A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean Horse Tack

Why Cleaning Your Tack is Important

Maintaining clean tack is essential for your horse’s health, comfort, and well-being. Regular cleaning helps prevent the buildup of dirt, sweat, and bacteria, which can cause infections, skin irritations, or discomfort for your horse. It also protects leather and other materials from wear and tear, ensuring your tack lasts longer and remains in good condition. Proper care and maintenance enhance the tack's durability and create a more comfortable and safe riding experience for both horse and rider.

What Do You Need To Clean Horse Tack

When cleaning your horse's tack, it's crucial to have the right supplies on hand. Essential items include:

• Tack cleaner to remove dirt and grime

• Sponges for scrubbing your tack

• Soft cloths for wiping down and buffing the leather

• A bucket filled with water helps rinse sponges and rags

• Lastly, leather conditioner is crucial for keeping the tack supple and moisturized, preventing cracking and extending its lifespan

Having these items readily available will ensure an effective and thorough cleaning routine.

THE BEST TACK-CLEANING PRODUCTS

How to Clean Leather Horse Tack

Leather is a natural, porous material that can hold moisture or become dry and cracked. Regular cleaning is essential to prolong the life of your leather tack and prevent accidents from occurring due to dry, cracked pieces.

Here are the 5 simple steps on how to clean your leather horse tack:

1. Take your tack apart

Dirt will hide under buckles and in the folds of your tack, where it is normally most stressed. Taking your tack completely apart will help you reach those areas for a thorough clean. This means removing the leathers, irons, and other accessories for saddles. For harnesses, this means unbuckling each piece.

2. Wipe your tack with a damp sponge

Use a slightly damp rag or sponge to remove dirt, sweat, hair, and grime from your tack. Make sure to clean under any folds, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas. The 12-pack of Hydra Fine Pore Tack Sponges is the perfect set.

3. Apply saddle soap or leather cleaner

With a damp sponge or rag, apply a thin layer of leather cleaner using circular motions. Scrub stubborn areas of the tack with extra soap and soft toothbrushes. Use toothpicks to clean under the stitching of your saddle, and use the Q-Tips to get into the tight crevices of your tack. During this step, pay extra attention to high-stress areas.

4. Wipe the soap or cleaner off

Wipe all the soap or cleaner off the tack using a damp sponge or rag. Do not soak your tack in water. Use the smallest amount of water possible to remove the saddle soap effectively.

5. Allow tack to dry

When finished, let your tack fully dry before storing it. This should take an hour at most. Make sure you store your tack in a dry and safe environment. Many people use saddle covers and bridle bags to keep their tack clean.

How to Condition Your Leather Horse Tack

Conditioning your tack is a crucial next step after cleaning it. Conditioning leather tack keeps the leather supple and flexible while preventing it from becoming too dry and cracking.

Here are three steps to properly condition your leather horse tack:

1. Make sure your tack is clean

Before conditioning, double-check that no dirt remains from cleaning. Applying conditioner over dirt can trap it and make it harder to remove when cleaning it.

2. Apply leather conditioner

Once you are certain there is no leftover dirt, use a dry rag or sponge to apply a leather conditioner sparingly to your tack. Apply a thin layer to every leather area of the tack, paying special attention to high-stress areas. For extremely dry tack, you may have to apply multiple layers of oil to restore your leather.

3. Allow tack to dry

After you apply the leather conditioner, allow your tack to dry and store it in a safe and dry environment.

How to Oil Your Leather Horse Tack

Oiling is another vital part of caring for leather horse tack. Oil is stronger than conditioner, and tack should not be oiled as frequently as conditioned.

To properly oil your tack, follow these three steps:

1. Check that your tack is clean

Thoroughly check your tack to make sure it is completely clean. If you oil your tack without cleaning it first, dirt can get trapped under a layer of oil and become difficult to remove. The best time to oil tack is right after it has been cleaned.

2. Apply a thin layer of oil

Using a sponge or rag, apply a thin layer of oil all over the tack. Avoid applying too much oil—it should not drip or pool on the leather. Using too much can come off your clothes when riding and make the leather more prone to overstretching.

3. Allow tack to dry

After oiling your tack, allow it to dry before using it, and store it in a dry and safe place.

How to Clean Synthetic Horse Tack (Saddle Pads, Girths, Halters, Etc.)

Cleaning synthetic materials, like saddle pads, girths, and halters, usually depends on the material, how often you ride in it, and the conditions you ride in.

1. Remove all dirt, hair, and sweat

The first step in cleaning your synthetic tack is to remove all the dirt, hair, and sweat. You can do this with a brush or even a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.

2. Remove all inserts (if applicable) and fasten any velcro

If you have tack with Velcro or shims, ensure the Velcro is fastened and all shims are removed.

3. Soak and wash using an equine-friendly wash

Check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before cleaning. Soak your tack in a tub or sink to loosen any sweat and dirt residue. Use water at a temperature appropriate for the material—the manufacturer’s instructions should tell you. If a tub or sink is unavailable, you can also use a hose to spray your tack. Use equine-friendly soap. We suggest the Schneiders(r) Horse Blanket Wash. We recommend using a gentle cycle if you are using a washing machine.

4. Allow tack to dry

Let your tack dry entirely before putting it away. Lie saddle pads on a flat surface in direct sunlight, and hang your girths up to dry.

How to Clean Your Horse’s Bits

Cleaning your horse’s bit is essential and should be done after every use. Not only does it help disinfect it, but it also removes any dried grass that could potentially irritate or even cut their mouth.

Here are three steps to successfully clean your horse’s bit:

Cleaning Horse Bits:

1. Rinse and disinfect your bit (after every ride)

Your daily bit care is the first step to successful bit cleaning. You should rinse off and disinfect your bits after every ride. You can use water mixed with vinegar or Ultra® Bit Cleaner and Freshener; both have disinfectant properties.

2. Polish your bit (monthly)

When you polish your bit, you will need a toothbrush to get in the nooks and crannies of the bit. You can use fluoride-free toothpaste or the Ultra® Bit Cleaner and Freshener as a cleaner.

3. Soak and make your bit shine

Lastly, you will want to soak your bit in hot water for up to 10 minutes. When the soaking is complete, use a washcloth to dry it. You can briskly rub your bit with a microfiber cloth to give your bit some extra shine.

How to Clean Your Silver

Cleaning silver horse tack requires a gentle approach to preserve its shine and prevent tarnishing.

1. Begin by wiping down the silver pieces with a soft, damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.

2. If tarnish is present, use a silver polish or a specialized cleaner designed for metal on tack.

3. Apply a small amount of polish to a cloth or sponge and gently rub the silver in circular motions, careful not to damage any leather nearby.

4. Once polished, use a clean, dry cloth to buff the silver to a shine.

5. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could scratch the silver or damage the leather.

6. Regular care will keep your silver tack looking polished and elegant.

For silver-plated tack, there will often be a transparent lacquer of silver. Once that starts to get air under it, it can begin to discolor. Using a product such as Hagerty’s to remove that clear coat and then rubbing alcohol to remove any residual. A medium-bristle toothbrush or microfiber cloth is excellent for cleaning and polishing silver plates.

How to Restore Neglected Horse Tack

If a piece of horse tack has been neglected for an extended period, it is likely unsafe to use. However, neglected tack can often be restored with the proper care.

1. Cleaning the neglected tack

Neglected tack often has excessive dirt or buildup from sweat, dirt, or dust. Start by brushing as much of the buildup as possible with a stiff brush. Then, go through the normal tack-cleaning process. You may need to scrub harder and use more soap on neglected tack than you usually would.

Sometimes, neglected tacks can even grow mold or other fungi from being stored in an area with too much moisture. Luckily, mold can be removed easily. Use a wet rag to remove the visible mold from the saddle's surface. The rag should be either bleached or thrown away as it can contain spores. Clean the tack thoroughly using the gentlest antibacterial dish soap you can find.

2. Oiling and conditioning the neglected tack

Neglected leather tack is also prone to being extremely dry, and cracks in the leather could begin to form. To restore dry tack, use mink oil or leather conditioner and apply it over thoroughly clean tack. Depending on how dry the leather is, you may have to let the tack dry and do a few more layers.

3. Determining the safety of neglected tack

Even though you can save some neglected tack, you should also know when the safety of your tack has been compromised. You can save most of your tack, but certain pieces might need replacing. If a piece of tack has a large crack in a high-stress area or the

5 Common Mistakes When Cleaning Horse Tack

1. Using too much water

Beginners often use too much water, especially when learning how to clean a saddle. If you apply too much water to your horse tack, it could dry it out. If your leather tack is soaked and allowed to dry, the water will evaporate along with the oil meant to keep the tack supple and flexible. Since you reapply the conditioner, this is not as big of a problem when you clean and condition your leather tack. It is most important when you are doing your daily tack wipe down. Avoid getting your horse tack wet when you can help it.

2. Over-oiling and conditioning

Over-oiling or over-conditioning can cause the leather to rot or stretch. Leather horse tack should only be conditioned every 2 - 4 weeks and oiled 2 - 3 times per year.

3. Missing hard-to-reach spots

Another beginner mistake when learning how to clean a saddle, bridle, or other intricate pieces of tack is missing hard-to-reach areas. When caring for your tack, you need to clean many small crevices and cracks. These spots are often missed but can be very important, especially in high-stress areas.

4. Storing Tack in a Moist Location

If you store your tack in an area with lots of moisture, it could be at risk for growing mold or other fungi. To prevent this, store tack in a dry area. If you must store your tack in a moist area, store it in a bag inside a dry container.

5. Neglecting Tack

Many people need to clean their tack more often. Being late to clean your tack occasionally is fine. Still, if you never clean your tack, it could risk your and your horse's safety. Dirty tack breaks are easier and more uncomfortable for your horse.

Frequently Asked Question About Cleaning Horse Tack

Should you clean your tack after every ride?

You should wipe down your tack after every ride to remove any sweat or dirt that may damage it. Depending on how often and what you use it for, you should fully clean your tack once a week.

How often should you oil tack?

You should oil your tack once or twice a year, depending on how often you ride. Of course, some older tack that hasn’t been maintained might need to be oiled more often.

How often should you condition tack?

Tack that is well maintained and cleaned regularly will normally need to be conditioned once or twice a month, depending on how often and what you use it for.

Can you use vinegar to clean a saddle?

While some say to use vinegar to clean a saddle, we do not recommend it. Vinegar can cause permanent damage to your leather. However, you can use a vinegar water solution to clean your bits.