Conference noted::equitation

    I'd worry more about mold than mice. For mice, get a cat....:-)...I
    keep open bags of grain in my barn. Not a mouse in sight, just a fat,
    happy kitten. 

    The problem is that the tack box won't be stored at a stable. Last
    November my horse died from colic. Since I won't be able to afford
    another horse for a year or two, I need to store my "stuff" in my tool
    shed. Hence the problems with mice (I know that they're in there!!!).
    		Cindy
    

    Cindy-
    
    My girlfriend kept all her nice blankets and tack in a supposedly mouse
    proof shed.  The mice ruined all her blankets (this was quality stuff).
    I found her two mouser type cats, but she now stores all the `good'
    tack in a corner of her basement.
    
    Michele
    

    I too would worry about the mold as I have found it on some of the
    things I don't use that I store in a room in the house.
    As far as the mice are concerned, put mice bait in the box with it I
    guess and keep an eye on the outside of the box for signs of holes.
    
    Some one out there must know of a preservative for leather so that it
    doesn't mold.
    
    Good luck
    
    Kathie
    

    Hi, I had to store my blankets and tack for several years and moth
    balls didn't work, the mice got into it and the tack got moldy. What I 
    was surprised by though is the stuff I cared less about I just threw
    into trash bags and tied the top into a knot. The mice never touched
    the bags and the tack looked as good as when I put it in, no
    mold! 
    I would recommend sealing your tack box in a plastic bag if it will
    fit or put the items in it in sealed plastic bags.
    
    Hope this helps,
    Sharon S

What about lining the tack box with cedar, or putting bags of cedar chips?  I 
know this will keep out the moths.  What about the mice?  Also, will it help to
absorb some of the moisture that the mold likes?

Ed..

    Dampness makes the leather grow mold, so put the leather
    goods in a plastic bag, put in some dessicant packets,
    and seal the bag tight.  Dessicant is that little pack
    of beadstuff that comes in the box with electronic equipment.
    
    Lynne
    
    The mice can chew through concrete, so watch the box closely.

    Wow - maybe I should sell everything and start all over again in the
    future (when I need too!)
    
    It really seems useless to try to store most of my stuff. I don't have
    room in my house and everything place else (basement, attic, shed) has
    mice.
    		Cindy
    P.S. anyone need blankets/bridle/saddle?????
    

If I were you, I wouldn't sell everything.  Think of how much the prices of 
saddles have gone up in the last 10 years.  

I would make sure everything was CLEAN, wrap each (large) item  (blanket, 
saddle) in at least 1 plastic trash bag, combining smaller items like bridles,
make sure the bags are as air-tight as possible, and store them in either a 
large WOODEN tack box with a tight-fitting lid or in STURDY trash containers, 
again with tight fitting lids.  If the critters can't smell anything, they may 
well not try to get to it.  The trick is to get something sturdy enough that 
the critters will be deterred.

Be sure that when you pack everything in the plastic bags it's in a relatively
DRY location (i.e. in your house) so as little dampness as possible is trapped
in the plastic bags.  For the (wool) blankets, you could also tuck some moth 
balls in amongst the folds.  

Kathy

    I'll try using aluminum trash cans rather than the plastic so that the
    mice can't chew through them. Hope to see my stuff in good shape in a
    few years.
    		Cindy
    

    I would still recommend plastic to seal the humidity out. 
     You'll probably have mold if you don't.

    
    
    	Just out of curiosity, how much damage does mold actually
    	do? Is it related to how long it's allowed to stay on? If
    	you oil up the leather before you put it away, will mold 
    	do less harm?? I've had things get a little moldy, a few 
    	wipes with saddle soap and they're fine. Does it reduce the
    	strength/pliability of the leather?
    
    	 

    Mold will cause rot.....make sure all the leather is clean
    and remove the bit from the bridle and wrap the bit up
    separately.  Remove irons from leathers (english saddle)
    and wrap them also.  If you can keep the bits & irons inside
    the house in a drawer, this would be the best thing.  They
    do not store well long term packed away.

    Hi, Cindy!  Try a Cedar Chest...that's what they're for...no moth is
    going to get in there with it smelling like that!  
    
    See you!  laurel.
    

    Re .14
    Laurel, what about mice???
    	Cindy
    P.S. need some equipment?