A place for everything

The time-honored adage “a place for everything, and everything in its place” is the ultimate time-saver for many busy Appaloosa owners. Make this chestnut of wisdom a habit to increase organization and efficiency in your home and barn—thus putting an end to frustrating searches that increase stress.

Group similar tasks

Keep a small sewing kit by the dryer to quickly mend small tears or holes in your horse’s wardrobe. Freshly laundered items like mane-tamers, polo wraps, sheets, tail bags and fly masks are easier to repair when clean.

Reduce your morning feeding time by half with this simple tip. When feeding your horses their evening meal, place breakfast outside the stall or paddock at the same time, using pest-proof containers for grain and supplements. You’ll save precious morning minutes. Bonus: If you need to delegate morning feeding to someone else—due to illness or an emergency, for example—you’ll know each horse gets the correct portion.

Know when to single-task

Multi-tasking is the mantra of the time-crunched horse-owner. Single-tasking is the reward for developing a time-saving lifestyle. Maximize your horse time by enjoying every minute of it! Ban cell phone calls and text messages (except for emergencies) and ditch your iPod. You’ll increase your attention span, create a safer environment, and improve rapport with your horse.

Thinking ahead

If you board your Appaloosa, tell staff the time and days you expect to be there to avoid having your horse turned out in paddock or pasture when you arrive. Some stables will groom, saddle, and even longe if you ask—be prepared to pay a small fee or tip staff if this service is available.

* Find a great new trail in your home state—or hometown—with a quick click of your mouse. At www.trailsource.com, find links to trails and rental horses in all 50 states.

* For travel trips, pack daily feed and supplement portions into individual sealable bags, or inexpensive containers. Label each feeding with your horse’s name.

* In an emergency, a bale of hay can substitute as a lift for double and triple axle trailers. If you have a bale of hay on board, try this before calling roadside assistance: Pull two or three flakes loose from the bale, position in front of the inflated tire (or behind it, depending on which tire is flat). Loosen the lug nuts on the flat, then drive your rig onto the hay flakes and change the now-accessible flat!

* Invest in a “scrubs” top—the kind used by medical staff—to wear over your clean work or show top when you tackle a dirty job and don’t have time to change. The v-necked opening, loose sleeves and shapeless bodice of the scrub makes it easy to slip on and off over styled hair, and is lightweight and cool.

* Purchase a clear plastic hanging shoe caddy with at least 12 pockets. Fill it with your every-day groom aids and hang in your tack or grooming area. When you’re ready to road trip, simply unhook the caddy and re-hang in your trailer tack room. Everything you need is loaded in one move! Customize your caddy with your favorite necessities.

By Patty Brumley