A friend just got a new-to-her trailer and now the fun begins! She asked my opinion on a few things and I realize: boy do I have a few thoughts and opinions! I mean, it’s horse stuff, organization and shopping, three of my favorite things! 😀
Like ten years ago when my friend ran a pony club and I used to tag along, I made this list to organize myself to haul out. I gave it to the pony clubbers at the time, and when I ran into one of the Moms years later she told me they still used the list! I’ve been told the concept of “kits” was very useful, too. It’s very much based on the Pony Club handbooks, and a few other lists I likely found online at the time. I should probably update it, let me know if you have edits!
I needed a list because I didn’t have my own trailer and so had to pack everything from scratch every time we went out. I also hadn’t truly fell in love with tack trunks. I never liked the beautiful one I had for hunter/jumper shows and I’d already sold it and started focusing on eventing. I think I bought my sensible Stanley 50 Gallon Mobile tool box at that time but I didn’t wind up using it much so I didn’t figure out what needed to be in it. I feel like tack trunks are a whole post on their own.
So what goes inside the trailer? I think making a list of what you have to have with you, what you want to have with you, and how you are going to organize it is where you start. A sublist of what you have to load and unload each time is useful, too. And posting a list of what you need to make sure you loaded each time is probably useful, too. See, there’s a reason I made a list!
Have to have. What do you HAVE to have to ride that day?
Saddle, bridle, girth, pad, booties, groom kit, boots, helmet, gloves, water buckets, medications, spare halter and lead rope… What else should you add for your horse?
Safety. I have this separate because this stuff is expensive, and a lot of people haul without it. Consider your choices wisely.
First aid, flares, triangles, fire extinguisher, Trailer-Aid Tire Jack Ramp. Some of these things may live in your truck instead of the trailer. I have this tool kit in my truck and it’s pretty handy. Make sure you can get to them if you pack your truck to the gills like I do!
Want to have:
Hose, muck bucket and cart, mounting block, tool kit. These things will make life easier but if you are just doing day trips you may not need it right away. Also remember most people share a bit at shows, especially if you go with a group.
Overnight want to have:
Tack trunk (for shows, I don’t bring it for camping), more buckets, straps to hang your water buckets, hay bales. Is it a show where you need a braiding kit? or camping where you need extra lights? When you stay overnight, or for multiple days, your needs expand. Check out this post on Horse Show Accessories for my recent MVPs. Also notice that the packing list expands from a “day trip” to an “overnight trip” to a whole “show.”
Nice to have:
I have a folding table, a chair, and two types of saddle racks (free-standing and one that hangs on the stall). I also keep a pile of beach towels in the trailer and I wind up using one for something quite often. Ask people if you can tour their tack rooms so you can get ideas!
The shuffle back-and-forth list:
I’m mentioning this because it can be useful to post a checklist in the trailer. I usually only have to transfer tack because I have show boots, helmets, and my safety vest stored in the trailer, but I have a mental checklist I review each time. It’s a bummer to haul all that way and forget your girth or helmet. I also have forgot that I left my grooming kit in the show trunk and needed to borrow a brush.
How to store all of this STUFF?
My trailer came with wall-mounted hooks, a place to hang clothes and a nice pull-out saddle rack. It also has a mirror, saddle pad bar, boot box, internal tire, and some door organizers. The first couple of times, use what you have and make piles. It’s hard to envision what you want before you’ve used the space. I added some milk crates because they are sturdy and stack well without falling over (or coming open like shelves might) but I’ve seen racks of shelves in people’s trailers. I also added some of those battery powered lights (with timers!) for when I need light in the tack room and I’m not hooked up to the truck battery (you can add a battery to the trailer, but I haven’t needed that yet). Ask people what they do (and how they keep the shelves from falling over, because I’m certain that’s what would happen to me! 🤣
[I’m going to clean my trailer’s tack room and put a picture of it here. 😉]
I think that’s enough for one post. I’m sure I will find more information to share in a future post. Let m know what edits I should make on the post and the packing list, and if a shopping list might be useful? And if you liked the post!