Friday, January 16, 2009

Today's tip is all about recycling and making trash into treasure. One of my new years resolutions is to organize my tack. Here are a few ideas I came up with to help my tack room out. Let me know if you have any ideas as well.

Peg board - Awesome stuff especially if you can find it used. Put this up on one wall in your tack room. use peg board hooks, which can be purchased at any office supply store, to hang those "other" items like girths, training equipment, rope, breast collars and any extra parts and pieces. The hooks work great for tack with buckles or snaps and holds wide and unusually shaped items well.

Tuna or cat food cans - These are great for hanging bridles, leather halters, and other leather tack. Nail the can with the bottom on the wall so you can see the inside. Leather doesn't like to be folded and can crack and weaken from the stress over time. The can provides a nice wide hanging area for the leather to sit naturally and will help to extend the life of your tack. Besides it keeps your leather tack in view and easily accessable.

Old buckets - The larger taller buckets that held feed products or such are great as saddle racks. Just nail the bottom of the bucket to the wall. Use at least 3 large woodscrews set as a triangle with two a few inches apart at the highest point and one lower between them. The inside of the bucket is a clever cubby for brushes, medicines, towels, saddle covers and more. If your saddle wants to slip off just apply a strip of old carpet to the top of the bucket.

Unwanted bits - Add a little designer touch by using old bits as towel racks. All you have to do attach each end of the bit on the ring or top of the shank to the wall with a large utility staple. These are good for hanging tail bags, gloves, towels, face wipes and anything else you can think of. When they are not being used the bits add a visual appeal to your tack room.

Let me know if you have any other ideas. I love to hear them.