With the weather breaking and clocks springing ahead, it is a great time to prepare for a good season spent with our horses.
Ensuring that your tack is in tip-top condition is essential to keeping it safe and serviceable while also maximizing your investment.
Tools: clean cloths, sponges, cleaner and conditioner (in specific instances oil but not too often!)
Notes: always make sure you adhere to a manufacturers care suggestions.
Disassemble all bridle pieces for a thorough cleaning and remove stirrup leathers from the saddle so every nook and cranny can be properly inspected, cleaned, and conditioned.
Sometimes small metal buckles and keepers may benefit from a little metal polish applied carefully.
Inspect all stitching and seams.
Basic Steps:
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Wipe down all surfaces with a slightly damp sponge or cloth to remove superficial dust and debris.
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Use a damp sponge with your favorite cleaner to clean all leather surfaces and avoid any specialty surfaces such as suede and other types of leather.
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After your saddle, bridle and other leather strap ware is clean and dry, apply leather conditioner to replenish and preserve your equipment. A little can go a long way so be aware that that too much conditioner may cause your equipment to weaken by making them too soft. How often you condition depends on your climate, how frequently and intensely you ride, and the overall condition of your tack.
Pro Tips:
Michelle Schwartz of German Equestrian Manufacturers representing brands such as EFFAX and EFFOL notes
“Sometimes after a long winter you may find your tack needs extra attention and may have developed some mold. To clean, first be sure to take moldy tack outside and clean it in the fresh Spring air to ensure that mold spores are not simply moved from your tack to the air and other surfaces of the tack room”
She also suggests using a cleaner with a mold deterrent such as Effax Leather Combi+. This product is designed to clean and remove stubborn dirt and oils as well as knock-out mold spores.
When trying a new product, always test in small discreet spot.
Tack should be stored in a dry temperature stable environment (but away from any heat source).
A saddle is a big investment and depending on the type of saddle rack in use, one may want to store your saddle over a thick saddle pad or ergonomic saddle rack pad to prevent unnatural indentions that can affect how the saddle fits your horses back.
Turn a chore into a fun gathering! Host a tack cleaning party at your barn with your friends. It can help you discover new products and ways to clean your tack. Please send us any pics if you do host a Spring Cleaning Tack Party!
We wish you the best!