Essential Tack Room Supplies for Horse Owners

Whether you have ambitious riding goals or simply enjoy leisurely hacks, you’ll need some basic items in your tack room. A tack room, by the way, is where you keep all the equipment—saddle, bridle, helmet, and much more—you need to ride and care for your horse.

Tack room setups range from minimalistic to luxurious. The farm where you keep your horse might have a designated tack room area all boarders share, or the property manager might just allow you a certain amount of space near your horse’s stall to store your belongings. If you house your horse on your own property, the sky is the limit! You can create your own tack room or simply use smart storage practices to keep your gear tidy and protected from the elements.

Here we cover some basic items every horse owner should have in their tack room, as well as tips on how to organize them for easy access and storage.

Tack Room Essentials Checklist

The exact items you’ll want in your tack room depend on your riding discipline and your horse’s needs, but here are some essentials to get you started:

• Halter and lead rope: These are must-have items in any horse owner’s arsenal. We recommend buying a high-quality leather halter or a nylon halter with a leather crownpiece (the strap that goes over the horse’s head, just behind the ears) that will break away should it get snagged on anything. You might want multiple types of halters (a knotted rope halter for doing groundwork, for instance) and lead ropes for various uses.
• Grooming kit: Keep your grooming tools (brushes, curry comb, hoof pick, combs, etc.) well organized in a designated grooming tote or bag.
• Riding gear: Having all your personal riding equipment—helmet, chaps, gloves, spurs, etc.—in one place makes it easier to get ready and helps prevent items from getting lost.
• Saddle: Find a saddle that’s appropriate for your riding style and is the right size for both you and your horse.
• Girth or cinch: You’ll need the right size girth or cinch to secure your saddle when riding. Average girth and cinch sizes for medium-sized horses are around 48 and 34 inches, respectively. Materials include leather, neoprene, fleece, mohair, and a variety of synthetics.
• Bridle: Also choose a bridle that fits your horse comfortably.
• Saddle pads: Have at least two quality saddle pads so you can have one to use when the other is dirty or being laundered. You might also prefer a variety of pads for different uses: a square pad, Western pad, fitted pad, half-pad. Pads also come in many materials, from neoprene, fleece, and sheepskin to foam and gel. Whichever style you choose, make sure it’s breathable and doesn’t impair your saddle’s fit.
• Blankets: If you live in a region that experiences true winters, your horse might need a stable or turnout blanket at some point. Sheets and blankets come in many shapes and sizes, which we’ve broken down in this handy guide. Hang yours neatly in the tack room, or fold it up and store it in a plastic bin until you need it.
• Tack cleaner: Keep leather bridles and saddles in good condition and prevent them from deteriorating by cleaning them regularly. You can find many quality leather care products and conditioners that you can apply with a damp sponge or cloth.

Organizing Your Tack Room

Once you’ve gathered all the essentials, it’s time to organize your tack room or storage space. A few tips for doing this efficiently include:

• Hang them up: Use saddle racks, stands, and hooks to keep your saddles, bridles, and halters hung neatly and out of the way. Use a rack to hang your saddle from a wall or a portable stand you can set in any corner. Hooks, racks, and peg boards are also useful items for hanging blankets, helmets, or damp saddle pads—the last thing you want to do is throw a sweaty saddle pad atop your leather saddle!
• Store in clear containers: Plastic bins or caddies with compartments make it easy to store all your grooming items, first-aid supplies, or smaller items such as boots and wraps together in one spot.
• Tack trunk: Many equestrians prefer a sturdy wooden or plastic trunk in which they can store all the gear they don’t use daily. It’s also easy to throw a padlock on a trunk to keep it secure.
• Label everything: Use labels or tags to clearly mark each item in your tack room. This helps prevent confusion—especially at large boarding facilities—and makes finding what you need easy.

Having the right equipment and keeping it well organized makes all aspects of horse ownership easier. With the above checklist and tips, you’ll be able to equip your tack room with the essentials you need to ride and care for your horse.