Spring Cleaning a Tack Trunk Via the Spark Joy Method

“When in doubt, throw it out,” I thought as I recently cleaned out my tack trunk.

Normally I’m a “when it doubt keep it a little longer because you might need it” kind of gal, but reading the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has opened my eyes to a more practical way of decluttering.

Before: The tack trunk doesn’t look too bad, but there’s way too much stuff.

Over the years I have accummulated random stuff. It’s overtaking my trunk! And not only is some of it random, but also mean ancient. Check out these cozy winter riding mittens. When was the last time I wore them? I can’t even recall. These were purchased for Illinois winters, clearly. I have lived in California for almost 20 years, so the mittens had to go. Along with an entire garbage bag filled with old receipts for bales of hay, old show numbers, and baling twine (because you just never know when you will need it!).

I worked on my tack trunk alone, no one was around which was great since one of the key principles of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up is to take everything all at once and spread it out all over the floor. I was so glad no one happened along (to judge).

The second part of the author Marie Kondo’s method is to hold each object in your hand and ask yourself, “does this spark joy?” If the answer is no, then you must get rid of the object. And so as I held up the mittens I did not feel that spark of joy and so I knew they were going to the “round file.” Have you ever tried this spark joy method? If you haven’t read Kondo’s original book, I definitely recommend it (when I employed the principles at home in my closet, horse husband noticed the activity and began cleaning out his side of the closet too–without any prompting!!!)

What is all this? Do I really need it? Why do I keep baling twine?

Ulcer Gard does not really spark joy, but it is so expensive and a necessary belonging for this OTTB owner with a horse with an ulcery history. I have to keep that!

Polo wraps don’t spark joy when there are only three of them. How does that even happen? And why do I bother keeping packaging for things like fly masks, etc.?

After: I can at least see what’s there now.

And so I purged and organized and this was the end result. It’s a little better than before. At least I can see things more clearly. But the question remains, what do I do with my old bridle and the back-up girth? Keep them in the trunk in case of an emergency or store them at home?

Your Turn: Have you done any spring cleaning yet at home or in the barn? What surprising items did you discover or determine to purge?

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