Tack Trunk Secrets

[one1horse]

I LOVE organizing. It’s somewhat of an issue as it turns into a time suck that I could probably be spending doing other things. Some back story to my “system” though, is that I inherited my horse and as such, all of his things from his previous owner. Therefore I own 3 full-sized trunks, but I only purchased 1 of them so don’t judge me

My big custom wooden trunk I had made for me is the trunk that lives in front of my horse’s stall. It has a sliding tray in the top, and a “hidden” drawer built into the trim on the bottom of the trunk (I can post pictures if anyone is super interested). In this trunk I keep my day-to-day things that I like to have easily accessible. On the side “under” the sliding tray I keep my horse’s expensive accessories that I don’t want hanging out exposed to the rest of the barn (his BoT sheet, wraps & boots, equifits etc). Then on the “open” side not under the tray, I keep his grooming bag (ariat mini carry-all) my paddock boots & 1/2 chaps, and an 8 qt bucket with all his bathing supplies. In the tray I keep small odds & ends that would get lost in the bottom of a big trunk. So things like gloves, hair nets/ties, spurs, a couple small first aid items, bit wipes etc. In the hidden drawer I keep back-up odds and ends, like extra hair nets, gloves, a couple bits I rotate through sometimes, and other small items I don’t use as frequently, but like to have within reach in a pinch.

Then I have a small (re: it might be 1’x2’) sport-tote trunk which has all of my horse’s schooling boots and bell boots in it. This way sand and whatnot doesn’t get tracked into my nice trunk, and the small trunk is small and light enough to dump out when it gets gross, or hose off to clean up. This trunk lives under my saddle racks which are in a different spot from my big trunk. I also have shelving space above my saddles, so there I keep one medium sized tupperware that houses all my first aid supplies. Then a smaller tupperware that I keep all of my tack cleaning products in, and a smaller tupperware bucket with a lid that keeps all of his cookies. We use a leaf blower to clean the aisle at our barn, so I’ve found compartmentalizing things in tupperware helps to keep them clean and dust/dirt free.

Then in our storage loft I have two additional big trunks - a stanley and a big blue sportote. One I keep all extra “horse” stuff, back up blankets, saddle pads, tack I’m not using etc. The other one has extra “rider” stuff I’m not using, like winter barn jackets, extra boots, gloves etc. Also with those, I have a rubbermaid tub about the size of the bins you get when you go to college. This one I keep all of my “off property” things, like the cooler I only use for shows, standing wraps, a mini first aid kit, my show boots etc. And lastly, a medium tupperware tote that has all of my horse’s supplements (I mix my own “smarpaks”).

Basically my system is such that the things I need daily are easily within reach at all times, and the things I don’t need are filed away where I can get at them if I need them, but they’re not filling up space in my daily-use trunk. I find that keeping the number of things in my daily trunk limited helps me stay more organized and doesn’t result in a ton of clutter to manage. I know where everything is, and everything has a place.

Try to think about what you need to have your hands on EVERY time you’re at the barn, and organize that stuff first. Then look at what’s leftover, can some of it go home? Can some of it go in another bin so it’s not “floating” in your trunk? Can you re-sell some of it (my favorite way of organizing!!) Once you kind of have your “tiers” of items, it becomes easier to organize. I love Target and the container store for finding different sized bins and totes. Marshalls and TJ Maxx often have cute boxes too, but I’m OCD and I like all of my containers to match! Hopefully this helps, and happy organizing

[ybiaw]

I’m going to need to see pics of your big custom trunk because it sounds AMAZING.

[one1horse]

[QUOTE=ybiaw;8622477]
I’m going to need to see pics of your big custom trunk because it sounds AMAZING.[/QUOTE]

Here’s one (http://imgur.com/dmWk3dk) I can get my hands on right this second. The solid wood trim on the bottom that looks like it would rest on the floor actually has a notched space for your fingers inbetween the bottom of the trim and the floor, and it slides out to open a drawer. I’ll get some more pictures of it open when I’m there tonight

[ybiaw]

That drawer is a brilliant idea.

[Backstage]

I no longer have a tack trunk at the barn - I’ve switched to some upright drawers, instead. Much easier to see things, and keeps things a bit fresher as there is better air circulation. I have two of these from Ikea set up at the barn, as well as two at home for less frequently used items:

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/S99903477/

Each of them has four drawers - you can use various configurations but two small and two large work for me. I put stuff like my paddock boots/half chaps etc in the bottom larger basket, supplies/spray bottles in another large basket in addition to spare saddle pads, etc. Anything bulky. The smaller top baskets are kept for smaller items - gloves, hair elastics, hats, flashlights, wet wipes, sponges, etc. I also try and always have extra socks and an extra belt stashed away. It is not infrequent for me to end up at the barn without one of those items.

Boots and helmets that are damp dry well this way, and I don’t end up with lots of accumulated dirt as the drawers are not solid and it just falls through. I can then sweep beneath periodically. May not work if you need to lock your stuff up, or have concerns about things wandering off.

My show tack trunk is a bit of a mess, but it made a big difference to have a few little zippered makeup bags that help organize the little things. For instance, there is one for gloves, hair nets, elastics, etc. This is a huge help, as trying to find a hair elastic when you need one can be a huge PITA. Instead, I just look for the bright blue pouch.

[Dutchmare433]

I too have switched to drawers at the barn, so much easier, and stuff doesn’t disappear to the bottom!

For shows, I do still use a trunk. I keep saddle pads and a towel or two in a giant ziplock bag, so they stay white/clean. I have a little canvas bag from my saddle fitter for all of my tack cleaning stuff. Everything else gets kept in tupperware containers when possible. I do keep one box with alcohol wipes, band-aids, neosporin, dry-shampoo and a hair brush in one container. Dry shampoo and brush are very nice for competitors’ parties and post-show dinners. I keep gloves, stock ties, pins (dressage rider), hairnets, bobby pins etc in a ziplock back in the front pocket in my coat bag.

I try to minimize what I pack–I used to bring everything under the sun and within a few hours of arriving at the show, it would all be in shambles. The less I bring, the less disorganized I get.

[outerbanks77]

I also ride before work in the summer and try to freshen up at the barn before heading to the office. I have short hair, so it’s not such a big deal, but I do a little dry shampoo, and use an aerosol deodorant, so I’m not slathering a stick onto already sweaty skin. I keep a small towel around for human use in case I’m really sweaty, and need to dry off, in addition to using Neutrogena face wipes. I do this in my horse trailer, and the supplies live in one of the brush boxes. However, if I was doing it in the barn, I’d keep everything in one of these: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/73882?productId=879642&attrValue_0=Red&pla1=0&mr:trackingCode=CFDB1996-B0F0-E211-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla_with_promotiononline&mr:ad=57704169920&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:tid=pla-157398141440&mr:ploc=9029605&mr:iloc=&mr:store=&mr:filter=157398141440&mkwid=OSk1DUUG_dc&pcrid=57704169920&qs=3091367_google&product=0FGR540000&cvosrc=cse.google.0FGR540000&cvo_crid=57704169920&lsft=mkwid:OSk1DUUG_dc,pcrid:57704169920,qs:3091367_google,product:0FGR540000,cvosrc:cse.google.0FGR540000,cvo_crid:57704169920

It should fit a hair dryer, too, if you need one. I have a larger one of these with all of my horse show stuff in it, including a sewing kit, stock pins, band aids, bug spray etc.

We don’t get much space in the tack room at my barn, but I slid this in under the saddle rack and it’s big enough to house my grooming tools, horse boots, and my gloves and helmet: http://www.lowes.com/pd_552647-1492-1L-22820_1z0zu65__
I love that it’s wheeled and has lots of pockets on the inside and outside. I did recently get a smaller canvas container from Schneider’s to contain my grooming essentials inside this tool box. Everything else except my saddle and bridle is stowed separately in the horse trailer.

[Jumper_Princess1988]

The DH just finished a gorgeous wooden trunk for me…its massive. The joke at the barn is that it’s bigger than most city apartments. Before I loaded it with all my stuff, I hit Target one afternoon and pretty much bought them out of small, square Rubbermaid containers (with lids). Spare bits of tack go in one container, braiding stuff goes in another…tack cleaning, clipping supplies, first aid kit, etc also get their own boxes. One of the smaller boxes is my “me” box - I have some face wipes in there, along with a nail file, dry shampoo (love this stuff!!!), hair ties, bobby pins, sun block, brush/comb (although I have been known to borrow one from the pony), tampons, lip balm, deodorant, and a little travel sized bote of Febreeze. I’ve definitely used this kit quite often - usually when my non-horsey friends say “hey, let’s meet for lunch in 15 minutes!”. Five minutes in the bathroom and I am fit for civilization again!!!

[Gamma]

Freezer bags are good for odd things. Lunge lines–roll it up, stick it in a freezer bag, and press all the air out–it will stay rolled up, instead of falling apart and getting tangled all over the bottom of your tack trunk. Spare leather bits that you may be hoarding–clean, oil, pop them in a freezer bag to keep them clean and out of the way and not tangling with other leather bits, you can easily fit a whole bridle+reins (disassembled) into a gallon bag.

Dollar store knock-off space bags for fabric-y goods (blankets, extra-clean saddle pad that you save for shows, polos).

I have the big plastic Husky trunk, and I added a cargo net into the lid. It was a little tricky, I fortunately had a helper with All The Tools, but it’s awesome for storing dirty baby pads separate from all the clean stuff (I didn’t want a separate hamper). What we ended up doing was drilling holes in the reinforcement pieces that go along the inside of the lid, it’s hard to describe but the holes don’t go through the lid at all, just through the inside pieces (which are thick and super difficult to drill through, you were warned). Then screwed the attachment points for the cargo net onto the inside of the lid using the pre-drilled holes. Shortened up the cargo net until it was a perfect fit and put the corners over the attachment points.

[Raine]

Great thread! For post-ride freshening, I discovered the Burt’s Bees cleansing wipes. They are great…and seem to leave a bit of moisturizing behind, so I don’t feel like I stripped my face.

I love my show trunk, but would love it more if it had a wrap-holding top. But I’m thinking I might ask DH to install some rings so I can attach bungies…I think that would work.

[outerbanks77]

[QUOTE=Gamma;8623441]
Freezer bags are good for odd things. Lunge lines–roll it up, stick it in a freezer bag, and press all the air out–it will stay rolled up, instead of falling apart and getting tangled all over the bottom of your tack trunk. Spare leather bits that you may be hoarding–clean, oil, pop them in a freezer bag to keep them clean and out of the way and not tangling with other leather bits, you can easily fit a whole bridle+reins (disassembled) into a gallon bag.

Dollar store knock-off space bags for fabric-y goods (blankets, extra-clean saddle pad that you save for shows, polos).

I have the big plastic Husky trunk, and I added a cargo net into the lid. It was a little tricky, I fortunately had a helper with All The Tools, but it’s awesome for storing dirty baby pads separate from all the clean stuff (I didn’t want a separate hamper). What we ended up doing was drilling holes in the reinforcement pieces that go along the inside of the lid, it’s hard to describe but the holes don’t go through the lid at all, just through the inside pieces (which are thick and super difficult to drill through, you were warned). Then screwed the attachment points for the cargo net onto the inside of the lid using the pre-drilled holes. Shortened up the cargo net until it was a perfect fit and put the corners over the attachment points.[/QUOTE]

Great ideas! I can’t remember if my trunk is Husky or Stanley, but it has grooves in the tops for 2x4’s, and I used those to attach a DIY padded seat. It should work perfectly to drill into the 2x4’s to add some nets to the underside of the lid. Thanks for the idea!

Going to throw some gallon Ziplocs in there too. I use them for organizing my crafty junk and I hate the spaghetti mess in the tack trunk. Don’t know why I didn’t think of this!

[Meany]

I think my favs have already been mentioned, but I try to keep baby wipes, dry shampoo, Charles Owen Helmet deodorizer, some kind of Chapstick with SPF, and spray-on sunscreen in the top tray of my tack trunk.

I’m much more likely to touch-up my sunscreen as the day goes on (and on and on) if I use the spray on kind vs. rubbing down with lotion when I’m already sweaty, grimy, and likely wearing gloves.

ETA maybe I do have an original one?! I like to keep a thing of Armor All wipes in my trunk… They’re nice for tidying things like the exterior of my helmet or hard-shell open-front boots when I don’t have time to scrub them or a place to hang them to dry.

[RugBug]

@rennyben;8622269

#3 - Baby wipes – why hadn’t I even thought of this simple solution to wiping the sweat and grime off my face after a ride?

i prefer to use the Cetaphil wipes. They are more expensive than baby wipes, but my sensitive face appreciates them more. I always have a pack in my purse.

[QUOTE=trubandloki;8622361]People go five days with out washing their hair? I am pretty sure I can not go three days with out washing my hair because on the second day it is already bothering me.
.[/QUOTE]

Hahahaha. I have very thick, very textured hair. I regularly only wash it twice a week and occasionally will go five days…and people are complimenting me one my hair on day five. The dirtier my hair is, the better it looks.

as for organizing tips? I keep spare hairnets in a travel soap container. I use brown braiding bands to hold the excess length of my cavesson so I kept a large Tic-Tac container and put them in there and they just dispense through the regular opening. ive got a couple photo storage boxes ( do they even make those anymore? ???) and I keep hardware and some extras in that. Extra bits and long lines live in a small Rubbermaid.

I think ink the thing that keeps me most organized is being committed to cleaning my trunk every few months if it gets out of hand. After a few months I will have started to accumulate stuff that is taking up space: this almost empty bottle of shampoo, that old pair of gloves, etc. if I combine (supplies) and purge (old gloves) I can stay organized.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

It is fun reading what everyone keeps at the barn! Our barn doesn’t allow trunks but they all use stall front bags like this: http://www.sstack.com/multi-purpose-bags/Dura-Tech-Supreme-Stall-Front-Bag/

We haven’t put much in there yet but I’m getting ideas from this post!

[BostonHJ]

Am I the only one who cuts out the middle man and uses the CO Helmet Deodorizer spray directly on my hair?! I guess I need go give actual dry shampoo a try.

I have a few small, open Tupperware type containers in my trunk tray that have sunscreen, human bug spray, deodorant, bobby pins, band-aids, extra hair ties and hairnets, ear plugs, bandage pins, chap stick, zip ties, boot polish and duct tape. It’s much easier to grab something on the go without having to pry a lid off. In the summer, I keep Neutrogena face wipes in there too. At shows, the face wipes and sunscreen go in the cooler/refrigerator - nothing better than rubbing with something cold on a hot day!

[Gnalli]

[QUOTE=Mukluk;8621829]
I don’t really like the idea of tack trunks. It’s a big low box that you have to bend over and dig into to get at things. I much prefer a taller cabinet with lots of shelves. Much much easier for keeping things organized and everything is readily accessible. Lucky for me, I have my horse at home and have a whole tack room to myself, I have two tack trunks (mostly for horse clothing) and lots of shelves. I realize that at some barns all you might have is a tack trunk.[/QUOTE]

That is what we did when I boarded the 2nd time as an adult. We got a cheap tall cabinet and I put everything I could in there, right down to hooks on the sides of it for hanging items. The BM had one so it was really her idea. I loved it. One of the girls had a very handy daddy who took a large wide file cabinet and converted the top drawers to a rack for her saddle and pads and bridles with the 2 bottom drawers for storage. Pretty cool, but I can’t figure out how he did it. They are not there anymore, so I don’t get to go scope it out. Another boarder used an armoire for all her stuff, saddles included. It was really nice too.

[ybiaw]

[QUOTE=OldLadyYoungOTTB;8624887]
It is fun reading what everyone keeps at the barn! Our barn doesn’t allow trunks but they all use stall front bags like this: http://www.sstack.com/multi-purpose-bags/Dura-Tech-Supreme-Stall-Front-Bag/

We haven’t put much in there yet but I’m getting ideas from this post! :)[/QUOTE]

Uugggh. I would hate that soooo much. There’s no structure to it, so I feel like nothing would stay where I put it and it would constantly be a mess. At least in my trunk I can put in dividers and containers and everything will stay where its supposed to. For the most part.

I agree that tack lockers>tack trunks. But not every barn has the room or the means to build lockers for each boarder. But how cool would it be, if one was building a new barn, to vanquish the whole concept of a “tack room” and just build a lockable tack locker (2’ deep by 4’ wide by 6’ tall?) or two integrated into or across from every stall?! Mind = blown

[Henry_East]

Good post, I’ve gotten some fun ideas from this thread! Besides the horsie items I have a shelf with personal items: Neutrogena face wipes for a quick “shower”, Baby powder for humid days ( in the boots) mouthwash, advil, bug repellant, sunscreen. Also power bars and bottles of water. I am a bit high maintenance and also keep lipstick and lipgloss. I wish that I could wash under the hose but people would run away screaming so I touch up makeup rather than removing it entirely. Blow dryer sounds brilliant – I’m too lazy and put on a hat instead.

[lachelle]

An idea for those of you that don’t like tack trunks, and have a barn that allows a locker…my first tack locker was actually a used, solid wood entertainment system that I scored off of craigslist for $75. Added a lock, some tack hooks and cheap wire shelves/baskets inside…BAM! I had a nice, SOLID WOOD, tack locker for dirt cheap. (Just search “entertainment center” or “armoire” on craigslist).

As far as actually ORGANIZING a tack trunk…I have found these to be a lifesaver:
https://www.dollartree.com/household/storage-organization/Plastic-Storage-Boxes-with-Lids/500c541c541p330495/index.pro

The dollar tree has a plethora of cheap storage solutions. I have a half dozen of these plastic bins, labeled with sharpies. So I have a hoof care box, a medical supplies box, etc. The dollar tree also has those little pencil pouches which work great for keeping smaller items organized.

I also go to walmart and buy bulk washclothes. They are something like $4 for an 18-pack. Cheaper than dollar tree…and at that price, basically disposable. So I use those to wash my face, my horse’s face, wipe my boots off at shows, clean bits, etc. Those have their own dollar tree storage bin

Re: the hairdryer. I have heard of people having a hairdryer in the barn…but it was to warm bits in the winter…not do their hair! :lol:

[RugBug]

I actually prefer a trunk…but mostly because I see people buy the cheap mdf storage cabinets and within just a few years the shelves are warped from the weight of the contents. That drives me insane. I do have a solid wood armoire that I am trying to get rid of…maybe I’ll take it to the barn, but it only has two shelves so it is kind of a waste of space when you’re putting in bottles/supplies. Stuff that fits into little boxes makes sense…but there is a lot that doesn’t fit into those unless you tip it and that’s a recipe for a mess.

[QUOTE=ybiaw;8625858]

I agree that tack lockers>tack trunks. But not every barn has the room or the means to build lockers for each boarder. But how cool would it be, if one was building a new barn, to vanquish the whole concept of a “tack room” and just build a lockable tack locker (2’ deep by 4’ wide by 6’ tall?) or two integrated into or across from every stall?! Mind = blown[/QUOTE]

I did a clinic at a community college that had just installed a new barn. The stalls here HUGE!!! and the best part? The right corner of each stall was angled off and served as a personal tack room. It was triangular, so not the best shape, but it was really cool.