DIY Budget Friendly Barn Organization

While packing Oliver up for baby horse boot camp, I was reminded of a constant struggle. We spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on fancy wooden boxes. Everything gets piled in, and somehow what you need is always at the bottom of the box. On the other side, they make some beautiful highly organized tack lockers, but they run about $3,000+. So over the years I've come up with some solutions for in the barn, or great trailer organization.

DIY Tack Organizer

Perfect for your tack room, trailer, and traveling.

In variety of sizes and so many options, these are a great edition

Step 1

Select a set of plastic drawers. Personally, I love this Sterilite 5 drawer option (find here: Sterilite 5 Drawer) The bottom 3 are large enough to fit most blankets (my sheets, lightweight, medium, and coolers fit, my heavy weights do not), boots, halters, and other bulkier items. The top two are perfect for organizing all your little things.

Step 2

Remove drawers and paint the frame with Krylon Fusion paint for plastic. This is great because it requires no sanding or priming (although I do recommend cleaning prior to panting).  Check out the color options and where to find it here: Krylon Fusion

Step 3

If you want to dress up the drawers there are a few options.

Spray Paint - Krylon Fusion is also a great option, paint in your choice of colors

Fabric - Have a great print that you don't know what to do with? Cut it down to slightly larger than the front of the drawer. Then use a craft spray adhesive (like this) on the inside of the drawer. Place your fabric facing outward and smooth from the center to the corners. Let dry and then trim the edges. Depending on what type of fabric you may want to use a spray around the edges to keep them from fraying.

Decoupage - This leaves so many fun and inexpensive options as you can use scrap booking paper, wrapping paper, magazine or newspaper cutouts.  Plus, with the new spray modge podge (here) it's easier to apply, and doesn't make a mess.

Step 4

Drawer organization.

There are a lot of products, I really like the MadeSmart organizers. At less than $7/set they provide a lot of organization and come in a few colors. They clip in and can be reorganized depending on your preference. While you can leave them free floating, I'll use the plastic dots to keep glass or furniture from slipping or a drop of hot glue to secure them. Both options allow you to pull them up and reorganize if you choose.

My current top drawer organization

Bottom drawer towel storage - Check out DollarTree for Microfiber towel sets perfect for drying!

If you need drawer labels there are a variety of cabinet label holders that can be fixed on front like this!

Check out these other examples:

Stencil is used to add detail here

    

Other Budget Friendly Barn Organizer

Trailer Organizer

 There are a variety of hanging closet organizer, but this one is a favorite for trailers. If you have a closet bar already installed you can easily put this up, you can add a bar, or modify it to hang off loops. It's great because the shelves are easy for storing cloths (or lets be honest, more horse gear), and has a bar for hanging show coats or more.







Rolling racks like this one can be a great buy ($29.99 at Costco). Depending on size, they can fit saddle pads, or all those extra show day grooming supplies. Also great for grooms who have multiple horses to care for. Easy to move from your tack room to the trailer, and locking wheels means it won't go anywhere when you're on the move.

Other rolling options are tool carts. They have lots of compartments, space to hang fly sprays, show sheen and other sprays, and the price point is great. Most hardware and tools carry them. Below is a Luxor from Costo ($69.99).  And of course, you can use the Krylon Fusion for plastic or Rustoleum spray paint for metal to make it match your colors and look nice in the barn.

I hope you guys found this helpful! If you use these solutions, feel free to share some pictures of your creative ideas.

Baby Horse Bootcamp

Prep for RRP 2017 is underway. After much consideration, we've selected Tracey Bidwell of Allure X Equestrian as our trainer. There were three major factors that encouraged us to go with Tracey.

       1. She has a successful history across multiple disciplines - while I purchased Oliver with the intention of being a Hunter Derby prospect, he's also shown natural movement for upper level Dressage. I wanted to make sure he had a well-rounded foundation that would allow him to excel in any direction. Ps for those interested Tracey's been hugely successful with jumpers, even reiners, and barrel racers!

       2. Tracey has a love and long history of working with OTTBs. She doesn't see them as just off the track Thoroughbreds, or cheap horses, she sees them as athletes. OTTBs have their quirks, know a lot and don't know a lot at the same time. Someone familiar with them was important.

       3. She believes in ground work and general training not just under saddle. Tracey wants to build her horses confidence in themselves and trust in the rider. I believe this contributes to an all around happy, confident, enjoyable horse.

Oliver's first discovery at Tracey's - the "drive-thru" cookie window

For those interested, Tracey is based in Vanceboro, NC and you learn more about her here: Allure X Equestrian Facebook

Retired Racehorse Project - Phase 1

So, how did I end up setting the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) as a goal for 2017? I had to retire my show horse after a major injury at only 7 years old. Shopping for horses, well frankly it sucked. Every horse wasn't MY horse, wasn't my Rugby. He was my horse of a lifetime, and I wasn't ready to look for another.  And that's how it happened. I decided to stop shopping for me, and start looking for a horse that needed a chance at a second career, a horse I could do something for. One Saturday a friend and trainer sent me this bay 4 year old Thoroughbred who retired from the track earlier this year and said buy this one. Only a few hours later I'd made arrangements and Outrageous Justice became a part of our barn family. I've had a lot of friends contemplate participating in RRP, or purchasing an off the track Thoroughbred, but have reservations about it. As a long time supporter of OTTBs, I thought it could be a great opportunity to share my journey and experience in hopes it might help others. My application was submitted, and now we wait!

Meet Outrageous Justice

For those considering, here are some great links on RRP and other TB incentive programs:
Retired Racehorse Project
TIP Jockey Club Incentive
USHJA Hunter Challenge
USHJA Jumper Challenge

If anyone has an topics of interest, or questions for future blogs feel free to comment below. I'd love to hear what everyone would be interested in seeing in the future.