 |
“You’ve Got Trail” April Newsletter
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Spring has sprung and cleaning should have begun! Has yours? Well, in case you’re not chomping at the bit, we’re here to help with some timely advice on the topic – and with these fun tips from Megan Dykeman your arm probably won’t even have to be twisted! To help even further, we’ve rounded up some items to help you get organized and lookin’ spiffy, in our new page Around The Barn.
|
Abolishing Tack Room Clutter
by Megan Dykeman
 |
American Standardbred, “Cross” and kitty, “Scribbles”, reside with Long Rider’s customer Jenny, in Longmorn, Scotland.
|
We all have them: messy lockers and tack rooms that look like a tornado went through them. My mess is the result of years of acquiring tack and a lack of time to figure out where it should all go. But a disorganized tack room can be the biggest time eater; time can be wasted finding the right bit or a set of splint boots that match. If you lose things because of clutter, you can also end up spending money needlessly to replace items that are buried at the bottom of your tack locker.
"You know Martha Stewart has been in your barn when the manure in your barn yard has been sculpted into swans."
- Lynn Sampson, Alberta
You don't have to go quite that far! In this article I hope to offer you some simple, easy and cheap organization solutions for your tack room or locker. All of these items are available at your local dollar store or home improvement shop. Many may already be lying around your property.
The first way to free up space is by getting your polos and boots put away in an easily accessible place. The cheapest and most effective way to do this is to put a bungee cord on the wall attached by either 2 nails or eye screws. This simple storage solution will save you time and neatly display your bandages and boots so they are easy to find.
Bridles and halters can be another source of clutter. Improperly storing these expensive pieces of tack can lead to broken leathers. This also is a time waster because you end up spending needless time replacing or untangling your equipment. A cheap and safe way of making your own bridle hanger is to use old shallow tin cans, like tuna or saddle soap cans, and screw them to the wall. This also keeps the shape of the bridle, which prevents the leather from cracking. You can even paint them your barn colors for aesthetics! Another neat thing you can do is paint the center, like I did, with "chalk board paint." (I purchased this at my local hardware store.) You then can write each horse's name in the center - a great solution if you are managing lots of horses and riders. This way, everyone (especially kids) will know which bridle goes with which horse.
Milk crates are a great space saver. I purchased some for $1.00 a piece at my local dollar store. They are fantastic for storing cottons and bell boots. The holes enable you to see what's in them, eliminating the need to fumble blindly through box after box. They are also stackable, making them great in the tack room or on the trailer. Small plastic drawers are a great space saver. They are stackable and available at any dollar store. They work great for storing bits, small bottles, and miscellaneous supplies. If you label them, this saves having to go though each drawer to find what you are looking for.
Saddle pads, coolers, and blankets can easily be stored with custom-made hangers. I went down to my local hardware store and picked up a few ¾" inch 4' dowels and some nylon rope. You simply drill a hole at each end and you can make your own hangers. Each one can feature as few or many dowel hangers as you please. Storing them by hanging saves so much room and makes post-ride drying easier. There is nothing worse than a wet blanket or saddle pad the next time you go to ride! These are handy to take with you to events or shows where space is at a premium.
Crops and whips can easily and safely be stored by taking a piece of PVC piping and screwing it to the wall. This keeps them off the floor while eliminating the risk of them being broken by careless feet. It also saves time; you won't have to fumble around to find one.
There are two handy ways to make your own saddle hangers. Either with 4"X 4" treated lumber approx 2' feet long, with a rope anchor screwed to it or 4" PVC pipe 2' long with a rope anchor bolted on. To fasten them to the wall simply screw an eye screw into the wall and hang the attached rope anchor to the eye screw . If the hanger sags a bit, you can level it up by adjusting the distance the eye screw is in the wall or putting a block of 2"X4" behind the hanger.
Once you have organized your tack storage area, you will find that the time spent at the barn simply getting your stuff ready to tack up will be greatly reduced. If you spend 10 minutes each day finding your stuff, that's 70 minutes a week! That's at least one ride! Think about how many rides that would be each month - especially if you have more than one horse. Your tack and equipment will also last longer. As Martha Stewart would say "It's a good thing!"
About Megan Dykeman - Megan Dykeman is the managing partner of Freedom Fields Farm, a family-run boarding and training facility in South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Megan boards and cares for 20 horses, in addition to offering training and coaching. She specializes in Hunter/Jumper. With 15 years of horse industry experience under her belt, Megan has collected a vast amount of knowledge on the subject of horse care, including customizing feed programs, developing individualized care programs for horses with special needs, overseeing breeding operations, mare care, and proper barn management. Megan has written several articles for TheManeStreet.com. If you wish to contact Megan about her work, she may be reached at freedomfields@telus.net or by visiting her website at www.freedomfieldsfarm.com.
|
Share your savvy... Do you have tips and tricks you would like to share with fellow Long Riders? Send your tips to julie@longridersgear.com or reply to this email. If we publish your submitted trick we'll gratefully offer you a 10%-off coupon code for your next purchase!
Check out our Specials and Clearance items for savings
on must-have trail gear and horse care products!
|
|
|