need some advice please

[Chestnuttymare]

i had emergency spinal surgery a few weeks ago. the girls at my yard have been stars, they visited me at hospital and home and totally looked after my 2 horses, mucking out, poo picking, feeding and even giving them a wee groom now and again. they have been such good friends in a very difficult time. i have invited them all (6 of them) to dinner next weekend to say thank you.
although i am a bit better and going up and grooming and making up feeds, they are still mucking out for me.
i thought it would be nice to put a wee gift at each table setting, does anyone have any suggestions? i thought of thorton chocs but it isn't very original.
thanks

 

[Maisy]

how about a voucher for a local tack shop or something?

I suppose it depends how much you want to spend?

 

[ajn1610]

oh dear - i hope you feel better soon!
Boots do individual sachets of natural, animal friendly face masks/foot treatments by a company called montagne jennesse that are really nice, they are about £1 each. Maybe you could make up a little gift bag with something like that and some choccies?
At a Hen do I went to they had gingerbread men as place settings iced to look like the person sitting there which was a lovely touch.
Something for the yard like socks or gloves? Or maybe you could give them IOUs for when you are better. Print them up on the computer for muck outs, grooming at shows or whatever.
Sounds like they are a lovely bunch!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Or a nice nameplate for their horses stable door?

 

[Biscuit]

All the above suggestions sound nice.

If you are good at taking photos you could take some and enlarge the prints? The photo automats in Boots are also nice for creating a collage.

 

[Keltic]

What a lovely yard you must be on, what about a nice woolly hat for winter or some gloves a nice bottle of wine never goes a miss.

 

[birdof1977]

Good to hear your on the mend.

What a lovely lot of people you are.
All of the above sound like great suggestions, or maybe new headcollars and/or leadropes for everyone?
Sorry I'm rubbish at things like this.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

these are great suggestions, thanks.i have no imagination lol. i like the idea of the wee gift bags. i don't think i have time to get the nameplates done by the weekend. i got one done for one of them at christmas and it took about 2 weeks.
i think i will do the iou's also. the photos can be done easily and i can do them with the gift bag. and gloves never go wrong. i am spoiled for choice now

i am really stunned at their kindness, it is so nice when so often you hear about b1tchiness and dafties on yards. it makes me quite emotional when i think about all they have done for me. i feel very blessed, i know it sounds a bit gushy but i would have been up sh1t creek without them.
thanks again everybody xxxxxx and thanks for all your best wishes.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

What happened with your back cm-1? Was it a riding accident? Hope you're on the mend - your pals sound wonderful. I've hurt my knee and not quite sure whether it might need surgery - everyone at my yard including the YO has been so helpful and understanding. Even my veteran ned (who I got on for 5 mins today just to prove a point coz the offensive A&E surgeon told me never to get on a horse again, so I did) seemed to know his creaky old mum needed him to be extra safe lol! It was so nice to read your post coz I think the bitchy stuff is what makes the headlines but there's an awful lot of genuine friendship and camaradarie out there too that gets forgotten. x

 

[Chestnuttymare]

no it wasn't a riding accident. just one of those things although i am one of those people who lugs around shavings bales and water containers etc weithout putting them in barrow, so be warned!! the disc came all the way out the back of my spine crushing the cauda equina nerves. it can cause paralysis etc so i have been really lucky. as it stands i am still numb from hips to knees. we just have to wait and see if they repair or not. the good news is i will be back on my horsey december

the bonus is if i fall off and land on my a*se, i won't feel it

see, there is always a positive

i hope you get your knee sorted, it is so difficult when you have animals who totally rely on you. glad you have a nice yard too. it is such a weight off your mind.
it is funny how your horses just know to be gentle. my 2 have been the same, i lead them to and from the field and they have been so good and gone so slow for me.