Project Information
My step-daughter's 24th birthday is this Valentine's Day. She's a world-class horsewoman, riding instructor, vet assistant and a volunteer with our county's mounted horse posse. I thought I would surprise her with a custom tack trunk to hold all her stuff at the stables (and to get it out of my garage/workshop!)
I searched the web for plans but didn't find any that I really cared for, so armed with a bunch of pictures (I'm not into horses myself and had never even seen a tack trunk) and some general measurements I drew up my own version. The finished chest measures 40"w x 24"d x 30"h. The framework was constructed of 1×4 red oak, held together with pocket screws, dowels, and glue. The side panels, top and bottom are 1/2" birch plywood. Everything was stained with Varathane Paprika then sealed with 5 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. It rides on 2-1/2" swivel casters.
The interior is divided into several compartments. The open space on the left is for her pads and saddle. The right side has a hinged cover storage area for personal stuff. Her grooming tote (the only thing I didn't make) sits on top of that. A sliding tray rides on rails the full width of the trunk.
The deep lid is divided into a section for leg bandages, a mirror for checking her make-up between show rounds, a magnetic dry-erase board to keep track of event schedules, and a small medicine chest for pill bottles, pens, and what-not. A chain stay keeps the lid from falling back, and I am looking for an adequate strut to ease lowering the heavy lid.
This was a simple and fun project and I hope to do more of them for her friends and clients.
I searched the web for plans but didn't find any that I really cared for, so armed with a bunch of pictures (I'm not into horses myself and had never even seen a tack trunk) and some general measurements I drew up my own version. The finished chest measures 40"w x 24"d x 30"h. The framework was constructed of 1×4 red oak, held together with pocket screws, dowels, and glue. The side panels, top and bottom are 1/2" birch plywood. Everything was stained with Varathane Paprika then sealed with 5 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. It rides on 2-1/2" swivel casters.
The interior is divided into several compartments. The open space on the left is for her pads and saddle. The right side has a hinged cover storage area for personal stuff. Her grooming tote (the only thing I didn't make) sits on top of that. A sliding tray rides on rails the full width of the trunk.
The deep lid is divided into a section for leg bandages, a mirror for checking her make-up between show rounds, a magnetic dry-erase board to keep track of event schedules, and a small medicine chest for pill bottles, pens, and what-not. A chain stay keeps the lid from falling back, and I am looking for an adequate strut to ease lowering the heavy lid.
This was a simple and fun project and I hope to do more of them for her friends and clients.