Helppppp - storage nightmare

C

CC_rosie_dolly

Member
Joined
3 May 2015
Messages
15
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
Hey, my new pony is going into livery on Monday, saddle & bridle fitted and purchased today, and all other accessories (including a cooler rug and travelling stuff) only a slight problem... The livery yard has very little storage space, the tack room is tiny, but that's not an issue, as saddle and bridle will be kept at home, but how am I meant to all my other 'essentials' I have some large plastic boxes, which could go outside my stable, but I'm wondering how you all store your 'essentials' (more like non essentials) ☺️
 
How much stuff is actually essential - stuff that you need on a daily basis. I think the solution here, at leats in part, is to be ruthless in paring down what you leave at the yard to genuine essentials - first aid kit, everyday grooming tools, headcollar, boots the horse is ridden in, rugs that are in use, hi vis. Which is still quite a lot of stuff admittedly, what do other liveries do?
 
Buy a garden storage box from B&Q and put it outside your stable. Or even inside if the stable is big enough. Just don't sit on them, they break very easily and then they aren't waterproof.
 
I recently had this problem: moving from a yard with more room than you would ever need, to a livery like you described.

I bought one of these portable four hook hangers (I'll link below) which hangs on the side of my stable (indoor stable with mesh wire bars to hang from). One each hook I have a head collar, fly mask, and a little bag containing my everyday brushes, fly spray and hoof pick.

I'd also recommend a rug rack (also linked below) which are so usual! I can fit about four rugs at time which is all I need: fly rug, lightweight, cooler sheet and stable rug. Its important to be on the ball with this though: as the weather changes take rugs home and bring the ones you need for the season back to the yard.

I also invested in some storage bins, like the one you keep feed in. I bought normal sized ones, but also mini versions which are the size of a 20 kg bag of feed or haylage. They are perfect for storing the non-essentials (which we all wish counted as essentials, but in reality aren't so have to stay at home in the garage!), and also for putting out of season rugs in. I got mine off ebay in funky colours like light green and purple, for a really good price.

Finally I have two boxes which I keep on shelf in the feed room: one is a first aid box and the other is a random collection of never used, so technically not essential, items (don't tell!).

Hope that helps.

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/portable-four-hook-hanger-black.html
http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...ack.html?rocket=product-customers-also-viewed
 
Last edited:
My sister bought a stand up cupboard type garden storage box and managed to talk the shop assistant into giving her a second shelf (they only came with one) from a broken one on display. It was incredibly useful at our old yard where all liveries shared a storage container for ALL their kit and just about every rug each horse owned.
It was a yard that grew to having nearly 40 horses so you can imagine how cramped and messy it got!
She could fit her massive grooming kit (which headcollar, leadrope and spare haynet fit into in the bottom with one rug, 2 hats, chaps, short and long boots on top. On the shelves she had her daughters grooming kit and a huge collection of lotions, potions and bith horse and human first aid kit.
Because it was upright it didn't take up much space, it was made of plastic and the top went on last so it kept out light amounts of water well.

I can't remember if she got it in tesco, B&Q or homebase though :/

Mum has one of the long plastic chest type garden freezers but it takes up a lot of space and things get lost in a muddle because it's just a big open space (usless if you are disorganised like me!)
The hinges have also broken so the lid needs weighed down by tyres to stop it blowing off. It lives in the lee of the field shelter all year cordened off by jump wings and seems watertight enough for everything but food and leathers.

Both are very handy but I wouldn't trust a horse not to break either into shrapnel or put a hoof through it in an enclosed space :/
 
This will be so unhelpful but literally all I have for my horse is headcollar lead rope, one bridle one saddle, couple of brushes hoof pick and a rain sheet. Hi viz for me his feed couple of bags and couple of supplements. All else is extra fluff in my eyes lol!
 
Buy a filing cabinet. They are brilliant for putting bits and bobs in and have deep drawers yet only take up a small space in tack room etc
 
I have a big/long plastic storage chest from B&Q too, also my car boot is used as additional storage I'm afraid! And my sitting room is currently part feed store as horsey has ballooned on grass and no longer needs all the bags of feed I ordered when he was skinnier!
 
I had 3 stacking boxes with front opening flaps. Boots and bandages in one, grooming kit in the next and light rugs/blankets in the last one. If you were worried about security you could easily drill them and put in a long bar padlock.
 
Thank you everyone, looks like I'll be having a sort out and decided which things actually need to be kept and the yard. In summer I'm just keeping my cooler rug and no fill turnout rugs there, but I think winter may be a bit more umm... Chaotic. Other liveries have big wooden trunks, but my bank balence is broke since buying a new saddle, new bridle and everything else, so can't afford one. Maybe in the near future. Thanks again.
 
Will your horse tolerate having his rugs hang in the stable? Mine have a broom handle hung on baler twine about 6 " from the back wall, some high shelving in there too for grooming boxes etc might help?
 
If you own a car and use that to go to the yard every day, then that could be your 'mobile tackroom' until you can afford new storage boxes :-)
 
CC_rosie_dolly said:
Other liveries have big wooden trunks, but my bank balence is broke since buying a new saddle, new bridle and everything else, so can't afford one. Maybe in the near future. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Could you or someone you know buy some lengths of wood (or broken down pallets) and a couple if hinges, maybe even a wee lock plate and padlock and make it into a box? You could then sand it down and stain and weatherproof it.

Just talked to OH about it and he says if you weatherproof seal each piece of wood before assembly, clad the inside with cheap chip board (and the outside too if you like) and staple weatherproof membrane to it before putting on the outside layer it should keep it pretty dry inside. If it doesn't need to be outside you could just make it one layer. He reckons it could be done for around £50 with a bit of determination :)
 
Gave up with the wooden trunk idea, and bought a large plastic trunk on wheels, with a smaller step box for first aid (doubled as a mounting block) thank you for all your ideas! X
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top