Cowgirls like the newest trends, and a lot of them like brighter, bolder colors. It depends on the person. Most of the cowgirls I build for love a new headstall with new buckles and colors, and they love having lots of reins. I build tack and leather goods in my shop in Eminence, Indiana, and these are my gifts for cowgirls, barrel racers, show moms and ranch women, sorted by the kind of cowgirl you're shopping for. If she's ordered from me before, call or text me at 317-517-3477 and I can look up what she has and help you pick. Get Christmas orders in by December 15 for standard U.S. shipping.
Gifts for cowgirls: the quick list
| Gift | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hair on Hide Christmas Ornament | $8 | Stockings and gift toppers |
| Engravable Notebook | $20 | Show records and ranch notes |
| Leather Crescent Bag | $30 to $75 | Everyday carry |
| Livestock Show Animal Pillow | $40 | The show mom |
| Hair on Hide Christmas Stocking | $45 | Her mantel |
| Heritage Buckstitch Dog Collar | $55 | Her dog, matched to her belt |
| Modern Leather Wristlet | $70 | Cards, cash and keys |
| Trophy Buckle Hanger | $50 to $105 | Her trophy buckles |
| Laced Barrel Reins | $84 | Barrel racers |
| Distressed Pink Stirrups | $99 | Color on the saddle |
| Prairie Luxe Wristlet Crossbody | $125 | A one-of-a-kind bag |
| Hideout Suede Belt | $129.95 | Color for every outfit |
| Sunflower Hair on Hide Portfolio | $165 | The ranch office |
| Colored Sliding One Ear Headstall | $165 | Her horse |
| Heritage Buckstitch Belt | $179.95 | The show pen |
| Buckstitch Breast Collar | $245 | Finishing a matched set |
| Hide & Tassel Frontier Purse | $350 | The big gift |
What do cowgirls want?
Color, good leather and something a little different. A lot of cowgirls also like things to match: belt to headstall, headstall to breast collar, breast collar to the dog's collar. Many of the pieces below come in the same buckstitch colors (white, turquoise, pink and purple), so you can start a matched set this year and add to it next year.
If you know what she rides in and what colors she likes, that helps me point you the right way. If she's already a customer, I can see what she has and what she'll likely need more of.
Gifts she'll wear
Heritage Buckstitch Belt, $179.95
My Heritage belts are buckstitched by hand in my shop with kangaroo lace. Kangaroo lace is hard to get at times and very expensive, but everything I make is guaranteed for life, so I buy the best. Every hole is hand punched and all the lace is hand laced. The top layer is laced first, then laminated to a second layer, sewn, edged and dipped in oil so it arrives soft and supple. It's 1.5" wide in white, turquoise, pink or purple. White was the first one I made, the old show-ring look from the '60s and '70s that faded out and came back. Heritage belts ship without a buckle; add a Jeremiah Watt stainless heel buckle for $15 if she needs one. More in my buckstitch belt buying guide.
Two layers, kangaroo lace, four lace colors.
Hideout Suede Belt, $129.95
If she likes color, this is the belt. The Hideout is a 1.5" full-grain leather strap with a suede face, white stitching the full length and a Jeremiah Watt antique silver heel buckle included. It comes in 14 colors, including Fuchsia, Turquoise, Lilac, Purple, Royal, Red, Blue Sage, Tangerine and Rust.
Suede face, white stitching, Jeremiah Watt buckle included.
Leather bags and purses
A bag is one of the easiest gifts to get right, because there's no size to guess. I make my purses and wristlets in-house.
Prairie Luxe Wristlet Crossbody, $125
Every Prairie Luxe bag is a numbered one-of-a-kind, and the photos on each listing are of that exact bag. It works as a wristlet or as a crossbody with the strap that comes with it. When a number sells, that one's gone.
One of a kind. Wristlet or crossbody, strap included.
Modern Leather Wristlet, $70
The Modern Wristlet is a full-grain leather snap pouch, about 8" wide, with a detachable wrist strap. It holds cards, cash and keys. Golden Sorrel is a light tan, and Mahogany is a deeper, redder brown.
Leather Crescent Bag, $30 to $75
The crescent bag is full-grain brown leather with a solid brass YKK zipper. The small ($30) holds a phone, wallet and keys. The large ($55) has room for a long day. Both together are $75.
Hide & Tassel Frontier Purse, $350
The biggest bag here. The Frontier Purse is genuine hair on hide with long fringe, 12" x 12" x 5". It comes in Tan Zebra or Brindle Spotted, and every hide is different.
Gifts for barrel racers
Laced Barrel Reins, $84
I make some of the best one-piece laced reins in the industry, and women love them in different colors. Mine have a 5/8" burgundy latigo core with hand-cut chrome tan lacing in a chevron weave and stainless swivel snaps on both ends. Pick the lace color to match her tack: white, brown, pink, blue, turquoise, red or purple.
Distressed Pink Stirrups, $99
These pink rosewood stirrups are made for me by another craftsman. They have a distressed finish, pink leather-wrapped treads, stainless hardware and a 2" tread, which is what most barrel racers ride. They also come in distressed blue and turquoise. Not sure what she rides in? See what size Western stirrups you need.
Over N Under Whip, $30, and a buckle hanger
Over and unders get used mostly in speed events. I build the Over N Under from harness leather, doubled and sewn, edged and rounded so there are no sharp edges. The short one is 31" with a wrist loop, and the long one is 54" with a horn loop. And for the buckles she's won, a buckle hanger ($50 to $105) puts 2, 3 or 5 of them on the wall.
Tack that matches: gifts for her horse
New headstalls are one of the things cowgirls love most. Matching tack makes a gift feel planned, and my colored tack comes in the same colors as the belts.
- Headstall, $165: the turquoise sliding one ear is 3/4" bridle leather, doubled and stitched, adjusting from 35" to 42". It also comes in white, pink and purple, and the buckstitch split ear comes in turquoise, pink and purple.
- Breast collar, $245: a 1.25" straight breast collar in dark oil bridle leather with pink, turquoise or purple buckstitching.
- Wither strap, $65 to $75: the wither strap holds the breast collar at the right height, in dark oil or buckstitched white, turquoise, pink or purple.
- Saddle water bottle holder, $85 to $145: my water bottle holder mounts on the rear billet and comes with a 2" accent band in options like Fuchsia Suede, Lilac Suede, Turquoise Buckstitch and White Buckstitch.
Not sure whether her horse goes in a one ear or a browband? Here's how to tell. If her horse is bigger or smaller than average, send me measurements and I'll help with fit.
For the show mom and the ranch house
Livestock Show Animal Pillow, $40
If her kids show cattle, goats, hogs or sheep, this one's easy. The pillow covers come from a supplier, and I laser engrave them here in my shop with a show steer, heifer, goat, pig or lamb in the set-up stance. They're 15" leatherette and come stuffed. Get the animal her kids show.
Sunflower Hair on Hide Portfolio, $165
For the woman who runs the ranch books, the show entries or the 4-H club. I don't make portfolios myself; I source them and customize them in-house. The Sunflower portfolio has a tooled front with sunflowers and a longhorn, a black-and-white hair on hide panel, a 1" three-ring binder, a legal pad pocket and a tablet sleeve. See all my portfolios.
Heritage Buckstitch Dog Collar, $55
Her dog goes everywhere she goes, so let it match. My buckstitched dog collars are dark oil leather, doubled and stitched, in the same colors as the Heritage belts: turquoise, pink, purple and white. They come in 3/4" and 1" widths, stamped "Tyler Shupe" and covered by the same lifetime warranty.
Christmas stocking, ornaments and a notebook
The hair on hide stocking ($45) has a smooth leather cuff that can be personalized with her name. Fill it with hair on hide ornaments ($8) in eleven shapes, or an engravable notebook ($20). The notebook has a soft-touch faux leather cover, and I laser engrave it with her brand, name or ranch. Personalized and engraved pieces take extra time and are final sale, so order those early.
Buying a belt as a surprise
Women's sizing is harder, because women's pants come in high, mid and low rise. The best way is to measure a belt she already wears, from the fold at the buckle to the hole she uses, or, if you can, a tape through her belt loops plus 2 inches. If the belt you measured is a thin store-bought belt, add 2 inches, because my double-ply belts are thicker and take more leather to go around the same waist. How to measure belt size shows where to put the tape. Wrong size? A new, unworn belt can be exchanged for another size with no time limit; you pay shipping both ways.
Shopping for the men too? My gifts for cowboys has ideas, and gifts for horse lovers is sorted by budget.
Shipping and my lifetime warranty
Most orders ship within 24 hours. Every now and then it takes 2 to 3 business days, and very rarely up to 4 to 5. Free U.S. shipping on orders of $99 or more. Everything I make has a lifetime warranty. It covers anything that breaks or fails in normal use. Parts that wear with use, like latigos and off billets, aren't covered once they've worn out. If it can be repaired, I'll repair it. If it can't, I'll replace it, at no charge. The lifetime warranty covers the original owner, whether you bought it yourself or received it as a gift. Details are on the warranty and leather care page.
Frequently asked questions
What should I get a cowgirl for Christmas?
A new headstall in her colors, a set of reins, or a belt she'll wear every week. If she likes color, the Hideout suede belt comes in 14 of them. If she's ordered from me before, call or text me and I can look up what she has.
What do you get a barrel racer for Christmas?
Laced barrel reins ($84) are the top pick, then colored stirrups ($99), an Over N Under whip ($30), a colored headstall ($165) or a buckle hanger for her trophy buckles ($50 to $105).
What are good cowgirl gifts under $50?
Hair on hide ornaments ($8), an engravable notebook ($20), the small crescent bag ($30), an Over N Under whip ($30), a livestock show pillow ($40) and a hair on hide Christmas stocking ($45).
What's the last day to order a cowgirl gift for Christmas?
December 15, for Christmas delivery with standard U.S. shipping. Miss that date and you can still pick the $25 expedited option at checkout, which ships USPS Priority Mail, or send her a gift card by email.
Can I return a gift?
Unused items in original condition and packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery, and new, unworn belts can be exchanged for another size with no time limit. You cover shipping on returns and exchanges. Custom, engraved, personalized and made-to-order items and gift cards are final sale.
Tyler has been building Western tack for more than fifteen years, the last six of them full time, from the shop at his house in Eminence, Indiana. Growing up around some of the top professionals in the pleasure horse, barrel racing and racehorse worlds gave him the chance to ride high-quality horses in each of those disciplines, and years spent as a pickup man and riding ranch horses today are where most of his ideas for better tack come from. Every piece he builds is made in the USA and guaranteed for life.
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