Tack trunk brands and type

[DaisyBabyCat]

I will be buying a wood tack trunk for my daughter and was wondering what are some of the top quality brands.
She uses a 50 gallon Husky box currently and will continue to use that for the smaller local shows. But I want her to have a nice tack trunk that she can take to the bigger shows and that she can have in our tack room forever. Also, are there any thoughts on what look is appropriate for a larger show. Like if your walking down an aisle at a fancy show and you see a tack box that looks like X, you would cringe and wonder who let the riff raff in

I know “she doesn’t need this” and we can “just stick with the husky” and “who cares what people think”…
but she is a really good girl and works very hard so I want her to have this. I also want it to be something that the adult version of her won’t be embarrassed to bring to the bigger shows one day.

[Tha_Ridge]

HorseFare makes a beautiful one that is not absurdly expensive: https://www.horsefareproducts.com/product-page/beginner-trunk (I sell them through my store and would be happy to help any COTHer’s trunk dreams come true if you DM me!)

[ParadoxFarm]

Does your daughter ride with a trainer that has specifications on tack trunks? Many do. Otherwise, just get something that you love and your daughter will love!

[clanter]

@DaisyBabyCat

but she is a really good girl and works very hard so I want her to have this. I also want it to be something that the adult version of her won’t be embarrassed to bring to the bigger shows one day.

When our daughter was teenager we had a cabinet builder build one to order that dear daughter designed, that was twenty five years ago. I really do not remember what it cost but it has been worth the price.

She still uses this trunk for major shows as it really is a nicely built functional pretty show trunk. It lives in the tack room most of the time as the contents are retained for “those” major shows which to her means Morgan Nationals.

[BAC]

If you search these forums there have been many threads on this topic with lots of good information about all of them. The only brand I remember at the moment was Phoenix West which received good reviews but I like the wood with vinyl panels too.

[clanter]

I see in the post of Tha_Ridge that trunk maker suggests “For a personal touch, add an engraved Brass or Chrome Heavy plate (for an additional charge)”

We did that and a few years ago embedded two airtags into the truck, one in a fairly easy place to be discovered then one buried within the trunk

Haven’t had it stolen (yet) at any show but did have a highly valued halter disappear that was hanging on the horse’s stall door, the halter was fully marked with farm name and horse’s name but “some how” disappeared. Really was special had an emotional value as it was the halter of her first world champion.

[trubandloki]

For a wood trunk it is likely best to ask your trainer who they buy theirs from. There is likely a handy person that has made all the wood trunks for that barn that will know just what to build you.

[Renn_aissance]

I have a 20-year-old Oakcroft trunk, enormous, bandage lid, sliding tray and grooming tote. I added heavy-duty wheels to it and it has held up very well for all these years. You can fit anything in it. Of course, I just looked up the price and now it’s $1200 so, uh, if I were to do it again, I’d buy the Husky…

Do ask your barn what they prefer, especially if the barn is going to be responsible for lugging the trunk around from place to place. My big ol’ trunk is a lot harder to move around than the smaller Phoenix West vinyl-sided trunks I just helped move into the barn the other day. (Which are beautifully constructed, a brand I think we’d all recommend, and apparently were $1600.)

I do think that if you’re intending to buy something that will suit for the rest of her riding career, I’d rather do wood and get a cover in the barn colors than do vinyl-sided in the barn’s colors… but I like to be able to decide how much I want to fit in at any given time.

[Madison]

@DaisyBabyCat

I also want it to be something that the adult version of her won’t be embarrassed to bring to the bigger shows one day.

Just FYI, there are barns using the Husky trunks at the bigger shows too! My barn is based at WEC for winter circuit and has stuck with the Husky’s for clients and McGuinn/Phoenix West type trunks only as part of the setup display because of the ease of transport. There are people on Etsy and elsewhere that make the nice trunk covers specifically for the Husky trunks, and we ordered those with the barn logo for $300 shipped rather than ordering the heavy expensive trunks. My wood trunk that I used previously is sitting in my basement serving as blanket storage! So, a pretty cover for the Husky is an option too if your barn likes the functionality of what your daughter has.

I agree with everyone who has said check with your trainer to see what local sources are available. My wood trunk was made by a local craftsman and I literally picked it up from his garage at his house! Much less expensive than ordering from the bigger companies. Then we ordered matching covers for the barn to keep them from getting beaten up over time.

When ordering one of the wood or vinyl trunks, keep in mind that you could end up having to move it yourself sometimes, so you don’t necessarily want a massive one LOL!

[ATXmom]

I ordered a beautiful wooden trunk from a craftsman on Etsy, the quality is excellent and it was pretty reasonable as far as costs go.

We also have a small Phoenix West that I bought for my daughter to take to shows but of course, we ended up switching barns shortly after it arrived and it doesn’t match current barn colors…

[clanter]

@ATXmom

We also have a small Phoenix West that I bought for my daughter to take to shows but of course, we ended up switching barns shortly after it arrived and it doesn’t match current barn colors…

Phoenix West has replacement panels available to change colors

[ATXmom]

Thank you! I do plan to change the front panel eventually so at least there is no logo but it’s too expensive to swap all four!

[Demerara_Stables]

Hands down, McGuinn Farms (https://www.mcguinnfarms.com/). They are significantly better quality than Phoenix West. You’ll pay for that quality though!

[equest]

That’d good to hear because I am struggling with moving my heavy vinyl sided trunk, and I miss the ease of rolling my Husky. I am not affiliated with a HJ barn at the moment so I am thinking of returning to my Husky. I will look for a cover on Etsy, maybe just black or neutral so I may have some flexibility.

[DaisyBabyCat]

Good question, I’ll ask. I don’t think they have a preference. Just anything other than a plastic toolbox

[DaisyBabyCat]

I definitely searched for “trunk” and tack trunk" before posting but I wasn’t getting many results dealing with buying a trunk, only taking your trunk places. Maybe I had something set wrong on my search.

[DaisyBabyCat]

I’m just amazed that people would even think to steal something like that with actual names on it. That had to be heartbreaking. Good idea about the airtags.

[ChasseurSauteur]

There are also several stall drape companies that make covers for the Husky/Stanley trunks - like maybe SP Rhodes? At any rate - it is definitely a thing!

[DaisyBabyCat]

Unfortunately, we ARE the ones that have to lug her trunk around so definitely need to keep the size in check! Thanks for letting me know that people make covers for the Husky trunks, I would definitely like to have one made. Do you recommend the place you ordered yours from?

[goodhors]

Resale value is usually pretty low on those nice trunks. I have picked up several from $5 to $25-$50 each. They had both the painted plexiglass panels, vinyl panels, their grooming totes, sliding tray boxes inside. They all needed painting on the inside, but that was an easy fix. I also purchased a couple homemade (but very nice) bigger boxes from a local auction that were 4-H tack boxes, on wheels. They are BIG, hold a lot. All these are used for storage of harness, thick western saddle pads, some blankets. They do a great job! I bought some cheap, rectangular dollies (Harbor Freight) with 4 wheels to go under them to move on the cement floors.

However, being wooden and HEAVY, there is no way I would haul them to shows! Way too much work!

So if you don’t hire a local carpenter to build a trunk, you might check advertising for used trunks at reduced prices. Then buy or make a cover in the preferred colors. Tack boxes turn up in the oddest places, may be found under odd names like horse trunks!