Wednesday, November 1, 2017

You Would NOT BELIEVE the Thing I Did at the Barn

Winter is coming, yo. As a working ammy, that means riding in the dark and cold and being short on time and needing to make the best of it. 

Normally, I'm pretty heads up about getting ready--I have blankets professionally washed and prepped before summer and I'm super organized.
that is not a clean blanket
But.

Rehoming Courage meant not putting much effort into dealing with his gear. Then getting Zoe meant lots of trying things on and shuffling things around and buying new things annnnnnd the net result of that is that it basically looked like a hoarder exploded in my tack area and "my tack area" was becoming a majority percentage of a generously-esized (shared) tack room.

First things first.

I'd sort of tried a single blanket on Zoe a month or so back and squinted through the fingers I put over my eyes and was like "yeah maybe that'll work", but since winter is legit going to happen, it was time to find out if it would work or not.
yeah no
Courage was a 78" horse that had to spend a lot of time in 81" blankets because I already owned them and homeboy could deal. Zoebird is an 81" horse (right now) who really and truly doesn't fit in 78"s. Fortunately, my 81"s are pretty clean still because they got less use. The 78"s might be finding new homes.
81 is ok. she won't grow, right?
Then there was the slight issue of "someone exploded in the tack room". 

It probably took me a good hour and a half, but I trimmed stuff in the tack room down to the bare essentials in my trunk. 
a clean trunk always makes me think of the preternaturally organized Carly
I cleaned the trunk itself and reorganized what's actually in there so I can find/see it. I cut back to ONE set of boots, ONE set of polos, two helmets, and grooming kit essentials, plus ONE cooler and then I was even able to fit the wash bucket and clippers in the trunk instead of leaving them on the floor. 

And then... 

I wish I had a before pic for you. 
uh actually this was before it got really out of hand
plus you can't see the saddle rack(s)
I had a giant pile of saddle pads, two saddles, a ripped up neck cover, and god knows what else strewn across three saddle racks in complete disorder. Not including the strap goods explosion. 

And now we have this:
tidy
That's right. One saddle (the one that fits), the saddle pads I use with it, one girth, one breastcollar, one dressage bridle, one toodle bridle. And my lunge line. 

Everything else was neatly cleaned off, hauled home, and packed away for the winter. I'm not getting rid of it, but I need it not to be collecting dust and stressing me out at the barn for the next couple months. 

Bet you didn't see that coming. 

45 comments:

  1. I believe that is called “making room to grow”....

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    1. That is the best comment ever, I cannot top that. Organization is life.

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  2. I see this less as organizing and more as SB gets rid of the dead weight so she can load up on the goods over the cold dark shopping days ahead. You can't fool me. 😜

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  3. Oh my, the other boarders at your barn are probably SO CONFUSED. "But where did the stuff go???"
    😂

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    1. "We thought like ten other people used this tack room. ITS JUST YOU???"

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  4. A good clean and organize always makes me feel so accomplished and good about myself. =-)

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    1. Well. I wouldn't go quite that far, but I'm glad it's done.

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  5. Would you like to come do mine? I need to do the same. Sadly I have 2 saddle racks completely full (yes, 7 saddles and multitude of pads) and a 10 bridle rack (ful too). Problem is- No room at home for much either. There's a sale this weekend though and a lot of it will be finding new homes. Lol

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    1. Hahaha I better not be within a hundred miles of a sale. That sounds dangerous!

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    2. The sale is to unload some of my stuff. Sending it on to new homes, far away from my stash. However, selling some of it means money coming in to fill the space with an all new stash of tack. Lol

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  6. Now I feel guilty and will probably clean my shit up. Probably.

    Thanks for shaming me into action, I needed it.

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  7. what, are you sick or something?

    sending healing thoughts your way.

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  8. Yay for organizing. I need to do that someday too.....bleh.

    Also, if those 78s are really looking for homes I happen to have a 76/78 horsie. ;)

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  9. Um, are you SURE you didn't hit your head when you unexpectedly dismounted ZB?

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  10. This makes me so content, you have no idea. I literally let loose a blissful sigh. And now I want to go reorganize my trunk not because it needs it but because maybe I can find even MOAR things to phase out or tuck away.

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    1. I forgot my phone at home but I borrowed trainer's phone so I could get a pic for you. Not actually a joke haha.

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  11. I need to do some tack organizing. I have no tack room, so it's barn aisle/car/dorm room organizing. Roommate rides a bit too, so I can totally justify putting his saddle in his space, right?

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    Replies
    1. As long as he doesn't have grubby fingers or something.

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    2. He's cleaner than I am, plus it's not like he gets to use my nice tack or anything.

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  12. Come do mine. It literally looks like boxes exploded.

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  13. I'm going to need you to fly back and organize my tack area too, please and thanks! :)

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  14. I keep thinking I should organize. Then I put it off for another day. Perks of all my stuff being at my own home so no one gets to complain about my explosions.

    P.S. if those 78"s are looking for a home, I may be interested...

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  15. I just did this last week. Since it's gotten below freezing a couple times overnight already, I took all of my liquid stuff home that I know I won't use. The things I still might use are moved into the house where they won't freeze. I'm a little sad to be preparing for cold weather, but also glad it isn't scorching hot anymore.

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    Replies
    1. Our tackroom stays above freezing, but yeah the nice shampoo and aerosols moved home for sure.

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  16. Woah, that’s crazy!! I’m constantly thinning my horse equipment out and have another pile in my dining room that’s going to a sale on Saturday

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  17. So when do you go shopping? Cause I see room for more bridles...

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    Replies
    1. Hahahahaha why would you think that?

      wait dont answer

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  18. All of Miles's stuff is hidden in my GIANT tack box in my garage, and in my basement. Not looking forward to going through it all when I buy my next one only to realize NONE OF IT FITS. Which is what is totally gonna happen

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  19. I'm about to get my 81' blanket back which is good because I think mare is growing out of the one I bought her this summer... sigh. I slowly see myself accumulating more and more things as well

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