Horses have stuff. LOTS of stuff. From tack, feed, care items, etc, these large creatures can accumulate even larger quantities of items necessary for their care and riding. This only multiplies for each additional horse you have. Not all horses are the same size, have the same care needs, wear the same girth, have the same size head or can wear the same saddle, which means extra products and tack for every horse.
Having items that cater to each horse’s needs is a good thing. But over time, many equestrians could possibly open their own tack shop with all the items they have accumulated! Never fear. Here are some tips and ideas for equestrian organization so you can focus on riding and care also and stay competition-ready.
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Paper and Scheduling
Keeping a binder for each horse can help organize their papers and vet bills. Knowing what vaccinations they need or when their teeth were last done can be found in their specific binder.
Fill up your calendar with your show dates, association dues, farrier visits, and vet visits! You can set alerts on your phone for your mobile calendar to help remind you.
Keep note of when association due and subscriptions are due. It can take time to process your payment and get your new card to you so mark these dates in your calendar and budget.
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Cleaning Out the Mess
Before organizing what you DO have, it is a good idea to sort everything into piles. You need three piles. This can be piles on the floor or tubs- whatever you choose. You need a:
Keep pile – everything you want to keep because it is useful and pertinent to your horse
Donate Pile – items that are functional, not broken, and still have useful life left. Pick your favorite horse charity, donate to a kid and their horse, the humane society, local vet , or therapeutic riding center to see if your items can be donated.
Sell Pile – These might be items that you no longer need or that fit but still have useful life and are in good to excellent condition. There are Facebook groups to sell items, eBay, local consignment shops, just to name a few. This is also a good way to upgrade your equipment but selling items to fund other purchases.
Deal with donation and sell items quickly. They will only collect dust and get in the way of your organized tack room or barn.
***Dont forget to clean out your truck or vehicle in addition to your barn and trailer!***
Storage Solutions for Equestrian Organization
Now that you have the items you need and use, it is time to organize everything. There are some inexpensive yet useful storage solutions available to the equestrian. There are plastic drawers you can purchase. Some are larger like a dresser and can hold polo wraps half pads, misc. tack, bathing items, first aid kits, and everything in-between.
This can also include plastic storage tubs which are an equestrian’s best friend! They can be found at most major grocery stores and home improvement stores. They come in a variety of sizes and colors to suit your needs and are a definite must for equestrian organization.
If you board at a barn, have multiple horses or own a boarding facility, purchasing “cubbies” for each person can help keep EVERYONE organized. An organized barn runs more smoothly and has less safety hazards. Cubbies can be plastic tubs, drawers, or anything that designates a space to a particular person or horse.
Bridle hooks and saddle racks are a must. This will keep precious tack items off the floor which prevents tripping hazards and keep the item cleaner. Covers are also a good idea to keep dust off of your tack and can help prevent scratches and damage.
Labels! You can do this many different ways. Bridle bags that are embroidered, halters that have name plates, writing on duct tape and labeling, or simply purchasing large, white tags and writing the horses name on it or the size of the blanket can be useful.
Speaking of blankets! Blanket and comforter zip storage bags are an excellent way to store your horses’ blankets! They are inexpensive (free if you have them at home) and can keep the blankets in a smaller container which saves space and keeps them clean.
Peg boards create AWESOME equestrian organization solutions, particularly for bits and bridles. Peg boards come in a variety of sizes and with all sort of different hooks that can be used for helmets, bits, bridles, hoses and tools, polo wrap holders, and much more.
Velcro boot solutions offer simple yet effective ways to store boots. Simply attach large strips of Velcro horizontally to a wall surface and attach the boots by their Velcro pieces to the strips. You can grab boots from the strip for use or hang them up to let them dry.
Have a tack cleaning station at the barn. A designated area for cleaning saddles, bridles, and other tack will streamline products as well as spacing around the barn. Riders know they can clean their tack at this space prior to shows or after rides to promote a clean barn and clean tack.
Totes can be used to separate brushes and care items for each horse. A simple cleaning tote can be found at most hardware stores or online.
A few of the best equestrian organization storage items:
Pegboard Room Organizer, White Pegboard
24 Pockets – SimpleHouseware Crystal Clear Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer
Dry Erase White Board, 24″ x 18″,
Horse Show Organization
Horse show organization can be difficult to master. Traveling, relocating items, packing the trailer and determining what you need for a day or for several days can get messy. To ensure a smooth transition from home to show try these tips. (Try a FREE Horse Show Checklist!)
Have a trunk or storage solution prepacked with show items. Having a special storage solution that is ready to go can make your life so much easier. Pack it with a first aid kit, show pads, bathing supplies and everything else horse-care related.
After each horse show, take inventory of what is in the box and reorganize and refill supplies as needed Share on XA white board is a must for traveling AND for home. White boards can display show and class schedules, lunging times, a daily work schedule for horses, upcoming vet and farrier visits, lesson times and more for not only you, but other owners and riders at the barn.
Over-the-door shoe hangers are not only inexpensive, they can save space! Taking one or two to shows (and can be used at home at the barn and horse trailer!) can organize bottles and wraps within minutes. They are easy to fold or roll up and pack too.
Simply hang up the shoe hanger organizer in your trailer or tack-up area and put fly spray, polo wraps, bathing items, brushes, etc in each divider. I personally like the clear plastic shoe storage holders, so I can see each item, but there are some that have mesh that offer the same visual look.
Collapsible bridle hooks are also fabulous items to take to shows. These racks have hooks that can swing or rotate, so when you are done you can unhook them and lay them flat for easy packing. They are one of my favorite items to take to shows. Hanging one in your horse trailer can double the number of hooks and hanging space.
Empty supplement buckets can be used to pack travel feed for your horse. These buckets are generally smaller and can fit in the trailer well. Large Ziploc freezer bags can also be used to pack a horse’s daily grain or supplements needed for shows. They lie flat and won’t take up as much space.
Equestrian organization can be done! I hope you found some of these tips useful for organizing your horsey life.
Taking inventory each month and inspecting items can help owners and riders keep what they need and get rid of the rest. Storing and packing items properly the first time will save time and your sanity, and you will be able to have more time for things that matter.