Cleaning Tack???? Help

[Horse100]

Hiya,

I was just wandering if anyone could give me a quick guide on cleaning tack e.g how to clean the bridle and saddle, what equipment i need etc.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks ,

Luv Nikki :)

[Em 1]

Bridle - strip it down into pieces. It's helpful if you note which holes the cheekpieces are on. Take off the reins and the bit. Wash the bit in warm water (but don't use any soap if you can help it as it may well taste horrible to your horse ;) - if the bit is really dirty you could put it through the dishwasher if you have one).

Saddle - take the girth and stirrups off. Wash the stirrups in warm soapy water (or pop in the dishwasher). Brush the girth down with a stiff brush like a dandy brush. If it's leather you can then clean it along with all the other leather bits of tack.

To do this, use a damp sponge to wipe off any dirt from the leather. Then use saddlesoap and a damp sponge to lightly condition and clean the leather. If you want to you can then finish off with a leather conditioning product. It depends how regularly you clean your tack and how dirty it's got!

Can't think of anything else at the moment. Hope this helps :)

P.S. It's always worth double checking you've got the bit attached to the bridle the right way up/round, particularly if it's a jointed snaffle ;)

[Horse100]

Thanks that's really helpful! :D

Soz i'm being really stupid here but do you have to wash the soap off as well? :o Some websites say you do and others say not to.:confused:

Nikki

[kedwards]

Nikki, if there is visible dirt, mud, or dust, you can wash it off with just water or use a cleaner that is then rinsed off. Once it's reasonably clean, you use the saddle soap to condition and protect, so you don't rinse it off.

To use the saddle soap, wet the soap and leave the sponge dry, or wet the sponge, but wring it out as thoroughly as you can so there is no excess water. Wipe the sponge across the soap and work the lather into the leather until it disappears.

[domane]

There are so many products these days for cleaning and conditioning but I still prefer to use the traditional saddle soap and then a bit of Neatsfoot once in a while. That feeling of turning a dried out, stiff bit of knackered leather into a soft, shiny pliable piece of usable tack is unbeatable. Truly rewarding.

But then I enjoy tacking cleaning so I am just soooooo saaaaaad!!! :p