Why Mare and Foal Art Makes the Perfect New Baby Gift

A Gift That Means Something

When someone you love has a baby, the instinct is to buy something for the child. A blanket, a toy, a tiny outfit they will wear once. These gifts are lovely and they are appreciated, but they are also — if we are honest — forgettable. They get lost in the pile, outgrown in weeks, or quietly donated to the charity shop before the first birthday.

A piece of art is different. A mare and foal print hung on the nursery wall on the day the baby comes home becomes part of the fabric of that child's earliest memories. It is the last thing they see before sleep and the first thing they see when they wake. It is still there when they are five, when they are ten, when they leave for university and insist on taking it with them.

For horse-loving parents, there is no more thoughtful gift.

Why Mare and Foal?

The imagery speaks for itself. A mare standing over her foal — watchful, gentle, fierce in her quiet way — is one of the most powerful symbols of parenthood in the natural world. It resonates with anyone who has ever loved a horse, and it resonates even more deeply with anyone who has just become a parent.

Our Mare & Foal collection captures these moments across a range of styles — from soft, impressionistic watercolour washes to bold, contemporary compositions. Every piece focuses on the same thing: the bond between mother and young, rendered in a way that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Choosing the Right Piece

You do not need to know the parents' exact taste to choose well. Here are some guidelines:

• If you know their style — Browse the collection and look for something that matches their home. Warm, earthy tones for country interiors. Bold, graphic compositions for modern spaces. Soft, muted palettes for Scandi-inspired nurseries.
• If you are not sure — Go for warmth. Pieces with soft golds, gentle greens, or warm neutrals work in almost any setting. Avoid anything too dark or too abstract — for a baby gift, tenderness should be the dominant mood.
• If they are not horsey — Mare and foal art transcends the equestrian world. The subject is motherhood, not horses. Non-riders respond to these pieces just as strongly as lifelong equestrians.

What Size to Gift

Size is the decision most gift-buyers agonise over. Here is a simple guide:

• 40cm — The safest choice. It fits above a cot, beside a window, or on a shelf. It is substantial enough to feel like a proper gift without overwhelming a small nursery. If in doubt, go with 40cm.
• 70cm — A statement gift. This says "I put real thought into this." A 70cm mare and foal canvas becomes the centrepiece of the nursery. Choose this if you know the parents have a decent-sized room and will appreciate a focal piece.
• 90cm — For the grandparent or godparent who wants to make an impression. A 90cm piece is genuinely spectacular and will move with the child from nursery to bedroom to first home.

Not sure about dimensions? Our sizing guide explains exactly how each size looks on the wall.

Canvas or Framed Print?

Both work beautifully as gifts, but there are practical considerations for a nursery:

• Canvas — Lightweight, no glass, easy to hang. The most practical choice for a room with small children. It has a lovely contemporary feel and arrives ready to hang with no additional framing needed.
• Framed print — More traditional, more polished. A natural wood frame adds warmth. A white frame keeps things light and modern. Our framed prints use shatterproof acrylic, not glass.

For a deeper comparison, read Canvas or Print? Choosing the Right Format.

When to Give It

Art works as a gift at every milestone:

• Baby shower — Stand out from the pile of muslins and babygrows.
• Birth — A piece of art that arrives in the first week becomes part of the story. "That was there from the very beginning."
• Christening or naming ceremony — A meaningful, lasting gift that outlives everything else given on the day.
• First birthday — By now you know the nursery, you know the colours, and you can choose with confidence.

The Gift That Grows Up Too

The best thing about giving art to a child is that it grows with them. The mare and foal print that hung above the cot becomes the favourite piece in the teenager's bedroom. It carries memory and meaning in a way that no toy ever could. And if the pony obsession takes hold — which, in our experience, it almost always does — you have started something beautiful.

Browse the full Mare & Foal collection and find the piece that will be there from the very first day. For more gifting ideas, see our Ultimate Gift Guide for Horse Lovers and art for equestrian milestones.