Hi,I did the following:
Question: Tack Box question? Student headed to college?
The pictures have nothing to do with the content!!

I would love to hear from ya’all about what kind of tack box/storage you use at the barn and any recommendations you’d have.

I am heading off to college and will need leave all my horse’s things at the barn as I cannot store in a car/home any more. I have a tack locker and saddle hanger, but will need to store the following:

shipping bandages( pillows and standing wraps)
fly sheet, 2 coolers, quarter sheet
extra blanket odds and ends
extra pads, bridles, reins, boots etc
my expensive ariat tall boots
my winter riding boots
cleaning supplies for tack
clothing like my riding coat etc as my sister will not allow horsey anything in her car.

My winter blankets and the bandages are currently in their own rubbermaid bins, but I have limited storage space and need them to be kept safe, clean and animal free. The tack boxes at my barn are in the “cold” area of the barn in a storage space by our indoor arena. They share this space with the shavings, so I would prefer something that seals. Add this to the minnesota winters and I’m scrambling to find a solution!

Thanks so much!
I definitely need storage at the barn and any transportation is really out of the question (I’m evidentally supposed to go to the barn, change, ride, change and go back to school… *eyeroll*)
I love this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-47118&ids=480959235
but am looking for something slightly more affordable

The following is the answer:

Answer by Julie
For all of your clothing, encluding tallboots, keep them in your dorm room- it’s what I did. Get some tallboot bags for your boots to keep them safe and looking nice.

For everything else, get a big rubbermade tub and put them in that. You might want to hang your bridles, so put them on a hanger in your dorm room if you can.

If your sister won’t allow anything horsey in her car, maybe you can reach a compromise and put everything in trash bags in the trunk to transport it to and from the barn. That way the car won’t get dirty or smell like horses.

Answer by Kaley
A locking tack trunk would be best for everything valuable. Plastic trunks are usually the cheapest and most durable. Everything else, like your wraps and tack cleaning supplies, could go in rubbermade.

I have this trunk. The grooming tray is great, and you can buy a lock for it:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-27369&ids=480961330

Answer by Cassie
GET SOMETHING THAT LOCKS!

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a big expensive locking tack bin…I found a cheap (15.00) plastic one at Walmart in the storage section. It is pretty strong – doesn’t bend when you lift it, sit on it, etc – and is very functional, if not the prettiest.

I am having the same issue as you though – going to college and nowhere to put anything! I think I am going to end up keeping all of my breeches, socks, boots in my dorm…plus maybe my spare saddle and bridle depending on how big the tack locker they give us is.

You said youo have to change at the barn? Are you not allowed to come already dressed in horsey-wear? If not, strange rule, but I would get a couple of those bags they give you when you dry clean things and keep a few days of clothes in your box or locker.

Your winter clothes and spare and heavy blankets can stay in your dorm closet during the summer…then switch them out when winter comes.

Answer by Donald
Good luck with college, I am sure you will have a great time. I remember my college years and I still wish I was back there. If you have a lot of stuff I recommend you do what my roommate and I did. We didn’t have enough room in our dorm so we rented a storage space from http://www.storagedeluxe.com/. They have them all different sizes and for all different objects. I recommend you take a look at them, and they are not as expensive as most people think. I hope this helps you out. And again good luck in college, enjoy it as much as you can.

Answer by Jenny+Milano
I got a simple tack trunk at my local tack shop for 100$. I love it!
Look on Jeffers Equine, they have really good deals.

If not, Go to a hardware store and you can buy a big container that is made out of durable material and had a closing lid. Thats what I used to have and it was great!

Good luck!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!