Where do you keep your tack during the colder winter months?

[Valerie62]

Our weather in PA is starting to turn colder. Does it make a difference if you keep your tack outside (protected from the elements and covered but still exposed to freezing temperatures) or is it better to bring it all inside to a climate controlled area?

What do you do?

[mlh619]

I usually try to keep it in temperatures above freezing...our barn was insulated and had 400 chickens in it so it stayed warm in its own room but then it was so humid so we moved it to the heated shop. So to answer your question no my tack does not stay out in the cold! I know lots of people that do keep it out but my opinion is that the tack is cold and it probably transfers some of that through the pad to the horse.

[A J]

When I lived in WI I'd bring my good tack and bridles inside in the winter - working saddles stayed out in the barn along with pads, etc.

Out here in CA my tack just stays in my horse trailer now that I have one, but we don't get as cold, either. If I had a nice show saddle/tack, that would still be at my house where climate is more controlled.

[Slim Pikkens]

Mine have endured many -40 temps which makes one think about riding bareback in winter. The cold won't hurt them altho hang them shoulder height if possible. With fluctuating temps the floor is inclined to become damp, especially cement, and hanging high will help prevent the formation of molds.

[EquineAlberta]

I store my spare tack in a dry but unheated shed outside. It doesn't seem to cause damage. The tack I use regularly is kept in our heated barn. My show saddle pads live in the house though...I don't want to give mice a chance to use them to make little mouse beds!

Karen

[Kingpin]

I clean up all tack that is I really care about and put in my inside tack room. I have one in the barn for blankets and halters etc, stuff I need in a second but things I would use to prepare for a ride are in my inside temp controlled so I can clean or whatever anytime and it does not get moldy or crack as easy. And some of it is years old. I think winter is hard on leather outside in various temps. But what do I know?

[Dream Ponies]

All of our saddle are inside our house. In our Master bedroom to be exact. We have always kept them there all year round. They are all in saddle bags. Our girls use them for lessons so its easy to grab them.

[jesterjigger]

In the past I've kept my saddle in my car (or trailer, now that I have a trailer) but I'm thinking about keeping my tack in the house and putting it in my car when I head out, to give it some protection. I don't think the cold temperatures are good for saddles, but I'd rather keep it safe than risk it getting stolen in the barn.

[fishing_trex]

I keep all my valuable tack in the garage. Even on really cold PA days, the garage doesn't freeze.

[cindyf]

I don't show so I have no real expensive pieces, but everything stays outside in the tack room.

[rulerskipacajun]

Everything stays in the horse trailer but we don't get the extreme temps a lot of you northern folks do

[oveywon]

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[Valerie62]

Originally Posted by oveywon

I continue to use it all winter long so it would be a pain to bring it in and out all the time.

That's the way I feel...especially since my barn is sooooooo far away from the house and the walk back to the house is up a huge hill. My saddles weigh at least 40lbs each ... it is hard enough carrying them down the hill ... I couldn't imagine having to carry them UP the hill each time I am done riding. I can barely make it up the hill with nothing in my hands and I'm in fairly decent physical shape.

I don't remember ever bringing my saddles and stuff inside in my other life (when I was younger and showing in 4-H). I think I'll just keep them in my small barn until January when I move my horses to the boarding barn and put them in the tack room there.

I agree with EquineAlberta though on her comment about saddle pads. I will definitely bring my pads in because I have first-hand experience on the mice using them for their homes. And especially since I just bought a Clinton Anderson PRS pad.

Thanks everyone for your comments. It's always interesting to hear different view points and experiences.

[twobits]

i was always told that its way harder on the leather to take it from one extreme temp to the other; it's better to leave it in the cold all winter long b/c the temp doesn't fluctuate drastically. My tack has spent every winter in our unheated barn & i've never had a problem.

[Thoroughbred Lady]

I always bring my leather goods into the house (to my tack closet in my basement) in the winter. I had read years ago that extreme cold weather is not good for leather. And here in Alberta it gets pretty durn cold.

[hezzer]

All my tack stays in the horse trailer, covered. It stays there for all 4 seasons. Don't do too much riding in the winter, so its basically stored. I don't have anything that is super nice or show equipment, but I have not had any problems with all my stuff being left in the trailer.

[Slim Pikkens]

One saddle I've owned for over 30 years has spent every winter in the cold and it's still in as good shape.

[tuffsmom]

My show tack is in the house but it stays in the house year round. All the other tack is in the tack room at the barn.