I was just cleaning out my car and hauling out clean saddle pads freshly washed from my house to my car and it got me thinking, what does everyone else do with there extra saddle pads, clean or dirty? Currently mine are in my trunk of my car, one side clean, the other side dirty. Once all pads are dirty I wash and restack them in my car trunk and the cycle continues. I just can’t imagine that this is normal behavior and there has to be something better and more organized to do to get the pads out of my car trunk. I should add that my barn wooded tack trunk is full… Possibly a plastic bin for the clean pads to store at the barn, but what do you do with the dirty - back in the car trunk - lol…?
I guess I’m lucky I have my own barn. I put clean ones on one saddle rack, and dry the dirty ones upside down on another. I use each of them a few times then when I have enough dirty pads to create a load, I bring them in the house and wash them.
Well, if your space is unlimited, sure, get a plastic tote to store dirty ones one, and when you wash the pile of dirty, wipe the tote with disinfectant.
But if your space is limited, may I suggest my method?
Use pads until dirty (this varies from 1-5/6 rides for me). Then fold them with icky side to icky side, and continue to fold/roll until they take up a small amount of room, and cram them back in the box. And then take home to wash once you’ve reached a washer load.
May I also humbly suggest, as one serious pack rat who is generally messy/disorganized, that you may benefit from re-examining how and what you fill your box with. I store my paddock boots in my box, and they are stored on top of dirty pads. On top of all the extra stuff I will never use but don’t want to store at home 1) "just in case and 2) I live in an apartment so not a ton of room to hide stinky horse stuff.
I have 2 or 3 at the barn in/on top of my tack locker. The rest (clean) are at home in my tack box.
My saddle pads live in my trunk too, along with a lot of other stuff (shipping boots, extra halters, etc.). Comes from the days of living with my parents and them not wanting my crap all over their house! There is limited storage space at my barn, pretty much just what you need on a regular basis, so the trunk thing works for me 
Ive used one of those tall collapsible mesh laundry baskets for dirty saddle pads and polos. Keeps them in one spot and easy to carry.
[QUOTE=Jaideux;7180985]
May I also humbly suggest, as one serious pack rat who is generally messy/disorganized, that you may benefit from re-examining how and what you fill your box with. [/QUOTE]
My tack trunk is jammed packed with all sorts of goodies, but it is a good idea to re-evaluate, like do I really need the bin of medical supplies in the tack trunk? Or the body clippers I only use about 1 to 2 times a year. But where else do I store these?
I have two containers of horse stuff. One stays at the barn and it has the essentials: grooming supplies, helmet, half chaps, clean saddle pads, some extra spurs, tack cleaning stuff, ect. Then, I have another one in my closet that has the extra stuff I don’t use all the time, (especially now that I don’t have a horse) Halter, lead rope, bridle, assorted bits, lunge line, more spurs, and saddle pads.
When my saddle pads are dirty they just go in my trunk too
I really don’t think there is much of a better way to do this, though a laundry basket could help. It would still go in my trunk though.
Dry cleaners sell these cool bags that I would think saddle pads would fit in. I use them for my coolers and any time I need to pack for a road trip.
I have used plastic totes in the past with success. The last time I purchased a blanket it came with a zippered plastic bag with a handle. It is a good size and fits quite a few saddle pads. It is clear plastic, so easy to see the contents and easy to carry because of the handle.The other thing I do is keep a mesh laundry bag hanging in my trailer and put pads or other items in it that require washing. Keeps every thing together and makes it easier to carry home to wash.
[QUOTE=JLC;7181436]
My tack trunk is jammed packed with all sorts of goodies, but it is a good idea to re-evaluate, like do I really need the bin of medical supplies in the tack trunk? Or the body clippers I only use about 1 to 2 times a year. But where else do I store these?[/QUOTE]
Fabulous question. As an apartment renter who does not live alone, I had to be conscientious of this!
I bought a plastic storage tote with a lid. I have my extra plastic grooming tote sitting in the bottom (only keeping that because it’s too inconvenient to try and unload it), and then I placed all my miscellaneous stuff in the cubbies and stacked up in the box. It’s in the guest room, so very accessible, but also with a lid on it in a closet so not really smelly.
And it’s just stuff like extra leather equipment, fly spray/masks during the off seasons, clippers, boot pulls, non-emergency medication products, off-season barn shoes for me, stall guards, single wall-mount bridle hooks etc. All the things I have no need for on an urgent or daily basis at the barn. I’m actually due for another clean sweep soon, as my box is starting to overflow again 
I keep moving them around, like a juggler with balls, so they appear not to occupy space. Sort of.
Dirty ones go home and either sit on or in the vicinity of the washing machine (which is in the garage). During a Period of Great Sweatiness, I might end up with a couple over the course of a week. After washing they get draped over the patio furniture until they dry, I get tired of looking at them, or I decide to take them to the barn. Taking them to the barn means that I put them in my car, in the back seat, and then take one out to use. I have decided that it’s easier to store them in my car than in my locker. Ones that I don’t use often are in my trunk.
My SUV is like a second tack box to me. Currently the trunk, back seat, and passenger seat area are filled with horse/horse show related items. Everything from rain jacket/show jacket/show shirts/tall boots/etc for me and dirty and clean pads/blankets/wraps/etc for the horse. My vehicle was looking ok (only trunk had stuff) until the first show of the year. Then my show stuff went in and never came out.
I am very glad to see I’m not the only one with an SUV that smells and looks like a mobile tack room!
I am glad I am not alone on this… I really thought I was the only person that did this.
I built a saddle rack (wooden on a circle screw so it can be laid flat against the wall) that is in my garage. I have a wire shelf above it that I can set my boots, extra helmet, and extra grooming bag on. I also have two bridle hooks - one on each side - I use one for bridles & martingales and the other for girths. I put my saddle and pads on that because I don’t want them sitting out in my car. I keep my grooming bag & helmet in my car 24/7 but not the leather stuff and blankets.
I have an upstairs laundry room so after I wash saddle pads I lay them upside down on the balcony rail to dry.
[QUOTE=jay0087;7181538]
Dry cleaners sell these cool bags that I would think saddle pads would fit in. I use them for my coolers and any time I need to pack for a road trip.[/QUOTE]
My mom gets our comforters dry cleaned once or twice a year and they come in these box bag things that are like less heavy duty blanket bags (think the ones rambo wugs come in). I would keep 2 saddle pads in my trunk and then I kept the extra clean ones in my trailer (which lived at the barn) in one of those dry cleaner bags. I would keep my dirty pads in the same style bag and bring them home when I had a load. It kept them from smelling up my car and was easier to carry around.
having moved from a barn where the boarders could use as many containers, trunks etc as they could fit to a barn where it was 1 trunk per boarder to now a loft for trunks and a locker for additional stuff - I’ve found that often we boarders can be hoarders… I had all kinds of stuff in my trunk I hardley ever used or remember I had. So my last barn moved I dumped much of my stuff. All my good show stuff I keep at home in my show bag(s). So for saddle pads I generally just keep 1 or 2 at the barn and rotate them. I do have lots of closet space so I’m able to have a dedicated horse closet which is nice.
I think it’s a good idea to once or twice a year clean out trunks/ plastic tubs to see what stuff you really need. Just like we do when Purple Heart or someplace calls about used clothing/housewares you clean out your cabinets, closets to see what you don’t need… I do the same w/ my horse stuff now
I keep all clean saddle pads in one of my trunks at the barn. Once towels/pads are deemed “dirty enough” they go in the back of my jeep. I was a little self conscious that maybe my jeep smelled like stinky horse…and asked my bf if he thought it smelled weird, his answer was an ethusiastic, “yup!” He’s such a sweetie he didn’t say anything to me before then lol. So now the dirty things go in a big plastic tub with a lid and I try to take them into the house, into our laundry room asap to air out before washing.
I keep my clean saddle pads in a plastic storage bin and then once they’re dirty and dry (after about 3 rides) I put dirty sides together and then fold in half and put them in a nylon laundry bag with a handle for easy storage and transport. It can be stored inside the storage bin if there is room, or in the trunk of your car.
