Nobody rides for the awards, but everyone appreciates them. Coming up with the right idea at the right price is an ongoing challenge for ride managers. I plumbed riders’ minds to learn about their favorites.
Here are 91 ideas, from old standbys to the downright bizarre, to get your juices flowing:
Ride-Branded Awards
These days, it’s easier than ever to have your ride logo embroidered, engraved, or printed on just about anything. Riders love a “branded” award that keeps the happy memories alive. For bonus points, include the date and location ~ bearing in mind, of course, that doing so could limit carryover of extras to next year.
Riders cited these items among their favorites:
- Coffee mugs
- Insulated lunch totes (very popular!)
- Mouse pads
- Tumblers
- Bottle openers
- Flasks
- Coozies
- Wine glasses (I’m sensing a theme here…)
- Bandanas
- Windshield sun shades
- Hand towels or buffs
- Calendars
- Back scratchers
- Water bottles
- Photo frames
- Hats (not just ballcaps ~ try beanies)
- Coasters
- Umbrellas
- Tote bags
- Pillowcases
- Lightswitch plates (I actually got one of these once. It’s in my home gym, and it makes me smile.)
- Refrigerator magnets
- Keychains
- Stickers or decals
- Playing cards
- Blankets and throws
T-Shirts: Yay or Nay?
Ah, the humble t-shirt. Some riders beg for anything but another t-shirt, either because they have too many, or because they just aren’t the t-shirt wearing type. Personally, I like them, although I find they’re usually sized too large for my featherweight self.
In reviewing years’ worth of comments on the subject, I reached the (decidedly unscientific) conclusion that more riders give tees the thumbs-up than the thumbs-down.
Variations on the theme get extra appreciation. Tank tops, long-sleeved shirts, and UPF fabrics are especially popular. Sweatshirts take it up another level entirely!
Practical Awards
Many riders report that practical items — the things they keep in their cars or barns or living rooms and keep using for years — are their favorites.
For the People:
- Mini tool sets
- Headlamps
- Pocket knives
- Socks
- Alarm clocks
- Camp chairs
- Folding stools
- Solar yard lights
- Laundry bags
- Platters
- Coat racks
- Mirrors
- Rechargable handwarmers
- Half chaps
For the Horses:
- Hay bags
- Horse treats
- “Dog” tags to put on rope halters
- Electrolytes
- Fly masks
- Sweat scrapers
- Buckets
- ICE tags to clip on saddles
- Hoof picks
- Grooming totes
- Monogrammed halters
- Rump rugs
- Sheets, coolers, and blankets
- Browbands
"Award-y" Awards
Some riders really like traditional awards that carry emotional significance. Ride photos are always a hit. Some managers get especially creative in making unique trophies, buckles, plaques, or certificates to commemorate riders’ accomplishments.
Distance Riders of Manitoba president Darice Whyte spent the year snapping photos of riders, then had the best ones printed on metal for the club’s division winners. They turned out gorgeous!
Awards by Local Artisans
Some ride managers excel at sniffing out local talent, and artists can be amazingly generous when it comes to handcrafted awards. From potholders to pottery, horseshoe art to painted rocks, artisan soaps to quilts, you can’t go wrong with something this special.
Awards for Juniors
Who doesn’t enjoy seeing juniors get some extra love at the end of a ride? Many rides offer extras for their youngest riders. Some reported favorites include:
- Stuffed or model horses
- Horse books, from novels to anatomy coloring books
- Lead ropes
- Paint-by-number
- Horse brushes
- Horse shampoo
Former junior rider Kelly William Stehman now sponsors juniors herself. She suggests awarding “things that would be good for juniors to add to their saddle bags or something that would help them become better riders. Things like scoops, sponges, stethoscopes, quality multi use tools. Maybe some sort of GPS unit to help them learn pacing or some hoof boots as a big award.”
Last-Minute Awards
Need a last-minute award, or want your rider to pick exactly what she wants? Riders reported being thrilled with awards like gift certificates and discounted ride entries.
Of course, when all is said and done, the best award of all is the ride itself.
Update & New Ideas from January 2023
Since the original publication of this post in December 2020, the topic of completion awards has made several rounds on social media.
I’ve heard concern about the rising cost of putting on a ride. Inflation is affecting us all, and it has certainly driven up the price tag on many award items. Fortunately, most riders are quick to emphasize that they care most about the ride itself; the completion award is just a token. Inexpensive mementos like painted rocks, hoof picks, stickers, or flower bulbs are welcome and appreciated.
I even saw mention of a no-frills ride that uses a BYOCA: Bring Your Own Completion Award. My understanding is that the awards meeting involves an exchange of items, each costing around $10-$15, that are brought by riders for this purpose.
I pulled up AERC General Rule 6.3, and sure enough, it simply states that “All riders who successfully complete the ride must receive a completion award.” Who says the award has to come from management?
While a post-ride white elephant exchange could be fun, I’m not sure I’m keen on the idea. It sounds like it would make for a long post-ride meeting. Also, I don’t need one more item on my to-do list as I prepare to go to an event. If you’ve been to a BYOCA ride, I’d love to hear what you thought.
Meanwhile, riders continue to enjoy sharing their favorite awards from rides past. Here are a few more:
- Fleece vests
- Duffel bags
- Chapstick
- Hay handlers (those hook things, not perspiring young men, alas)
- Flashlights
- Live flowers (I LOVE this idea! Think daffodils in spring and chrysanthemums in fall.)
- Apple trees (More LOVE!)
- Bags of feed
- Dosing syringes
That brings us up to an even 100 Ideas for Completion Awards.
Got more? Drop them in the comments!
No t-shirt, please. Charge me a couple more bucks and give me a nice anything but cotton polo shirt. I wear t-shirts, under a button down. That, and as a first year green bean I coveting a buckle. Got to complete my first event first.
I think making unique trophies could be a great way for a manager to show their support. Trophies help people visualize their success. That can go a long way in helping people build their self-esteem.