Top 10: Where's My Stuff?

Tack Room Whether you board your horse or board horses for compensation, you've probably had some frustrations with borrowed equipment, grooming supplies, anything and everything that goes with keeping a horse. Here's our Top 10: Where's My Stuff to help you keep your stuff used by you and only you.

Proper Identification. For saddle, bridles, draw reins even martingales and girths, tack plates or tags work great. Some facilities actually require you invest in tags for all your tack. If you manage a facility, make it easy by providing various web links or local tack store options to everyone as part of your new client packet or checklist.
Get a Label Maker. Tags are great for more expensive tack items, but it's also annoying when fly spray and brushes land in someone else's tack box. Our suggestion, get a label maker. Go crazy and create a label for everything from shampoo to hoof picks. A little clear packing tape over the label will make sure everything stays put.
Duct Tape and a Sharpie®. We admit it; we love duct tape. If your label maker is perpetually out of tape, duct tape and a Sharpie will work in a pinch and is actually the preferred method for labeling saddle pads. Put your name on the top of the pad where the saddle rests and tear off when that pad needs washing.
Color Coding. If you have less than ten people in your barn, it's not too tough to assign a color to each client for everything from polo wraps and halters to lead ropes and blankets. The short straw draws the lime green, but you get the idea.
Tack Boxes for Everyone. We know, we know everyone dreams of a well organized tack room but those dreams don't always work that well in reality. In this economy not everyone can afford a nice custom tack box. There are options. One trainer we know contacted her school district and was given a bunch of lockers that had seen better days from the local middle school. A dent here or there doesn't bother the horses in the barn and they line up quite nicely against the back wall of her tack room. It's a great solution for hanging bridles and storing clients' individual gear. Labeled, sturdy containers stacked neatly also work well in a pinch.
Stall Bags. Small to medium sized laundry bags work great as a catch all mounted or tied outside a horse's stall. It's a great place to store brushes, picks and all your basic supplies. Remember, if you want to keep supplements or treats here, put them in some sort of plastic container before putting them in the bag. If you don't you'll more than likely find other critters enjoying your horse's munchies!
Make Getting Busted Fun. When you do find your lead rope clipped to someone else's halter (and you will), realize it's not that big of a deal. Use the dry erase or chalk board most of us have in our barns as a place to keep track of sticky fingers. This is probably a task best monitored by a barn manager, owner or trainer. For each infraction, there's a point assigned. We don't like assigning nasty chores for the little errors. Rather, tally points weekly and have the offenders bring a case of soda or buy ice cream for Saturday lessons. Repeat offenders may be less inclined to borrow anything and everything if after 20 points they find themselves scrubbing the outside water troughs. The spirit behind the reinforcement is what really matters here.
Get Over It. Face the fact that even in the best labeled, most organized, well run barns from time to time your favorite hoof pick is going to end up in someone else's hands. It's a part of the barn community and more than likely isn't an intentional affront. Some of us are better than others at facing this reality, but take a deep breath and try to deal.
Keep It Portable. If reading 8 caused you to hyperventilate, turn your car, SUV or truck bed into a portable tack room. Go to your local home improvement store and purchase a portable tool trunk with wheels. Or splurge and order a portable tack trunk from an online source. This way if something doesn't get put back you'll only have to look in the mirror to figure out who has your stuff!
We're Family. Although this may feel a bit like #8, it's not (well maybe a little). When you're part of a group of people at a barn it's very much like being a member of a great big family. Sometimes you're all in sync and enjoying a Norman Rockwell moment, and at other times it can feel like you're a player on some desperate reality television show. We get it, but know that even if your lead rope seems to be the preferred choice for a fellow horse owner over his or her own, that person has something in common with you & you both love and care for your horse. Short of padlocking the lead rope to the stall, appreciate your barn mates for who they are. After all, you must have great taste if your lead rope is in constant demand!

Other ideas for keeping things in their place, your place, the right place at the barn? You know what to do & comment below!

Comments

Posted On

Jul 14, 2009

Posted By

Chase

Righteously on!

Best top 10's I seen in ages. Especially like numbers 9 and 10.

Posted On

Jul 14, 2009

Posted By

MacenBuc

great post.I like #10, but #8 is great.:-)

Posted On

Jul 16, 2009

Posted By

Saddle Tramp

We are lucky to have our own place..three horses,four saddles,numerou s Halters and leads..two lunge lines, you know all the right stuff to care for a horse, and be able to ride when we want...and it's all family. We have a place for everything and the rule is.."Put it back, where you got it...or where it belongs.....
Then why do I have trouble finding everything....then the "I don't know's" take over..I didn't use it...Even in Family Conferences..no one will admit they did it....

Then when it comes to the investigation..someone asks me where did you see it last....and I remember where I left it.....nuff said!

Posted On

Jul 16, 2009

Posted By

Horsemanship

Great post! I agree the stable/barn is like an extended family. It can be great fun!

Posted On

Jul 25, 2009

Posted By

Mary

I agree its nice to have a barn family but I would like to think that my great taste needs to be put back so when I need it I can use it...what happened to respect of other stuff? That would be nice too!!;-)