tack cleaning

[fleabitten]

Ok

My tack is a wintec synthetic type and a leather bridle (not sure if english leather or foreign leather - got it with Connie - (probably foreign leather knowing our luck) I also have a cheap synthetic saddle (material-like) and a foreign leather saddle (i thought it was a good saddle too until the saddler told us it was foreign ).

I keep telling myself to give it a good strip clean once per week but some weeks i dont have time. i will always rinse my bit after riding. Havent oiled it in a long time. Probably last time was autumn 07!

I clean any dirt or sweaty bits with a damp scrubby sponge dunked in warm water then squeezed out well (will use the rough side on crusted mud or grime) I find that dirt from the horses face plus sweat gets ingrained into my leather (one place i can think of is the noseband) and if you scrape it with your nail, the leather comes off too because the sponge will not shift it. Specially where the buckles are and where stitching is too. (probly to do with a combination of too much water and/or crappy leather)

Then i will use a damp sponge and rub it into the soap (Carr and Day and Martin Saddle and Leather Soap - the soap is orange) then rub into the leather (according to the instructions on the tub). I got another bar of soap before, which was Carr and Day and Martin Belvoir Tack Conditioner Glycerine Bar which said to wet the bar of soap and then rub a dry sponge onto it and then into the tack. I much preferred the second option so will get it after the current tub is finished.

Then i will wash the bit and stirrup irons and dry them with a towel then wash my Thorowgood synthetic girth with a wet sponge and dry it off, then brush the loose hair off my numnah and stick it in the washing machine if very dirty and swap with a different one, for a change. Then i put it all back together again and hang it up.

For the wintec saddle i use a damp/wet cloth and my Wintec soapy spray specially for wintec saddles and bridles if im going to a show etc.
For my cheap synthetic saddle i will use a damp cloth and spray the wintec soap onto the cloth and rub in and then rinse off with a wet cloth.

For shows i would use shoe polish on the leather to make it super shiny - did that last year. and poke through all the holes and rub and grime off the buckles.

So, am i going wrong anywhere in my tack cleaning regime? Do you have any tack cleaning tips to share?

I take my hat off to those who managed to read to the bottom without getting too bored!! ;D

[haffyfan]

May 5, 2008 18:41:21 GMT fleabitten said:

So, am i going wrong anywhere in my tack cleaning regime? Do you have any tack cleaning tips to share?

;D

Buy synthetic/webbing and then you don't have to bother! ;D

*that reminds me must clean the bloody freeform (yet another reason to dislike it)...Mmmm...maybe next weekend*

[Maes Seren]

I use stubben saddle soap in a squeezy tube which i apply on with a dry sponge after wiping over tack with a damp sponge. I then get an old duster and apply effax in the bottle to make the leather more supple and it doesnt darken the leather like oil does. ;D

[kateflashy]

buy spray soap i just squirt it everywhere and wipe off excess and cheaper alternative to proper synthetic saddle cleaner use upholstrey cleaner its exactly the same but half the price

[zara]

I have lovely tack and should clean it more often Brought it home tonite to clean and guess what? Opened a bottle of Merlot and left tack in dining room and I suspect it will still be filthy next time I ride ('cept for his bit) Anyone want a job? Zx

[racaille]

Oo-er, I must come clean (geddit?) and confess I like cleaning my stuff
For my two leather saddles and the bridles, I use a damp sponge and minimum of glycerine soap to clean any crud off - but I never scrape or use the rough side of a sponge because it damages the leather. I gently rub and if you do it often enough there is never anything so encrusted that it won't come off. When the leather is dry (almost immediately as I use very, very little water, I then apply Effax with my hands (why waste it on a cloth and it's nice for the hands too) being careful not to dob in on the stitching because grease/oil rots it. But I am liberal elsewhere and give the leather a good massage. I am generally held to be the queen of clean, supple leather (and very modest ;D)
Racaille's Wintec gets a wipe with a damp cloth. Er, that's all. Girths etc get washed/cleaned regularly, and anything that will go in the wash, like girth sleeves, saddlecloths/numnahs etc, goes in about once a week. But that is also because it is hot here and the horses sweat a lot and when you have a boy who likes to roll in the dust it can form a muddy crust on everything. Lovely!
Bits are washed thoroughly after each use.
Strangely, I cannot bear housework but after a good schooling session I just love to sit in the sunshine and clean my tack, watching a lesson in the arena.
Perhaps I need to get a life!

[maximum]

I only ever use stubben saddle soap it smells lovely and gives a good clean without being sticky.

I have to admit I dont clean as often as I should and often have to use baby wipes if it looks too bad!!

[midori]

I love tack cleaning!

With the grease buildup, I either use the back of a knifeblade or I raid the grooming brushes for shed mane or tail hairs, roll them up and use them on the grease. They don't take the surface off the leather like the scrubby side of a sponge.

then I use a glycerine saddle soap, let things dry, then buff it up with a dry duster.

I also take bridles apart, and check for wear and the stitching. ( I never take chances with it, a friend had a serious accident when her rein billet broke away on a hack).

Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't bounce too well nowadays, and once I get back in the saddle I wanna stay there!

Cheers, midori

[fimacg]

I don't clean my tack as often as I should, but when I get into it I love it.

Does anyone have any tips on getting rid of mould from spare tack. I had my lovely new stables built last year, but had an ongoing problem with water from driving rain leaking into the tack room from the brick line to which the wooden building is anchored into (now sorted).

I even had a frost heater in the tack room but everything was just a bit musty and both spare saddles and bridles grew mould. I have cleaned these on a regular basis to minimise mould build up but how do you get rid once and for all (aside from selling them)?

[haffyfan]

Milton steralising fluid

[aimee]

I don't clean as often as I should. About once a month roughly. I don't mind doing it though and I do do it properly like I take hours and take every little bit apart! Her numnah is mostly white, so that needs doing quite a bit.

I use lincoln saddle soap (nearly out so might buy the Stubben as it sounds good!) and neatsfoot oil.

......

Just thought I'd add this. I had misspelt 'white' as 'whire'. As I clicked the firefox spell checker it picked it up and the first spelling suggestion on the list was Wh*re! lol Naughty! Just thought it was funny!

[duckles]

I quite like cleaning tack but don't do it that often as never seem to have the time. Yesterday when the farrier was nearly 2hours later I sat in the sun and cleaned it all. The horses fell asleep at either side of me, the dogs fell asleep in front of me and even i struggled keeping awake. Eventually I rang and asked if I had the day wrong but he was nearly there at that stage. If i'd known he was going to be so late i could have ridden!! But at least the tack looks lovely

[fleabitten]

midori - used scissor blades on the underside of the leather - it is probably ancient and probably not taken care of very well - but when i scraped at it i could actually see the brown leather and OMG the stitching! i didnt realise it was brown!! it was so ancient and probably never cleaned until i got it that the leather was dark brown to black in colour! Still, i might be better getting a new bridle as the nose band strap is cracking where the holes are.

[midori]

I never thought of scissors, but the effect would be the same as the back of a knife, and it's amazing what comes off!

cheers, midori