As horse people we seem to always be looking for ways to organize our barns & trailers, make things easier, and discover "cheap" crafty ways of doing things.
So I thought I would add this section to my
website with my ideas, and ways I do things. I hope this helpful for people to be able to see training videos I've made on training horses for them to learn different things, such as organizing, wrapping legs, and give tips on how to save money by thinking "out of the box"... As horse owners, we are always looking for ways to save a little money. Well, I know I am. :)
I will add new information, pictures, videos, and ideas as I come up with more.
I hope everyone will find the information in ths section of my website helpful.
There will be different pages with the categories of this section under the "How To's & Helpful Ideas" tab at the top of the page coming soon.
Organize your Polo, Track, and Standing wraps while saving space in your barn or trailer tack rooms...
If your like me, I have alot of different wraps in my tack room, and I'm always looking for ways to save space, and keep them organized. So here's an easy way...
Most all of us have an old busted water hose laying around somewhere. If you don't, you can also use pieces of PVC Pipe.
You will need....
- a piece of old water hose, or 3/4" PVC pipe
- stiff cord... a hay string will work too
- double sided velcro straps, or rubber bands... I get my velco straps in the craft section of Wal-mart. If you don't have velcro, a rubbe band works great too.
Most all of us have an old busted water hose laying around somewhere. If you don't, you can also use pieces of PVC Pipe.
You will need....
- a piece of old water hose, or 3/4" PVC pipe
- stiff cord... a hay string will work too
- double sided velcro straps, or rubber bands... I get my velco straps in the craft section of Wal-mart. If you don't have velcro, a rubbe band works great too.
- Start by cutting a piece of water hose, or pipe, to fit the width of your wraps. (I cut mine about 4 1/2" long to fit all my wraps)
- If using velcro, cut about 10" long
- Cut a piece of water hose, or pipe, about 1" long to use as a stopper on the end of you cord.
- Cut a length of cord long enough for all 4 wraps to be placed on, and tie a loop for a handle/hanger on one end. On the other end, tie the 1" hose, or pipe, to be used as a stopper.
- Place the 4 1/2" piece of hose, or pipe, inside the velcro end of your wrap(as shown above) with the velcro "in", and begin to roll.
- When the roll is finished, secure it with the velcro strap, or rubber band.
- Run the loop of your cord through the hose, or pipe, and hang on the wall.
If you're like me, I don't always wrap my horses up at the trailer, or in the barn, so the loop can also be placed on the saddle horn until you're ready to wrap.
- If using velcro, cut about 10" long
- Cut a piece of water hose, or pipe, about 1" long to use as a stopper on the end of you cord.
- Cut a length of cord long enough for all 4 wraps to be placed on, and tie a loop for a handle/hanger on one end. On the other end, tie the 1" hose, or pipe, to be used as a stopper.
- Place the 4 1/2" piece of hose, or pipe, inside the velcro end of your wrap(as shown above) with the velcro "in", and begin to roll.
- When the roll is finished, secure it with the velcro strap, or rubber band.
- Run the loop of your cord through the hose, or pipe, and hang on the wall.
If you're like me, I don't always wrap my horses up at the trailer, or in the barn, so the loop can also be placed on the saddle horn until you're ready to wrap.
Need an easier way to use plastic wrap to sweat a leg???
When I wrap legs I like all my materials to be easy to use, and with as few wrinkles as possible.
Use a carving knife, or fine toothed hand saw to cut a roll of plastic wrap into 3 rolls...(like a roll of vet wrap). Makes it much easier to use.
Use a carving knife, or fine toothed hand saw to cut a roll of plastic wrap into 3 rolls...(like a roll of vet wrap). Makes it much easier to use.
Don't you hate it when your over-n-under gets under your thigh during a run?
I hate to turn the 3rd barrel, and can't get to my over-n-under in time cause it has fallen under my thigh. So this is my solution... a snapper, with a few links of chain from a chain dog collar, small key ring, & rubber bands. It will move freely like the bands aren't even on it, and stays over my thigh so I know where to reach for it. But, if something was to happen, and you fall off, the rubber bands will break free.
Want you your headstall to stay on your saddle horn, and not fall off if the horse shakes???
My barn is a short distance from my arena, and I'm know for taking multiple horses at a time to the arena, so not all the horses are wearing a headstall when they are at the arena. When at races, I'm normally running more than one horse, and like all of my horses as "ready to go" as possible with all the horse's tack close by them. After I saddle up, I always hang the horse's headstall on that horse's saddle horn so it's there when I need it. But, we all have seen what can happen if the horse shakes, and it falls off. We come back to a dangerous situation of a dangling headstall... It's been stepped on, broken, or even worse... tangled in his legs. So I try to avoid the "anything can happen", and be as safe as possible with my horses & tack.
Simply use a rubber band to hold the headstall on the horn. If the horse shakes, or rubs on something, the headstall stays on the saddle horn. You can also use it to hold up your over and under after you unsaddle so you don't step on it, or trip, when carrying your saddle back to the trailer or barn tack room....(Picture below)
Simply use a rubber band to hold the headstall on the horn. If the horse shakes, or rubs on something, the headstall stays on the saddle horn. You can also use it to hold up your over and under after you unsaddle so you don't step on it, or trip, when carrying your saddle back to the trailer or barn tack room....(Picture below)
Make your saddle easier to carry, and neatly stored away...
I admit to being very picky about how my tack is put away after I unsaddle. I don't like my girths, breast collars, and over-n-unders dragging the ground, getting nasty, or under my feet to trip on. These days alot of us have the "bling" tack, and the crystals get dirty being drug on the ground, or fall off when slammed in trailer doors.
So this is how my saddle looks when it's taken off my horse, and put in the tack room of my barn or trailer. It's neatly put away, and off the floor.
So this is how my saddle looks when it's taken off my horse, and put in the tack room of my barn or trailer. It's neatly put away, and off the floor.
Ways to save a little time saddling up before a run...
It seems like I'm always looking for little ways to save some time getting ready to warm up, make a run, or something happens to make me run a little late getting to a race or rodeo. Because of this, I like things to be conveniently handy. I most always run multiple horses on the road, and exercise multiple horses during the day. So I like to save as much time as possible whenever it's possible.
One way I've found to save some time is to add snaps to my breast collars. They are always adjusted to the right hole, and ready to go.
If I'm riding a horse that requires a tie down, it stays with that saddle also. It's an easy way to keep things together, and make sure it doesn't get forgotten when loading the horse trailer to go to a race or rodeo. The 1st picture below is also how I snap it off while the horse is tied up waiting to make a run, or workout.
One way I've found to save some time is to add snaps to my breast collars. They are always adjusted to the right hole, and ready to go.
If I'm riding a horse that requires a tie down, it stays with that saddle also. It's an easy way to keep things together, and make sure it doesn't get forgotten when loading the horse trailer to go to a race or rodeo. The 1st picture below is also how I snap it off while the horse is tied up waiting to make a run, or workout.
Easy way to store your boots out of the way, and neatly...
Use velcro on the wall to store your splint boots & skid boots. If you use double sided velcro straps on your polo wraps, track wraps, standing wraps, etc. you can stick them to the wall, as well.
I get my velco straps in the craft section of Wal-mart.
The velcro on the wall has an adhesive backing which makes it stick to the wall, and then I use small metal brackets(from the hardware section of Wal-mart) to keep them in place when pulling to remove my boots or wraps.
I get my velco straps in the craft section of Wal-mart.
The velcro on the wall has an adhesive backing which makes it stick to the wall, and then I use small metal brackets(from the hardware section of Wal-mart) to keep them in place when pulling to remove my boots or wraps.
Here's an easy & creative way to organize all those grooming supplies...
- The top baskets are simple shower hangers I picked up at the Dollar Store... Yes, I only paid a $1 for them...yay! They are held to the wall with screws & washers at the top & bottom to keep them firmly in place.
- The bottom baskets are some extra wire baskets I had around the barn. I like to use wire baskets to allow dirt, pieces of hay or grass, etc. to fall through to keep them clean.
- The brushes, hoof pick, etc. are on simple hooks I got from the hardware section of Wal-mart.
- The coffee can I spray painted black, and use it to hold my horse treats, or as I call them "cookies", that I use to tease my horses when I stretch them out before saddling up.
- The splint boots, bell boots, and spur holders are made of a piece of PVC pipe, and 2 metal 3 sided brackets(basically look like a square, but only 3 sides)
- I use zip-ties all the time. The holder for them is next to the bell boots. Use a piece of PVC pipe, tape some kind of bottom on it(I used half of a soda can), and screw it to the door, or wall.
- The bottom baskets are some extra wire baskets I had around the barn. I like to use wire baskets to allow dirt, pieces of hay or grass, etc. to fall through to keep them clean.
- The brushes, hoof pick, etc. are on simple hooks I got from the hardware section of Wal-mart.
- The coffee can I spray painted black, and use it to hold my horse treats, or as I call them "cookies", that I use to tease my horses when I stretch them out before saddling up.
- The splint boots, bell boots, and spur holders are made of a piece of PVC pipe, and 2 metal 3 sided brackets(basically look like a square, but only 3 sides)
- I use zip-ties all the time. The holder for them is next to the bell boots. Use a piece of PVC pipe, tape some kind of bottom on it(I used half of a soda can), and screw it to the door, or wall.
Need a way to save space in your tack room???
I'm always looking for ways to save space in my tack room, and store things that are not being used out of the way.
I hang pulleys in my rafters and make hangers to hold my extra pads, bits, spray bottles, etc.
Tie a knot in the rope to stop the hanger at the level you want it when getting something off the hanger, or adding something.
I hang pulleys in my rafters and make hangers to hold my extra pads, bits, spray bottles, etc.
Tie a knot in the rope to stop the hanger at the level you want it when getting something off the hanger, or adding something.
Need a way to store those winter blankets or sheets during the summer???
- Use 2 hooks at the top turned the correct way, and 2 more hooks at the bottom turned upside down.
- Tie a rope or cord to the top hooks. Add a few knots spaced evenly down the ropes. Then pull tight on the bottom hooks and tie them off.
- Tie long peices of rope or cord above each knot on the ropes so they will not slip.
- Fold your blankets, and roll them up tight. Then, tie them in the roll with a piece of hay string.
- Then tie them off on the ropes with the long pieces of rope on the wall.
- Tie a rope or cord to the top hooks. Add a few knots spaced evenly down the ropes. Then pull tight on the bottom hooks and tie them off.
- Tie long peices of rope or cord above each knot on the ropes so they will not slip.
- Fold your blankets, and roll them up tight. Then, tie them in the roll with a piece of hay string.
- Then tie them off on the ropes with the long pieces of rope on the wall.