Trailer Reorganization

One thing I really want to do to prep for show season this year is get my trailer organized and using the space efficiently for storage of necessary items. I take a lot with me, especially camping, and being able to store most of it in the tack room rather than the bed of my truck in totes would be very handy, especially since I put the tent up in the bed of the truck and thus have to unload everything first. This gets hampered when there is inclement weather. 

The current state of the dressing room in my trailer. AKA A Mess

Note the saddle pads and wool cooler thrown in haphazardly, the single saddle rack (I have the second in the barn), not nearly enough hooks, a whip holder installed by the previous owners, lots of buckets, my cross country vest and a huge water container for rides where there isn't water available (like when I trail ride)

There's the water container and bonus spare tire.

Oh! And my tent, which I want to rewaterproof, but just threw in after camping in October.  I'm so on top of things

NEED MOAR HOOKS.  There is also a handy dandy mirror on the left there as well as a packing list for a not my kind of horse show, haha. 

In trying to get the door open I basically removed weather stripping. It had frozen to the door. So that's another thing that needs to be fixed, probably on a day when it isn't freezing so that the adhesive will work better.

I made this spiffy paint drawing for my husband when I was talking to him about what I wanted to do. See the amazing 3D rendering!?

THE PLAN

But seriously, the water tank creates a lot of dead space all above it. I think I'm going to need to pinterest for more ideas (because alas, pinterest can be useful for aggregating ideas for stuff like this) but someone suggested using wire shelving instead of peg board as it may be lighter.

Something like this:

The Floor plan, not to scale, but pretty darn proportionate if I do say so myself

Anyway, peg board or metal racks? Definitely build the shelves? I'd like to have a place to keep saddle pads, coolers and a first aid kit and that seems like a good way to do it. I do have a hanging saddle pad holder that could be attached to the shelves.

And how the heck do you attach things to the inside of the trailer? Do I need to learn to weld? Can I just screw stuff in? I am so lost here.

Pic Spam

Gwyn likes to nuzzle the farrier when she gets her toes trimmed

Saffron was a really good, Arwen was a bit more of a firecracker

I had the door open for airflow. Gwyn decided this meant the buffet was open for business

I'm making my own standards!! I had to cut each foot twice because my saw didn't go all the way through the board. 

But I made sure to wear proper PPE

Propped feet.

I will have two pairs when I'm done!

Not completely finished, but it gives you an idea of what it will look like. I still need to assemble, drill holes and paint.

I discovered 2 garter snakes living under the front left pasture water trough. I lifted it to dump and scrub and they scattered. One went over my foot. However, I am not afraid. I just watched. They were pretty! I also saw a skin shed in the grass as well. I bet the eating is good if they like frogs.

Sunset last night. It had just downpoured and the sky was gorgeous.

A baby mourning dove in the back pasture.

I got three hammocks through a kickstarter and I tried t his out to see if it would fit in my horse trailer for endurance rides and camping. Sure enough... ! Sitting in it is like  being in a recliner. Pretty comfy.

I'd probably hook it up on the non horse side when I do put it to use.

Can you feel it? Our origin story begins!!

I received free straw for the donkeys so I got that stacked. On my to-do list is cleaning out the old hay from under these pallets. 

Inspecting for adding a fence charger to electrify it

Garden! The strawberries are abundant, but we will need to tame it some...

I've decided, this will henceforth be known as Firefly Mountain

From here I can survey my domain!

Wet area of the pasture due to a drainage stream. I have plans for this spot... muahahah

The drainage pipe that feeds into the pasture and through the backyard.

Equipment Purchases

On Friday we picked up a 2015 Silverado 1500. It's a 3 year lease but for the time being it's all the truck we need and the price is hard to beat per month for our budget!

Today we went to look at a horse trailer. I'd found it on craigslist for an amazing price and brought a cashier's check just in case. Sure enough, it was a great trailer and we decided to bring it home! 

The trailer is a 2009 Eclipse, 2h straight load with dressing room. It's roomy, which is great for Gwyn. I can even lie down in the dressing room, which is a good back up for cold and wet camping at endurance rides!

The seller had put this set up of wood to hold hay bales in place so they wouldn't slide into the horses. And if you tie the horses, they can't eat at it. Genius! It's removable too.

Nice long stalls. I can't touch the ceiling when I stand inside.

Good floor. It's been stored inside and is no longer used since their daughter went off to college.

The center divider is removable

Tie rings and the lock to hold the dutch doors in back open.

Lots of hooks. The wooden bit is a whip holder!

Spare tire and an almost 3 year old

Mirror

I noticed a tiny bit of water coming in at the door when I tested out laying down but I plan to keep an eye on it for now.