I sending my sweet goober out for training with an indoor for winter. 
It’s been 3 years since I’ve sent a horse out and I only get 1 trunk and saddle/bridle space.
What do you keep in your trunk that is a must have for horse at training barn? Trainer doesn’t have a specific list either other than saddle, bridle, brushes and turnout blankets.
While I’m sorry this will not help your mission, I laughed when I read your question. I thought it might be a “What’s in your handbag/briefcase,” kind of query, and we could bemoan the horse-y yard sales currently clogging our trunks.
I’ll be glad to read about the higher order humans who keep their Used Once Seven Years Ago™️ items in way smarter places than I do.
I would keep gear to a minimum and I would not send anything totally irreplaceable or products that could get used up like cowboy magic or fly spray or quality shampoo.
Even halters and lead ropes can get inadvertently swapped.
I’d add, send the very minimum and let the trainer ask you for more if needed. Ask how many saddle pads they want and if they will be laundering them. If they are based at this barn, they will no doubt have a deep supply of hoof picks, first aid, saddle pads, lead ropes etc. I sent a mare away with her rope halter and trainer wanted to just use their own leather halter. Fine by me. Trainer wanted to use their own saddle (it fit ok). Fine by me. Sent my new winter turnout, got used, but trainer tossed out the very useful packaging I wanted to save for summer storage (I didn’t complain to them). Sent my VMS supplements, trainer didn’t feed (no big deal). My takeaway is just the basics, every barn is it’s own quiet chaos, limit the number of things that can wander off or collect dust. Don’t send your Walsh leather halter and your Haas brushes and your PS of Sweden satin saddle pads 
Spare halter and lead.
Brush box.
Special saddle pads and exercise boots / wraps if applicable.
Bell boots and spares if applicable.
Special tack cleaning supplies if applicable.
Cooler
When I was grooming I always enjoyed the clients that brought special treats for Dobbin. I’d make sure he got them too 
My barn has the same sort of set up. I have a spot in the tack room for my bridles and saddle/girth/half pad, and my boots/everyone’s boots live in the tack room as well. We all operate out of trunks. I don’t have room at home to store anything, so my tack trunk has my horse’s boots/bell boots, a wool cooler, a wicking cooler, a folded up back on track mesh sheet, a few smaller towels, my helmet and whip. I keep a a plastic box with a lid (probably 20x15x20) inside my trunk that has extra random things like small medical supplies, treats, and ulcer guard during show season.
In the little tub that came with my trunk, I keep my gloves, helmet liners to swap out, sunglasses, duct tape, a head band, hand/foot warmers, a running belt for my phone and other random things. On top of my trunk I keep my saddle pads and grooming kit. Everyone’s got their own stuff, and it’s a small program with people who know each other pretty well so I’m not too worried about things going missing.
Lol. I currently have 5 trunks filled to the brim and not including my medical tool chest, then we could start on the tack.
So yes, I’m hoping this thread helps me condense everything but it’s hard having horses at home and no borrowing or local tack shops
This is a “fancy” barn that is incredibly well run so I’m not expecting things to grow legs and as their stuff is probably way nicer than mine.
This is my first training barn in years so a bit nervous to make a great impression.
you are like the groom that took care of our only horse we had in training, I saw her feeding the mare an apple that she brought specifically for the mare. I commented that I appreciate the care she provides, she came back with she just loved the horse.
After getting the OK from the trainer I started sending her a monthly stipend for the extras and had horse take her out for lunches, the horse was very well taken care of at all times
I still figure less is more. As long as your gear is clean, in good condition and fits the horse, no one is going to judge you on it.
Yeah, I agree. I would err on the side of bringing only the essentials to start with. You can always bring more things later. I’m definitely the person who has too much stuff. Like Scribbler said though, no one’s really going to think twice about your stuff because they’re probably too into their own thing to care.
As a former assistant, here are my suggestions (other than your trainer’s list):
Spare halter
Spare leadline
Extra saddle pads
Extra bell boots and/or turnout boots
Extra boots for under saddle work
Extra supplements if needed
Fly mask (being in NC we can blanket for the evening but turn out in fly masks in the AM)
Extra fly spray (see above)
Otherwise, I would transport my own tack cleaning, special grooming supplies, etc. The less you leave there…the less can walk away or be consumed by others.
ETA: I’d keep my personal gear (helmet, gloves, spurs, riding boots) separate and transport back and forth. Less stuff to lose.
As a BO, it is easier for me to do things like meds and just bill you for use. That way I apportion out the Banamine bottle over time, and it doesn’t get old/expire. Same with things like Vetwrap…I buy in bulk and charge as needed. I don’t charge an administration fee or anything more than cost. It is cheaper and easier for everyone. No need to stock medical supplies at all.
I would LOVE if each boarder kept extra bell boots on the front of their stalls. I will replace, but I am not going to find one in the snow. Same with extra saddle pads. Rotate them and boots so there are always cleanish options.
I supply communal horse treats as part of board, but donations are appreciated!
Everyone at my barn seems to stock their own special cat treats for the barn kitties. We have 3 LOVELY barn cats, so not sure if that is a common thing but ours are spoiled to bits, just the way we like it.
This is how we know if a newbie boarder ‘fits’ or not.
When I sent my girl away for training (out of state), I only packed the essentials. As others say, I don’t send things I wasn’t okay with not getting back or being torn up. The trainer supplied grooming supplies and all tack (my mare wasn’t under saddle yet so she didn’t have anything fitted to her).
I sent along bell boots, fly masks, fly boots, a tail bag, the rest of her feed (barn fed the same thing she was already on), and some leave-in detangler I wanted finished off. Also sent some feed products I wasn’t going to use for the barn to have (Probos and something else). If my horse needed anything else, the trainer let me know and I had it shipped there (bridle, boots, winter blankets, etc.) or I took it myself when I visited. Anything that isn’t needed got dumped back in the trunk; that trunk wasn’t get next to her stall or anything.
My trunk(s) at home are another matter. Where I boarded, I had a tack shed so more storage space and I crammed it full of anything I could possibly need. For a daily-use trunk, I kept gloves (1 for riding, 2 for lunging/handling, 3 for winter, 4 all the spares), hair nets (which I never used), helmet, boots, spurs, crop/whip, treats, small human first-aid kit, chapstick, horse boots (turnout, bells, and open fronts), sprays (fly, daily detangler, & hydrating spray), lunge line, spare halter, rope halter, spare lead, half pad, saddle pad and small saddle bag. I had an entire zippered grooming tote that I sometimes kept in there, but usually it was in my car. There is a seperate area for storing riding tack (hook for bridle + breast collar & rack for saddle + cinch + saddle pad).
Edit: Oh, can’t forget I keep a spare stud chain (or two) and a hoofpick in there as well.
Barn cats are the best! I just got three lovely 8-month-old females that I transitioned to my farm over the past 2 months. Over the past week, it turns out I’ve been adding cats. I fed 6 cats tonight. They seem to love the heated water bowls, self-heated beds, and cat tree I added to the barn. I’m sure the wet cat food helps as well.
Thanks for the lists. I need to rethink what I’m packing as I was packing things it seems I won’t need. I plan on going out 2-3x a week to drop off clean pads and ride in my own lessons.
So far I have:
Saddle pads (3)
2 Girths - Sheepskin so takes time for them to dry if sweaty in the winter
Extra halter and lead rope
1 set of boots (hind only) Barefoot and doesn’t wear anything upfront.
Cooler
Exercise sheet
Grooming kit
Towels
Extra turnout sheet
Equine One hoof dressing (so I don’t have to take it back and forth)
Vetramycin spray
Bucket/sponge/sweat scraper
Hair dryer
I have to transport my riding items as I still have a horse and pony to keep in work at home.
For the situation, you going regularly, your list seems good to me. Except you forgot treats 
Nope, I don’t plan on treats in the trunk. They are more accessible by his stall/halter. He’s friendly and I don’t care if people treat him.
And I’ll contribute to the treat fund for kitties and canines but I try to be respectful of diet preferences as my own dog has allergies to anything chicken/poultry.
I usually hang them on his halter hook using a wall hanger. 
Treats by the stall are even better! Horsie is clearly in good hands 
Looks like you have a great list for the situation you are anticipating!
When I sent my last mare for training at a local barn (so I could frequently come out) I provided the absolute bare minimum at the request of the trainer.
I had her food in bins that I bagged up into individual meals and replaced frequently. I also had a small stash of meds in the warm room. I had a locker myself that included my saddle, a saddle pad, bridle, stick and string, halter, lead rope, and a very small grooming kit with a curry, hoof pick, and a couple brushes. She went in the winter so I sent a heavy and a light blanket. In the spring I swapped out for a rain sheet.
That’s it! The only things of “mine” that the trainer touched were the food bags. meds, and the blankets. Everything else the trainer preferred to use their own and had a small stash for each horse in their care.
I agree with the less is more mentality and ask the trainer what they want from you.
What do you use every single day? Saddle, bridle, girth, etc. Whatever boots you want him to have. Halter and lead. Ask if your trainer wants you to bring brushes or if she prefers to use her own. Bring his supplements and a fresh one in case one is low or you won’t be able to drop one off. Label EVERYTHING as best you can. Sharpie boots, pads, brushes, in a discrete location.
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