Shipping Container as Tack Room

[Shoei]

I'm thinking of buying a shipping container to use as a tack room. This would be for my own use for 2 horses.

Can anyone give me idea/experience of this kind of storage.

Many Thanks

 

[tda]

Costly to have delivered.
Condensation unless lined

We managed to get a 10ft one that had been used as site storage for some builder friends. I use it as general storage and feed room

 

[criso]

I've been on a couple of yards that used them. Worked very well but did get hot in summer when left shut in the sun.

 

[webble]

I've been on a couple of yards that used them. Worked very well but did get hot in summer when left shut in the sun.

Agreed, and can get damp too

 

[Horseysheepy]

I've got one I use for feed and rugs but the doors starting to rot at the hinges and it seems to be a little haven for slugs that enjoy feasting on carrots!
Very handy though.
I had mine delivered by a friend, we bought it off an retired butcher.

 

[cremedemonthe]

There was one at Crabbet Park livery yard years ago. It was ok as lined but it had a padlock with a metal guard over the padlock. One night about 2am a certain group of people drove right past the hotel next door and the stud next door and fired up a petrol angle grinder, cut the metal guard off and the padlock and that's the last they saw of all their tack, cleared the whole lot in to a vehicle and off and no one saw or heard a thing despite the noise!
So, make sure you have the security tight as you can.

 

[Surbie]

I've had them as tack rooms on 3 yards - 2 were lined, one wasn't. My tack went mouldy in the unlined one.

 

[Bobthecob15]

They do get very wet inside, we have one as a feed room. It isn't lined though!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've used one. They are ok. Stiflingly hot in summer, damp in winter. Ugly to look at!

 

[criso]

I don't know if the ones I've used were lined but damp was less of an issue than in current brick one and previous wooden.

One night about 2am a certain group of people drove right past the hotel next door and the stud next door and fired up a petrol angle grinder, cut the metal guard off and the padlock and that's the last they saw of all their tack,

If someone is that organised and going to that much effort, most wooden doors wouldn't stop them either.

 

[dorsetladette]

I have one that we use as an everything store, so feed room, tack room, rug room.

In winter I'm really strict to keep wet rugs out of it to avoid moisture in there to try to prevent condensation. You do get condensation, but it's not terrible as long as your careful not to put wet stuff in there. I don't soak feed in there and I hang wet rugs in a spare shelter (my coats too).

I've pulled all my tack out and cleaned it all this weekend. I wouldn't say it's any more mouldy than it would have been if it was in a shed/stable or brick building all winter. Obviously more than if it was sat in a heated tack room. In the summer you do need to oil your tack abit more than noraml as it does dry out quicker with the heat. I try to cover my leather saddles and keep my nice bridles in bridle bags I don't know if it helps or not.

 

[pistolpete]

I have seen more than one used very durably. Place in a shady spot ideally. Leave open while you’re around to air. Good solution.

 

[spotty_pony2]

we had one at a yard once which was full of jumps - it was like an oven in summer!!

 

[hazel25]

we've got a couple at my yard used for tack and feed storage, they do work quite well but as above leave open whenever possible to air as it does get very hot!

 

[Caol Ila]

I've been at a couple yards using shipping containers as tack storage. As above, hot in summer, freezing in winter, and everything got mouldy. They weren't lined, though.

 

[PurBee]

We have one - it’s full of various dry items, and despite it never getting any sun exposure at all, due to being overshadowed by large trees, in winter there’s condensation inside, which has made bone dry things damp. It needs opening on drier days to circulate the air and help dry-out contents.
It’s not lined.
Theyre a handy instant large strong store-space - but ideally for plastic things, or things stored in plastic barrels, plastic boxes, to protect really dry items.
I’d imagine leather tack would be at risk of mould, so might need cleaning more regularly and taking home to dry more thoroughly during winter especially.

 

[Abacus]

We have two, one for tack and the other for general storage. The tack one is part lined and stays pretty dry (now that we've fixed a leak). I hauled out and cleaned all my tack last weekend and there was a tiny bit of mould on one saddle that hasn't been used for ages, the rest of it was fine.

For security I think they are probably better than a wooden tack room. If someone wants to get in enough, they will, but the effort of getting into a properly locked metal container might be offputting. Ours is tucked round at the back and you wouldn't see it from the road or when you're on the yard.

For just two horses you might be able to find a smaller one. Like this:

Pardon our interruption...

 

[cremedemonthe]

I don't know if the ones I've used were lined but damp was less of an issue than in current brick one and previous wooden.


If someone is that organised and going to that much effort, most wooden doors wouldn't stop them either.

Had one at a city farm in London I used to do repairs for where they actually took tiles off the roof to gain entry past all the door security and cleared the tack room.

 

[Birker2020]

I'm thinking of buying a shipping container to use as a tack room. This would be for my own use for 2 horses.

Can anyone give me idea/experience of this kind of storage.

Many Thanks

We have four on the yard and they have been great. No damp/mould. Been there for 20yrs. The problem is never how secure they are, the problems is that last to use sometimes forgot to lock!!

They have a padlock on and the plate on the front to prevent crowbar use. Y.o lives on site anyway and guard dogs run loose.

 

[scats]

We have a large one as our tack room. Part lined to about 3/4 way up. It gets hot in summer (one particularly sweaty livery used to leave her body protector in there to fester after a summers day lesson… ) but doesn’t seem to get damp in winter.

 

[lizziebell]

You need “Shipping container moisture absorbers”.