~ Easy DIY Collapsible Saddle Racks ~

Last winter I needed a warmer place to milk and keeping our milk cow warm on sub-zero days became a challenge. So, we remove all the saddles from our "tack-room" and put some here and some there. Basically, where ever they would fit out of the weather so that we would have room for the cow and my milking pump. 

This summer we needed to move one of the sheds that the saddles were in and needed more room for hay in the other building they had been tuck into. We pulled them all out of storage so we could clean them up and put them in a new shed [unfinished playhouse -> chicken coop -> garden shed -> tack shed].

Last winter we had to put our horses down due to age. We now have one little pony named Duck. We have A LOT of tack for one little pony [ who is so little that only one of the ten saddles we have sort of fits her]. My hopes are that in a few years I will be able to find some draft ponies that we can ride and can use to pull a cart or sleigh.

Final saddle count, 6 western saddles [some decked out in silver due to the days when we showed horses] one jumping saddle, one dressage saddle, one hunt saddles, and one flat saddle. Almost all of the western saddles have breastcollars which I didn't realize so that was a pleasant surprise.

We have always had very small spaces to put our tack and with so many saddles we needed racks that didn't take up a whole lots of space. These work perfectly, are extremely versatile, collapsible and cheap [we made ours from recycled lumber].  The racks for western saddles are longer than the ones for the english saddles. It works great because you have less of a chance of hitting your head on them[ we place the english saddles up higher on the wall because they are lighter and easier to lift]. When not in use, tip up and to the side, they lay against the wall.

Supplies needed:

1 2x4

1 1x2

4 wood screws 

eye bolt

hook [ I don't remember the name of them so you are going to have to find them by sight, we bought ours at Fleet Farm]

On the wall.

Hook on saddle rack.

Eye hook in the wall.

English saddles stack nicely on these racks. I generally don't like to stack them because it decreases the air flow between them and can encourage mold growth. I forgot to take a picture of our western saddles.

There are racks like this for sale at several different stores and online, but they are so easy to make. You could have the hardware store cut your boards to length if you needed and assemble the rest at home.



Link to the Homestead Barn hop #84