Welcome to My Cowgirl Cave: DIY Tack Room Project

Welcome to my Cowgirl Cave.

For my 50th birthday, dreams became reality, and I now have a place where I can unfurl myself among leather, horse smell, and memories.

When we started this project, I did not know I was going to be drawn to it day after day, multiple times a day, to sit and rest, condition leather, organize and reorganize health care products, blankets, and all my well-loved tack.  As Virginia Woolf said, every woman needs "a room of one's own." It turns out, this is the room I needed.  

Here's the story behind the "Cowgirl Cave."

It started with a shed.  Having not fully finished our barn, I didn't want to wait who knows how long to have my tack room completed, and I didn't want to share it with grains and barn supplies.  I made the decision to start fresh and leave the barn tack room for lead ropes, halters, barn and fencing supplies, tools, the "cat house," and vitamins and feed.

My husband was with me on this project from Day One, and he encouraged me to dream up whatever I wanted so that I would love it when it was done.  I sifted and sorted through hundreds of photos online and pieced together various inspirations for what would be beautiful and functional.  You can see and read about some of those various ideas, photos, shopping trips, in my first post.

Here are a couple of photos of the prep work my husband did before adding the wood panels. 

Lining up the saddle rack braces. Once the panels went on, we relied on those measurements to know where to find the wall braces he'd installed for the racks.

Saddle rack braces and wiring installed.

And, this is what it looks like after.

When I was still in the dreaming stage of the project, I told my husband I'd like an antique hutch to hold horse supplies, and comfy chairs where we could sit and relax--western style--wood and  leather. Also, I wanted a chandelier and carpet to soften it up and make it feel more homey.  

It all fell together like it was meant to be .

I found this hutch from the 1880s in the exact color I'd hoped for--"Sleeping Beauty turquoise."

I found the exact chair I'd described to my husband, too.  I went to a large antique fair two weeks ago, briskly walked the entire thing looking for one item--this chair--and found it at the LAST booth I came across--a booth ran by a HORSE WOMAN.

It's solid oak, original leather, and she brought the price down to a very affordable $200.

I love to sit in that chair and look across the room at this:

The canvas photo in this picture is of my noble, dear friend, Red and his horse wife, Cowgirl, with their "baby," Beautiful Girl.  My four kids surprised me with this photo on my 50th birthday.  They had no idea how much I was going to love it, or that it would end up here, in my Cowgirl Cave.  There is no sweeter thing for me to see, no sweeter thing for me to remember, than this photo that captures the essence of my herd's heart.  A heart that broke when we lost Red, but that is being mended.

The yellow chair (above) has been with me for over 20 years, and is one of my faves.  It fits perfectly in the Cowgirl Cave.

As all you horse folks know, hooks are a very important part of a Cowgirl Cave, and I found these horse shoe hooks on Etsy for $5.00 each.  I purchased twelve: six for helmets and six for various other tack, on the opposite side of the room.

You may remember in my first post, I was unhappy with the brass bridle racks I'd ordered.  I didn't feel they'd match my new tack room.  I waited until it was done, held them up, and instantly knew they would not work.  I ordered these simple black metal ones instead.  

(These black, metal bridle racks were $2.99 each through Schneider Saddlery. They are worth every penny.  Heavy duty, well made, simple and, I think, way under-priced.  But under-priced is good.  The saddle racks are also from Schneider and came in at $19.99 each. They're solid and functional with a separate bar attached for blankets. That is a very good thing to have since blankets are often wet and sweaty after a ride and need to air out.

No Cowgirl Cave is complete without a sign.  I  had this one made by an Etsy seller from Holland, Michigan--3D Woodworker.  The "established" date is my 50th birthday, April 11, 2017.  Love it!

He had several horse designs from which to choose, but I went the mare and foal.  After all, it is a cow-GIRL cave.

 Here it is, under the chandelier.

 

And, another angle.

The chandelier lighting up the room at night.

No Cowgirl Cave is complete without some refreshments.

Also, wormers, Bute, and Banamine.

I found this old wrought iron rooster at the same store as the 1800's cabinet. It was holding antique bridles, but wasn't for sale.  I asked the owner if he'd consider selling it, and here it is!

 I think he's perfect for holding side reins and various leather straps.

Inside the old hutch, human grooming supplies.

And all the tools of the horse care trade: thermometer, stethoscope, bandages.

Leather conditioner, leather hole punch, and rags.

Meds.

The Cowgirl Cave also has ample storage in the above lofts, one on each side of the room, for misc stored items: fly masks, tools, winter blankets, extra rags, and other items not used on a day-to-day basis.  A foldable step ladder helps to access these supplies.

I had photos of my daughter & granddaughters, with their horses, printed, which I'll now frame and hang in a montage above the refrigerator.

I feel very blessed to have this room.  As we were working on it, I turned to my husband and said, "Do you realize, all this time with horses, and I've NEVER had a real tack room?"  He said, "You should have had one a long time ago."  

I agree, and I hope every cowgirl gets a chance to have their own.

Today I'm going to haul out the Keurig coffee machine where there are To-Go cups waiting.  Would you like to join me for a cup?  Come on over to the Cowgirl Cave!