts like that that have meaning are true treasures. She's lucky to have such a good friend who thought of her in that way.

I think its a lovely idea, I'm sure your friend will be very touched by them 🥰

Lovely present. We have one nailed above the door for luck. Maybe you could explain that tradition to her. We have had occasions where a nail has come out. We nailed it up again quickly to stop the luck running out.

One tradition is that it goes up in a U shape, to stop the luck running out. Another that it should go the other way up because the U represents a witches cradle/seat.
It's all good fun.

It falls into the category of extreme love or hate. She might love it and find it touching, meaningful, and treasure it. She might hate it, think it's bizarre and tasteless and be burdened with keeping it.

Only you can judge. I feel like its to do with the kind of person she is. Is she easygoing, warm and sentimental, or is she particular, critical and very fixed in her tastes? I feel that's the important factor here.

I wouldn't.

I mean, yeah I wouldn't buy it for myself, but if it was given to me by a friend, with love, then it would have pride of place in my house.

i love it

One tradition is that it goes up in a U shape, to stop the luck running out. Another that it should go the other way up because the U represents a witches cradle/seat.

I've also read that if you hang it over a door you have it like an upside down U so that luck falls down onto those passing under it.

I mean having it as a U so that luck doesn't run out is a play on words really isn't it?

I love it!

What a lovely thoughtful friend you are @sparklingWine4

We have a picture framers locally. If you have one take the shoe in together with a photograph of somewhere she loves, ask them to mount the photo behind the horseshoe and frame both.

I love it! Genuinely this would fill me with so much joy. I'm low key jealous.

You are overthinking it but I am like that too! It’s a lovely present.

It sounds really lovely and thoughtful.

personally id love it, i even had a horseshoe on my shed door, well as and when it falls off,

however everyone may think differently, personally if you like it and dont mind parting with it then id chance and gift it

I like the ones that have the name and date engraved on it... makes it clearer what its all about if it's hanging in her house and someone aske. .. maybe the location in Ireland too.

You are a very thoughtful friend, so I'm sure she will love it.

I'd maybe print up a scroll explaining the meaning behind the horse shoe.
Something like:

Dear [friend's Name],
I wanted to give you something meaningful to mark this special time, so I chose this authentic horseshoe for you.
Historically, the horseshoe is one of the oldest symbols of good luck, prosperity, and protection. Ancient traditions tell us that the iron in the shoe acts as a shield against negativity, while its shape works like a vessel to collect blessings.
Tradition says that a horseshoe should be hung over a doorway. If you hang it with the ends pointing upward (like a 'U'), it acts as a bowl to catch and hold your good luck. If you hang it pointing downward, it pours good fortune and blessings onto everyone who passes beneath it. [Whether placed over your entrance or kept in your home, I hope this talisman brings you endless joy and keeps negativity far away.

With so much love and wishing you all the best,
Sparklingwine4

I'd maybe print up a scroll explaining the meaning behind the horse shoe.
Something like:

Dear [friend's Name],
I wanted to give you something meaningful to mark this special time, so I chose this authentic horseshoe for you.
Historically, the horseshoe is one of the oldest symbols of good luck, prosperity, and protection. Ancient traditions tell us that the iron in the shoe acts as a shield against negativity, while its shape works like a vessel to collect blessings.
Tradition says that a horseshoe should be hung over a doorway. If you hang it with the ends pointing upward (like a 'U'), it acts as a bowl to catch and hold your good luck. If you hang it pointing downward, it pours good fortune and blessings onto everyone who passes beneath it. [Whether placed over your entrance or kept in your home, I hope this talisman brings you endless joy and keeps negativity far away.

With so much love and wishing you all the best,
Sparklingwine4

Maybe add in some personal touches

Does she know your horses? When mine died, I got his 2 last shoes decorated for me and his long term sharer. Every local equestrian group has someone who does this. Mine was personal, had name, dates, flowers etc. I got ribbon threaded through the top 2 holes so it can be hung up. I specified colour, name, date etc. Not mine, but you see what I mean.