Helpful Tips for Organizing Your Tack Room

Having an organized tack room can help you in so many ways. I have put together 10 helpful tips to help you get your tack room organized once and for all!

A few months ago, I was so excited. I thought I was going to get to start riding again. Unfortunately, when I went to see my doctor way back in January, he told me I could not ride until I was 6 months post-op. Bum, bum, bum…….. talk about disappointing. That really got me down. I was so ready to get back into the saddle. However, I listened to my doctor, and I have not touched my saddle since I had rotator cuff surgery. but that is all about to change on May 1st. Because that is the day it is safe for my shoulder to resume all, as my doctor describes, as ‘high impact sports.’

This means I have been planning for the past month for my first official day to ride again. And because my first ride is in the middle of the week, I will be working that day. So, I have been trying to get my messy tack room in check and organized so that when I can ride, I can use the time to the best of my ability.

And I wanted to share with you some things that I did in my own tack room to help you get your own tack room organized.

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Helpful Tips for Organizing Your Tack Room

I often wonder how others keep their equipment organized in their own tack rooms. I also wonder if others spend a lot of time searching for the things they need to ride before they ride. This is especially true if you have spent an extended amount of time being unable to ride for whatever reason. So let me share 10 helpful tack room organization tips with you to help you get into the saddle faster and have a neat and tidy tack room in the process.

Declutter First

I cannot stress this enough. Do the decluttering first. Begin by removing everything from the tack room and sorting through it. You would be surprised at how fast a small space can accumulate a lot of unneeded items. Discard any damaged or unused items. And be honest with yourself. (I’m talking to myself here.) Do you really need 14 bridles for one horse? Or are you really going to fix that broken item that you have been holding onto for over a year? It’s kind of like cleaning out your closet. If you haven’t used it in over a year, it may be time to sell or donate it.

Getting rid of the excess stuff that has a claim on you can be so freeing! It is such a good feeling to be able to let go of stuff you don’t really need. And this will give you a clean slate to work with.

Group Similar Items Together

Arrange your tack into categories such as bridles, saddles, grooming supplies, and first aid items. This makes it easier to find what you need quickly.

I found this Over the Door Storage Organizer on Amazon. Using some pretty plant hangers, I attached it to my wall instead of the door. This gives me multiple shelves and pockets to store items together. For example, in one pocket, I have leather cleaning items. And in another, I have horse boots; yet another, I keep clean rub rags. Having all similar things in one place makes them easy to find when I need them.

Invest in Storage Solutions

Use shelving units, hooks, pegboards, and bins to keep items off the floor and organized. Wall-mounted racks can save space and keep tack easily accessible.

I had added the lower cabinets several years ago, but I wasn’t really using them as well as I should have been. I also made a countertop, but I wasn’t using the space to the best of my ability. So, I decided to add a couple of shelving units on top of the cabinets.

I found a 3-shelf wire shelving unit that fits perfectly on the countertop. This gives me so much more storage! I can keep like items not only together but also easily locate what I am looking for. Then, I found some pretty storage boxes at Goodwill to keep things in. And it looks nice, too.

Utilize Vertical Space

Take advantage of vertical space by installing hooks or racks on walls for hanging tack, such as bridles, reins, and blankets.

I made this new bridle rack a few weeks ago. And now the adhesive is setting up, so I can’t put my bridles and girths on it just yet. But oh how I am looking forward to hanging up my bridles here! I love the look of chrome. So I invested in some very nice Chrome Bridle Hangers as well as Horseshoe Hooks. I stained a piece of wood and attached the hooks. It was very easy to make. And I love the way it looks!

Helpful Tips for Organizing Your Tack Room

I also invested in a boot hanger to keep my riding boots up off the floor. Hopefully, this will keep any creepy crawlies out of the boots, too. Using all of the walls of my small tack room was necessary to keep everything in its place. My favorite saying is everything needs to have a home. And finding a way to use the metal wall for storage gave me even more vertical space to use to keep things organized.

Keep Grooming Supplies Handy

Store grooming supplies like brushes, hoof picks, and shampoos in a convenient spot near the grooming area for easy access.

Again, using my shelving units, and even the top of my tack trunk as a shelf, I can use this space to keep my grooming totes. And yes, I have multiples. But I can easily locate the grooming tote that I need, and take it out to my horse when I need to groom.

Keeping grooming totes tidy and organized is an entire post of it’s own. I think I will need to write about that next!

Create a First Aid Station

Dedicate a specific area for first aid supplies such as bandages, antiseptic ointments, and medications. Make sure it’s easily accessible in case of emergencies.

I have written multiple posts on my first aid kit. This thing is a beast. But I have everything I need in case of an emergency in one place. With horses, they will inevitably get hurt. So it is better to be prepared and have the things you may need in case of an emergency. And by having everything in one place, you will know where you need to get the supplies you need, should an emergency happen.

Establish a Maintenance Routine

Regularly clean and inspect your tack to prolong its lifespan. Designate a specific time each week for maintenance tasks such as oiling leather or washing saddle pads.

Because I am trying to utilize the small space that I have for my tack room, I don’t have the space for a hamper. I am sure I could make space for it. But then that means I would need to bring the hamper into my house, and then remember to bring it back out to the barn. I know myself well enough to know I will not be good about this.

So knowing myself, I found an easier solution. I had this big bag from Equestrian Stockholm that I can fit a lot of laundry in. I hung this on the wall so it is out of the way. And when it’s full, or I have the time to do a load of horse laundry I can bring the bag into my house. Then after everything comes out of the dryer (or done being hung dry) I can put the laundry back into the bag and take it out to my tack room.

I like to find storage solutions that are affordable, even if they aren’t the typical way to do things.

Designate Spaces for Each Horse

If you have multiple horses, assign specific areas or bins for each horse’s equipment to prevent mix-ups and confusion.

For me, this is pretty easy. I have one horse that I ride, and one pony that is a companion to the riding horse. But even then I can confuse what belongs to Jesse, and what belongs to Al-Capony.

Helpful Tips for Organizing Your Tack Room

So to keep things easily identifiable, I have different colors for each horse. I do use the same grooming tools on both horses, but for individual items they are color coded.

Prioritize Accessibility

Store frequently used items at eye level or within easy reach. Reserve higher shelves for items you use less often.

At one time I always kept my horse blankets up on the blanket rack year round. But this left a lot of unused space that I could be utilizing when the weather is warmer, which is when I do most of my riding and extra time with my horses. So one way to free up some of the wall real estate is to pack the heavier blankets away.

I still have some lightweight coolers and stable blankets that I keep hanging up. But the rest of them get packed into a clear storage tote. This also helps to keep spiders and other creepy crawlies out of my horses blankets over the summer. Then I have access to a lot more space, which is great when I have more time to be outside. Because the last thing I want to do is reorganize my tack room when I could be riding, or playing with my horses.

Regularly Reassess and Adjust

Tack rooms can easily become disorganized over time. This is especially true if you don’t put things back when you are done using them. (again, I am speaking to myself LOL) I

It is usually late in the evening when I finish riding or working with my horses. So I am not the best at putting everything away where it belongs. I want to get inside, have dinner, and relax for a bit before going to bed. BUT, if I just take a couple of minutes when I am done, and put everything away – then I will have less of a mess for the next time I am able to ride.

Organization Tips are Always Helpful

Starting fresh, with a clean slate, and clean tack room does motivate me to keep it that way. And when there is down time when I can’t ride, I still could use that time to make sure everything is in it’s place (home) and the trash is removed, the floor is swept, the tack is clean and leather oiled….

I could go on and on, but making time to keep things fresh and well-organized continues to motivate me to do so.

Helpful Tips for Organizing Your Tack Room

I hope that I have given you some things to think about and to help you get your tack room ready for riding season. Or, maybe I have inspired you to make some improvements in your tack room. Whatever the case, I hope I have given you some useful information for your organizational needs!

Happy Organizing!