How to Organize a Tack Room

The tack room falls into chaos pretty easily, especially if used by different people for many horses. If you show horses, you are probably coming and going a lot, packing up and unpacking, and dumping loads of equipment in the tack room when you return. An organizational system can increase time spent with your horse by decreasing the time you spend looking for things.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic totes
  • Plastic storage tubs with lids, in different sizes
  • Power drill
  • Large wall hooks
  • Portable aluminum saddle racks
  • White plastic tape
  • Permanent marker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sort the contents of the tack room by category. Some categories might be saddles, bridles, show equipment, first aid supplies, grooming implements, bathing accoutrements, halters, lead ropes and seasonal gear.

    • 2

      Put the saddles on racks. Some tack rooms have saddle racks built in, but portable racks give you more organizational flexibility. Simple aluminum saddle racks are inexpensive and easy to find in tack shops. Have a rack for every saddle and, if space permits, put them all along one wall.

    • 3

      Install wall hooks for bridles, halters and lead ropes. One horse may have more than 1 bridle and halter, so put all the gear for 1 horse on 1 to 2 large hooks. Put these together in one area where they are easy to reach.

    • 4

      Separate grooming equipment so that all the implements belonging to 1 person are together. Put each person's grooming gear in a plastic tote with the appropriate name on it.

    • 5

      Buy plastic storage containers with tight-fitting lids. Use large ones to store seasonal items, such as winter blankets and fly sheets. Use medium ones to pack items you will use primarily at shows. When you pack up, you can just put the containers in the truck. Use small containers for things like first-aid supplies.

    • 6

      Set up some inexpensive utility shelving. Use it to hold the grooming totes, buckets, bathing supplies and the smaller plastic storage containers.

    • 7

      Label hooks, saddle racks, storage containers, grooming totes and anything else that needs to be organized. White plastic tape and a permanent marker work well.

    • 8

      Add decorations. Put up framed photos of the horses, show pictures, posters or other appropriate items.