The proper care and cleaning of horse tack is vital for safety and maintaining your investment. Horse tack has a very hard life. Tack is exposed to dirt, sweat and horse saliva that breaks down the leather and stitching.
Each Ride:
Taking a few quick steps after each ride is the smartest and fastest way to save a lot of effort when its time to clean your tack.
When you take off your horse’s bridle, wipe off the bit. Cleaning the bit after each use will prevent caked-on, dried saliva and is more sanitary and comfortable for your horse’s mouth. Horse saliva on the leather damages and weakens it causing excessive wear, changes the acidity, and leads to mold.
Wipe down the reins and cheek pieces in the area around the bit. Wipe down any part of your tack that contacts the horse’s body. Sweat, salt, and dirt are the most damaging to your tack. Horses almost always sweat on the girth, so wipe it down as well.
Regular Maintenance:
Wipe down the leather with a small moist, not soaking wet tack sponge. While the saddle is still moist, then use either Lexol Leather Cleaner Quick Wipes or a small amount of Lexol Deep Conditioner spray to wipe the saddle again.
You are not oiling the saddle here, so don’t use too much Lexol. You want the leather to soak it up quickly like it needed a drink, less is more. If you ride everyday regular maintenance might be as often as once a week or for others once a month.
Cleaning and Conditioning:
- Unbuckle every buckle.
- Use a damp, not soaked small tack sponge to wipe off any excess dirt.
- Use the tack sponge along with Lexol Deep Cleaner to clean the saddle and adjust the saddles PH.
Wipe off any remaining soap with a damp cloth.
- While the leather is still moist from the previous steps, use the tack sponge along with 75% Lexol Deep Conditioner and 25% Neatsfoot oil. It is important to have both the conditioner and the oil as they serve different roles. The easiest way to do this is with about half a squirt of Neatsfoot, and two squirts of Lexol Deep Conditioner. Wipe everything and remember to focus on areas around the buckles and the folds in the leather.
Many people use too much oil. Over oiling your saddle can make it soft and spongy. You don’t want the oil being absorbed by the flocking. Let your saddle drink for a about three minutes and then wipe it all off with a barely moist tack sponge. When it comes to oiling and conditioning tack and leather remember less, more often, is better.
We don’t recommend other leather products as so many contain ingredients that actually dry the leather out. We also don’t use saddle soap as we prefer our approach were the leather is breathing, not clogged up.
Mold and Mildew:
Be on the look out for mold and mildew on your tack. Moldy leather may have a green or white powder on it. Mold will cause serious damage and needs to be treated, not just brushed off.
To treat mold wipe or brush the area clean and then use one part rubbing alcohol with one part water. Use a tack sponge and wash anything that has mold and the surrounding areas with the solution.
Clean and condition the leather after it has been treated for mold and mildew and let your tack dry.
Summary:
Care and cleaning of your horse tack is necessary for safety and to maintain your investment. Following these simple tack care and cleaning instructions will keep your tack looking new and fresh for years to come.
P.S.: Share your knowledge and experience with our horse community in HorseBuff Magazine while getting more business for yourself. Get the side benefit of being able to sell on HorseBuff Equestrian Marketplace for free. CLICK HERE for more information.
