8 Storage Items for Organizing a Tack Room or Feed Shed

Stepping into a cluttered tack room or feed shed can turn daily farm chores into a frustrating treasure hunt. When halters are buried under half-empty supplement bags and rodents are eyeing the sweet feed, it is time to reclaim your space. With the right organization strategy and durable storage gear, even the smallest shed can become a highly efficient hub for your hobby farm.

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Maximizing Space in Your Tack and Feed Areas

A chaotic feed shed does more than waste time during the morning feeding rush; it actively costs money through spoiled grain, misplaced tools, and damaged leather gear. On a hobby farm, space is almost always at a premium, meaning every square inch of wall, floor, and ceiling must serve a clear purpose. Proper organization keeps expensive tack dry, prevents feed contamination, and ensures that daily chores run smoothly.

The secret to maximizing a small footprint lies in vertical storage and mobility. Heavy items belong on the floor or on heavy-duty low shelves, while walls should hold everything from bridles to blankets. By choosing storage solutions designed specifically for the rugged, dusty environment of a barn, you prevent the premature wear that household plastic organizers suffer.

Feed Bin – Behrens 20-Gallon Galvanized Can

Storing grain in paper bags is an open invitation for mice, rats, and raccoons to destroy your feed budget. A dedicated feed bin must be completely impenetrable to sharp teeth and strong claws while keeping humidity out. The Behrens 20-Gallon Galvanized Can is an excellent choice for this task because its steel construction cannot be chewed through, unlike standard plastic trash cans.

• Capacity: 20 gallons (holds roughly 75–80 lbs of dense feed)
• Material: Heavy-duty galvanized steel
• Features: Rodent-proof, rust-resistant, secure lid fit

This specific can features a tight-fitting lid that keeps pests out and prevents moisture from ruining expensive grain. The galvanized steel is rust-resistant, meaning it handles the damp air of an unheated shed without degrading over time.

Before buying, note that a 20-gallon capacity comfortably holds about 75 to 80 pounds of pelleted feed, making it perfect for standard 50-pound bags with room to spare. This bin is ideal for hobbyists keeping a few horses, goats, or chickens, but those managing larger herds will need multiple cans to segregate different feed types.

Saddle Rack – Tough 1 3-Tier Rolling Rack

Leather saddles are among the most expensive investments on a hobby farm, and leaving them on the floor invites mold, dust, and pests. A proper saddle rack keeps them supported in their natural shape, allowing air to circulate around the fleece lining. The Tough 1 3-Tier Rolling Rack solves the space problem by stacking three saddles vertically, utilizing height instead of valuable floor space.

• Capacity: 3 English or Western saddles
• Mobility: Heavy-duty rolling casters
• Structure: Tubular steel frame with bridle hooks

This rack is built from heavy-gauge tubular steel and features rolling casters, allowing you to wheel your entire saddle collection right to the cross-ties for tacking up. It also includes convenient bridle hooks on the frame, keeping your entire riding setup in one mobile unit.

Keep in mind that when fully loaded with three heavy Western saddles, this rack requires a solid, flat floor to roll smoothly. It is a perfect fit for multi-rider households or those with limited wall space, but might be overkill for a single-saddle owner who would benefit more from a simple wall-mounted bracket.

Bridle Bracket – Roma Multi Purpose Rack

Hanging bridles on nails or thin hooks creases the leather crownpieces, which can weaken the material and cause discomfort to the animal. A dedicated bridle bracket features a wide, curved top that mimics the shape of a horse’s poll, preserving the integrity of the leather. The Roma Multi Purpose Rack offers a sturdy, space-saving solution for organizing headgear, lead ropes, and lunging equipment.

• Design: Curved top to preserve leather shape
• Capacity: Multiple hanging points
• Installation: Wall-mounted with pre-drilled holes

This rack is made from coated heavy-duty metal, ensuring it will not bend under the weight of heavy leather bridles or wet lead ropes. The curved top design prevents sliding, while the lower hook is perfect for securing reins or throatlatches.

Installation requires securing the bracket directly into a wall stud or solid wood backing, as drywall anchors will pull out under the weight of heavy tack. This bracket is a must-have for anyone looking to declutter their tack wall, though owners of synthetic or lightweight nylon gear might find simple utility hooks sufficient.

Blanket Rack – Easy-Up 4-Arm Swing Arm Rack

Damp horse blankets and sweaty saddle pads will quickly mildew if folded and stacked in a dark corner. They need constant airflow to dry, yet hanging them flat against a wall consumes massive amounts of space. The Easy-Up 4-Arm Swing Arm Rack solves this by letting you hang four large blankets vertically while swinging the arms flat against the wall when not in use.

• Configuration: 4 independent swinging arms
• Material: Heavy-duty powder-coated steel
• Mounting: Wall-mount bracket included

Each arm is constructed from heavy-duty powder-coated steel that resists rust even when draped with wet winter turnouts. The swinging mechanism allows you to fan the arms out for maximum drying airflow, then push them together to reclaim aisle space.

Ensure you mount this rack to a heavy-duty support post or stud, as four wet blankets can easily weigh over 50 pounds. This rack is indispensable for cold-climate horse owners who rotate blankets frequently, but is less necessary for warm-climate hobbyists who only use lightweight sheets.

Grooming Tote – Weaver Leather Grooming Bag

Grooming tools have a habit of scattering across the barn, leaving you searching for a hoof pick or shedding blade when you need it most. A portable grooming tote keeps your daily essentials organized and ready to carry right to the animal. The Weaver Leather Grooming Bag stands out because it replaces rigid, easily cracked plastic boxes with a flexible, high-capacity fabric design.

• Material: 600D durable polyester/nylon
• Pockets: Multiple exterior pockets, large central compartment
• Portability: Padded shoulder strap and carrying handles

Built from 600-denier durable polyester, this bag features a spacious main compartment surrounded by multiple exterior pockets for quick access to sprays, brushes, and combs. The mesh bottom design allows dirt and hair to fall through, keeping the inside of the bag clean and dry.

While highly durable, fabric bags can accumulate dust over time, requiring an occasional spray-down with a hose to keep them looking fresh. This tote is perfect for active horse owners who value portability and organization, though a simple plastic bucket may suffice for those with minimal grooming needs.

Storage Tote – Rubbermaid Brute Tote with Lid

Barns are inherently dusty, drafty places where clean towels, bandages, and seasonal sheets can quickly get ruined if left exposed. Traditional household storage bins often crack under freezing temperatures or shatter when bumped by a heavy boot. The Rubbermaid Brute Tote with Lid offers commercial-grade protection that withstands the harsh realities of farm life.

• Capacity: 14 or 20 gallons
• Material: Commercial-grade polyethylene
• Lid: Snap-tight lid with molded-in handles

Made from high-density polyethylene, this tote resists cracking, crushing, and warping even in extreme cold or heat. The snap-tight lid keeps dust, moisture, and insects completely out of your stored goods, while the molded-in handles make lifting easy.

These totes stack securely on top of one another, making them excellent for maximizing floor-to-ceiling space in a tight closet. They are ideal for storing winter blankets during the summer or keeping veterinary supplies sterile, though they may be too bulky for those with very limited floor space.

Utility Cart – Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Cart

Hauling 50-pound feed bags and heavy water buckets from the truck to the feed shed can quickly wear out your back. A reliable utility cart acts as the workhorse of your daily chores, saving time and physical strain. The Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Cart is an ideal choice because it combines a massive weight capacity with a highly maneuverable design.

• Weight Capacity: 600 lbs
• Bed Material: Heavy-duty rust-proof poly bed
• Tires: 10-inch pneumatic tires

This cart features a quick-release dumping mechanism that makes unloading heavy bags of grain or shavings effortless. The rust-proof poly bed is incredibly durable and easy to wash out, while the balanced four-wheel design prevents the tipping hazards common with traditional two-wheel wheelbarrows.

The pneumatic tires roll easily over gravel, mud, and uneven pasture, though they do require occasional pressure checks to avoid flats. This cart is a game-changer for any small-scale farmer managing daily feeding routines, but may be unnecessary if your feed storage is located directly adjacent to your feeding stalls.

Shelving Unit – Gladiator Welded Steel Unit

Standard plastic shelving units will bow and buckle under the weight of heavy supplement tubs, toolboxes, and spare hardware. To keep your feed shed safe and organized, you need a heavy-duty shelving system that utilizes vertical space without risk of collapse. The Gladiator Welded Steel Unit provides the industrial-grade strength required to hold your heaviest farm supplies.

• Weight Capacity: Up to 2,000 lbs per shelf
• Material: Welded steel frame with powder coat
• Shelves: 4 adjustable wire shelves

This unit features adjustable wire shelves that allow air to circulate, preventing dust buildup and moisture retention. The welded steel frame is coated with a durable finish that resists rust, scratches, and chemical spills common in barn environments.

Assembly is straightforward but requires some floor space and a rubber mallet to lock the beams securely into place. It is the ultimate storage solution for organizing heavy jugs of fly spray, buckets of supplements, and toolboxes, though it may be too large for very small, narrow tack closets.

Protecting Feed and Tack from Pests and Damp

Dampness is the silent enemy of any tack room, quickly leading to mold growth on expensive leather and clumping in powdered supplements. To combat humidity, ensure your shed has adequate ventilation, and consider using reusable dehumidifier buckets or silica gel packs in closed storage containers. Regularly wiping down leather gear with a glycerin soap and applying a protective conditioner creates a barrier against airborne mold spores.

Pests like mice and rats are drawn to the smell of grain, making secure storage your first line of defense. Sweep up spilled feed immediately, as even a small handful of loose grain will attract rodents that can chew through wiring, wood, and expensive blankets. Utilizing elevated shelving and sealing any gaps in the shed walls with steel wool can significantly reduce pest access.

Designing a Functional Feed Room Layout

An efficient feed room layout is designed around your daily workflow, minimizing the steps you take between the feed bin, the scale, and the stall door. Group similar items together into designated zones, such as a "wet zone" for washing buckets and a "dry zone" for storing grain and supplements. Keep your most frequently used items, like daily grain scoops and medications, at eye level and within arm’s reach.

Store heavy feed bags near the entrance of the shed to minimize the distance you have to carry them when unloading from your vehicle. Leave a clear, unobstructed path for your utility cart to roll through, ensuring you can easily transport feed and hay without tripping over obstacles. Utilizing wall space for hanging brooms, shovels, and pitchforks keeps the floor clear and safe to walk on.

Maintaining Your Newly Organized Feed Shed

Organization is not a one-time event; it requires consistent habits to keep your feed shed functional over the long term. Dedicate five minutes at the end of each day to sweep the floor, return tools to their designated hooks, and ensure all feed bin lids are tightly secured. This simple routine prevents clutter from accumulating and keeps pests from establishing a foothold.

Perform a deep clean at the start of each season to rotate stock, check expiration dates on supplements, and wash out empty feed bins. This is also the perfect time to inspect your tack for wear, clean your grooming brushes, and wash winter blankets before storing them away. By maintaining a clean, orderly space, you protect your investments and make daily farm life much more enjoyable.

Reclaiming your tack room or feed shed from clutter saves time, protects your hard-earned investments, and reduces daily farm stress. By investing in durable, purpose-built storage gear, you create a safe and efficient environment for both you and your animals. A well-organized barn is the foundation of a successful and enjoyable hobby farming experience.