Photo 14: black plastic tube; cardboard tubesNot so much "tacky" as tack! If you show performance, you need to take and return with your tack items in tack (pun intended).
You need to look at your requirements for size and amount of items. If you are just bringing halters and sticky wax, you might not need to invest in larger pieces. But if you have tack for every occasion, enough obstacles to set up for everyone to use, you might want to consider protection that investment.
The following list gives some ideas and suggestions about transport, storage, and shaping.
miscellaneous items: A variety of "found around the house" items may come in handy. I've used small stuffed animals to support tails or fragile legs. Look at all the "soft" stuff around the house with new eyes (and perhaps you can find additional packing uses).
custom tack box: For the fortunate few with a handy wood worker around. Just like a real tack room, the custom tack box has stands for saddles and bridles, and all the other accoutrement of performance showing. Best for transportation by hand or car.
fishing tackle box: One of the "hardware" store options available. Depending on the model, there are upper trays, to hold saddles and head gear, that fold out or lift out to expose additional space for larger props, dolls, etc. $20-$40. Some boxes are able to be secured with lock. Good for general transportation.
mailing tube: Available at stationary and office supply stores. Great for small jumps, poles, or even a Dressage fence (especially the fragile items) . About $2.50 for 2.75" diameter tube in cardboard; 4" diameter in plastic with screw top $10.00.
Photo 14: black plastic tube; cardboard tubes
nuts & bolts storage: Available at hardware and other stores. A bank of pull out drawers, of varying sizes and separable. Good for home storage; needs box or alternate securing method for travel. Also available as a container with one lid with customizable compartments; easily transported. $10-$30.
Photo 15: eighteen drawer container. This one has "small" drawers and it's recommended for classic or smaller scale items; there are containers with wider drawers more suited to traditional scale tack.
Photo 16: single lid container with customizable sections (that aren't subdivided in this application)
pencils: Yes that's right, your general purpose No. 2 pencil! It makes a great way to store and shape your boots (shin, split, etc.). Available almost anywhere. $0.10 and up.
Photo 17 (slightly out of focus): saddle on soup can; leg boots on pencil
pencil case/ sandwich container: I use a rectangular "1 quart" size serving saver as my storage for the pens, pencils, scissors, business cards, calculator, sticky wax, horse tags, box opener (sharp edge to cut through tape securing boxes) and other essential things that need to be collected and have a place to stay. Available at general goods stores. $1.50 and up.
tool boxes: Available at general goods, hardware and other stores. A large open container with lid; varying sizes. An option to take a small amount of tack or props for the show.
tin cans: Another option to store saddles. Available in more dimensions than paper rolls, but heavier. Cinch saddle around can to maintain saddle shape. (See photo 17)
toilet paper/ paper towel rolls: One option to store saddles. Lighter than cans. If stored flat, the saddle will loose its shape. If cinched up around the roll, will help maintain the saddle's shape.
ziploc bags: Available at grocery stores. Good for storing individual pieces and mark on the bag what tack for what horse, etc. Ziploc bags are also a good way to protect your dolls as well. ~$0.05 each. (Also good for picture weather protection when photo showing.)
Here are some more suggestions about storing and using tack:
Neet's foot oil on the tack: use very sparingly; under normal conditions the natural body oil on your hands will help soften the leather.. Ensure that the tack is completely dry before putting it on your horse, otherwise you might stain the horse.
Storing tack on a horse: I was told a story of how someone ruined a Breyer alabaster 5-gaiter by leaving a saddle on. If you must leave tack on a horse, choose one you wouldn't mind ruining the finish of. (Tacking up the night before the show shouldn't make that much difference.) Make sure the stirrups on an English saddle are pulled up to the top of their leathers, otherwise you might scratch the finish of the horse by the hanging stirrups during transit.
Straightening the reins: Use a little spit. Just before finishing up a model, take some saliva (or even put the reins in your mouth) and straighten out the reins before sticky waxing them down to remove any twists and tangles in the reins.
Adjusting the stirrups: It's also been suggested to roll a paper towel around the saddle (on can or towel roll) to keep the stirrups going in the right direction. Just make sure that when securing the towel you don't put a rubberband down tightly on top of the saddle - in may leave an indention on the saddle; try on either side of the saddle (fore and aft). You can use a twist tie on the stirrups underneath to keep them hanging correctly.
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