adding a boarder tack shed

[MissAriel]

A bit of a spin off from the round pen thread.

I board at a fairly low key barn. When my trainer moved her business there 1.5 years ago we were told we could have a number of available tack rooms for her and clients, and the option to bring our own. However, upon moving in, the number of available tack rooms was less than we had originally been offered. But we had just moved in and didn’t want to make waves, so made do.

About a year ago, I was getting frustrated dragging gear back and forth between home and the barn and decided to purchase a tack shed, for use at the barn as allowed in my boarding contract. When I asked the BM (also related to BO) where I could place it and what size and style would be appropriate, he said I couldn’t add a shed. “We don’t allow that anymore”. But there was a shed I could utilize if I was willing to share with another boarder. No problem, I said. Well, the other boarder has two horses, three western saddles, and other gear. I have my own trunk and shelf with tubs (mostly sheets/blankets and show gear). Even though my daily tack is kept in the trainer’s tack room near the cross ties, this “overflow” shed is a bit crowded. And there is a definite rodent problem that is getting worse. All my stuff is enclosed, and I don’t keep food in there, but it is gross to have my trunk and tubs covered with rat urine and feces. And there is no easy way to rodent proof it - there are just too many gaps to plug.

I really want to approach BM again about adding a shed, particularly since it is allowed per the terms of the boarding contract, but I feel like since he has said no once, I shouldn’t bring it up again. How can I express my need for clean storage without making him defensive about the conditions of the existing shed?

FWIW, my boarding contract is direct with the barn, not through my trainer, however all trainer’s clients’ tack and gear is crammed into her one tack room, while other boarders, not associated with the trainer, each have their own tack sheds.

[OverandOnward]

The only way not to say how disgusting you find the old shed, and risk offending the BO, is to think of some other justification for your new shed that isn’t critical of the old shed.

In your shoes I’d probably be looking for another place to board unless I could install my own healthy tack shed. I’m wondering about climate control even with a better shed? Excessive heat and humidity isn’t good for tack and stuff even if the rodents are kept out.

But aside from that, what do you do if someday you do want to leave this barn? Sell your tack shed to a new boarder for whatever they will pay for it? What if no one wants to pay for it? Do you have a place for a shed at home?

Would it work to simply tell the owner “I won’t go into all the reasons, but I do need to be able to add my own tack shed. If I can do that I would love to stay with this barn. But if not, I’ll be looking for another place with the kind of tack storage that I need.”

If you feel sure that a conversation like that would upset and burn bridges with the owner, it’s probably time to go somewhere else that suits you better.

[MissAriel]

@OverandOnward

The only way not to say how disgusting you find the old shed, and risk offending the BO, is to think of some other justification for your new shed that isn’t critical of the old shed.

In your shoes I’d probably be looking for another place to board unless I could install my own healthy tack shed. I’m wondering about climate control even with a better shed? Excessive heat and humidity isn’t good for tack and stuff even if the rodents are kept out.

[I]Thanks for your input.

I might be able to say it is too cramped in there now - that is about the best I can think of.

Climate control isn’t much of an issue - it is San Diego and the old shed has good ventilation - too good, as that is how the rats get in. None of the tack sheds/rooms here or at most other barns are climate controlled here.[/I]

@OverandOnward

But aside from that, what do you do if someday you do want to leave this barn? Sell your tack shed to a new boarder for whatever they will pay for it? What if no one wants to pay for it? Do you have a place for a shed at home?

That is covered in the boarding agreement - I either leave the shed when I move or take it with me (in which case I would sell on craigslist, etc). Selling to other boarders is expressly forbidden according to the boarding agreement. I plan on getting something not super expensive in case I have to leave it.

@OverandOnward

Would it work to simply tell the owner “I won’t go into all the reasons, but I do need to be able to add my own tack shed. If I can do that I would love to stay with this barn. But if not, I’ll be looking for another place with the kind of tack storage that I need.”

If you feel sure that a conversation like that would upset and burn bridges with the owner, it’s probably time to go somewhere else that suits you better.

Saying I won’t go into the reasons may work, but threatening to move won’t. Horse has a huge paddock, arena footing is lovely, my trainer is here, hay is good quality and plentiful. Local options are few and far between, and expensive. While this might be part of a reason, it won’t be the only reason I would leave the current barn.

[OverandOnward]

I have thought many times how much I would prefer the mild dry California climate! :lol: I marvel when I travel to climates like that and see how many climate issues people are not dealing with.

Here, if my tack is not being used, or at least being cleaned frequently, mold starts to appear. Just a little, then a little more, then a little more … Not many BO’s are spending to install full climate & humidity control in a tack room attached to a barn. But I do appreciate the lush grass pasture that grows here, year round.

Anyway - You’ll get a broad range of good thoughts and ideas here on COTH. I’d say think over those ideas as they come in, and in time the answer of what you need to do (and say) will come to you. Hope you’ll keep us updated as to how it comes out! :yes:

Or offer to take over as BM, and let this one retire from the position? (jk) :winkgrin:

[Equkelly]

Can your trainer get involved? I understand that your contract is with the BO but if the rack room situation is going to effect their business, they might speak up. No?

[ElementFarm]

Are you allowed to park a horse trailer there? If so, use the trailer (DR or stalls) for tack bins/overflow. The bonus is you have a horse trailer you can use, and it’s relatively easy to move/sell compared to a shed. If you’d buy one expressly for keeping equipment in, you wouldn’t even have to buy a nice/expensive one.

[Arlomine]

I am a barn owner and trainer…I have a few suggestions you could try.

There may be reasons that you don’t know that precipitated the change. I know that there are machinations behind the scenes that BarnManager is an owners don’t make public to the boarders.

I would try opening with something like “I know that we have discussed this before, but I would love to know what I could do to make some sort of additional tack storage work for you. Right now I am battling rat poop and pee on my stuff, and it is concerning. Would having a mobile type of storage work for you? Is there anywhere I could put it that would be Most convenient for you? I could share it with another border, which would open space up elsewhere in the barn”.

You may come up against a no again. However, it is worth opening a conversation. At the very least I do think it’s important that you notify the barn manager of the rat problem. Even if you end up having to make do with the shed you have, if they don’t know there’s a problem with rats, they don’t have the opportunity to address it. As a fallback position if it is a hard no on the tack shed addition, you could ask if you could renovate or re-organize the existing shed.

[fordtraktor]

There is a definite limit to how much space most boarding barns can give each boarder, and bringing in a whole tack shed for one boarder would definitely be a no here. How much stuff are you hoping to leave at the barn? What can be kept at home? Things like seasonal blankets, tack you aren’t currently using, etc. probably belong at home or in your horse trailer, not the barn. Keep what you regularly use at the barn, and the rest will be safer and better protected at home, IMO.

This is why I like tack lockers – it keeps all the “stuff” under control!

Another option would be to rent an off-site storage box that is secure.

[trubandloki]

@fordtraktor

There is a definite limit to how much space most boarding barns can give each boarder, and bringing in a whole tack shed for one boarder would definitely be a no here. How much stuff are you hoping to leave at the barn? What can be kept at home? Things like seasonal blankets, tack you aren’t currently using, etc. probably belong at home or in your horse trailer, not the barn. Keep what you regularly use at the barn, and the rest will be safer and better protected at home, IMO.

This is my thought too.

It sounds like you are asking the barn to provide you with a spot to store every piece of horse equipment you own. I do not think it is out of line that they say no to this.

[MissAriel]

@ElementFarm

Are you allowed to park a horse trailer there? If so, use the trailer (DR or stalls) for tack bins/overflow. The bonus is you have a horse trailer you can use, and it’s relatively easy to move/sell compared to a shed. If you’d buy one expressly for keeping equipment in, you wouldn’t even have to buy a nice/expensive one.

Actually, that is a pretty good option B. We do have trailer parking, and while I don’t have one now, I have considered getting one.

@Arlomine

I am a barn owner and trainer…I have a few suggestions you could try.

There may be reasons that you don’t know that precipitated the change. I know that there are machinations behind the scenes that BarnManager is an owners don’t make public to the boarders.

I would try opening with something like “I know that we have discussed this before, but I would love to know what I could do to make some sort of additional tack storage work for you. Right now I am battling rat poop and pee on my stuff, and it is concerning. Would having a mobile type of storage work for you? Is there anywhere I could put it that would be Most convenient for you? I could share it with another border, which would open space up elsewhere in the barn”.

You may come up against a no again. However, it is worth opening a conversation. At the very least I do think it’s important that you notify the barn manager of the rat problem. Even if you end up having to make do with the shed you have, if they don’t know there’s a problem with rats, they don’t have the opportunity to address it. As a fallback position if it is a hard no on the tack shed addition, you could ask if you could renovate or re-organize the existing shed.

Oh, I am sure there are reasons I am not privy to why policies have changed and are the way they are now. I like your suggestion of how to address the situation with BM, though.

@fordtraktor

There is a definite limit to how much space most boarding barns can give each boarder, and bringing in a whole tack shed for one boarder would definitely be a no here. How much stuff are you hoping to leave at the barn? What can be kept at home? Things like seasonal blankets, tack you aren’t currently using, etc. probably belong at home or in your horse trailer, not the barn. Keep what you regularly use at the barn, and the rest will be safer and better protected at home, IMO.

This is why I like tack lockers – it keeps all the “stuff” under control!

Another option would be to rent an off-site storage box that is secure.

There is space. In fact there are currently 3 empty sheds that are being held for “new boarders” as well as space to place at least 1-2 more without infringing on anyone. Yes, I could leave seasonal things at home and bring them back and forth, but why should I have to do that when other boarders at this barn don’t? At my last barn, space was at a premium, and yes, I kept a lot of stuff at home. While it wasn’t the primary reason to move, I was definitely looking forward to having a bit more space to keep all my horse stuff with my horse where I use it.

[Lucassb]

Quoting function being a little wonky for me but in response to this:

There is space. In fact there are currently 3 empty sheds that are being held for “new boarders” as well as space to place at least 1-2 more without infringing on anyone. Yes, I could leave seasonal things at home and bring them back and forth, but why should I have to do that when other boarders at this barn don’t? At my last barn, space was at a premium, and yes, I kept a lot of stuff at home. While it wasn’t the primary reason to move, I was definitely looking forward to having a bit more space to keep all my horse stuff with my horse where I use it.

I would guess that the three empty sheds that are being held for new boarders are necessary since there doesn’t appear to be any remaining space in the existing tack rooms, and presumably the new boarders would need somewhere to put their stuff.

The boarders who were clients of the farm before your trainer moved in with their clients may well have different agreements with the BO or be valued differently. For all you know, they may be ticked off that “the boarders who came with that trainer got all the good tack rooms!!”

Most boarding barns really don’t want to become storage facilities. When I boarded, I always kept my extra gear in my trailer (my DH says that is the only reason I bought a gooseneck, LOL.) If you were looking into one anyway, that may be a decent option.

[demidq]

A trailer may be an option, but that is an expensive solution if you are not actually using it to trailer. If you do plan to use it for it’s intended purpose, what will you do with all your stored stuff when it is in use?
My barn gives us a smallish locker outside the tack room and is clear we are not to spread our belongings further. I keep blankets for this season, first aid kit, bandages, grooming kit and bathing supplies in the locker, tack, helmet, boots and lunging equipment in tack room.
Other “just in case” stuff , occasionally used tack and out of season blankets are at home.

[trubandloki]

Confirm about the trailer parking before buying a trailer and assuming it can be parked there as a solution.

[MissAriel]

@Lucassb

The boarders who were clients of the farm before your trainer moved in with their clients may well have different agreements with the BO or be valued differently. For all you know, they may be ticked off that “the boarders who came with that trainer got all the good tack rooms!!”

Most boarding barns really don’t want to become storage facilities. When I boarded, I always kept my extra gear in my trailer (my DH says that is the only reason I bought a gooseneck, LOL.) If you were looking into one anyway, that may be a decent option.

I think you hit the nail on the head. The boarders associated with the trainer are valued differently. It isn’t just the old boarders who have sheds grandfathered under the old rules, newer boarders who aren’t with the trainer have gotten their own shed as well.

I know barns don’t want to become storage facilities. I just want the same storage space as other boarders, and what was communicated prior to moving and what is in my boarding contract.

I’ve also considered offering to pay a monthly fee like a lot of barns in this area do for the shed, but I don’t really want to open that can of worms.

[MissAriel]

@trubandloki

Confirm about the trailer parking before buying a trailer and assuming it can be parked there as a solution.

Good point. Knowing that my contract says I can bring a shed hasn’t worked, so it would be best to verify before going that route.

My biggest concern with the trailer for storage, is I would get it in case of emergency, especially fire, in which case I would likely not have a lot of time to move stuff out, so I would have to keep all gear in the DR.

[trubandloki]

@MissAriel

Good point. Knowing that my contract says I can bring a shed hasn’t worked, so it would be best to verify before going that route.

My biggest concern with the trailer for storage, is I would get it in case of emergency, especially fire, in which case I would likely not have a lot of time to move stuff out, so I would have to keep all gear in the DR.

If you are trying to store more stuff than will fit safely in the dressing room of a trailer … you really need to take some stuff home.

The typical dressing room of a trailer should be more than enough room for some extra storage at a boarding barn.

[Lucassb]

@MissAriel

I think you hit the nail on the head. The boarders associated with the trainer are valued differently. It isn’t just the old boarders who have sheds grandfathered under the old rules, newer boarders who aren’t with the trainer have gotten their own shed as well.

I know barns don’t want to become storage facilities. I just want the same storage space as other boarders, and what was communicated prior to moving and what is in my boarding contract.

I’ve also considered offering to pay a monthly fee like a lot of barns in this area do for the shed, but I don’t really want to open that can of worms.

My guess is that the people associated with your trainer “got the tack rooms” whereas the other boarders got space in the sheds.

You mention you also keep some of your gear in the tack room, so you get both tack room space AND space in a shed. The BO may consider that they have already afforded you extra space - in the shed, although you don’t like it - and feel a bit aggrieved that you aren’t satisfied by that.

That said, the facility should of course honor what is in your contract. I would imagine they feel they have done so, because they’ve given you space in a shed (however icky that space may be.)

I know you don’t like the solution of keeping your show/seasonal gear at home, but I think that may be your best option, unless you get a trailer. And TBH, if you have more than what will fit into a DR… I have to agree with the poster who said you probably need to bring some stuff home.