6 simple steps to supple and sparkling tack

I learnt how to clean tack as a child – at the time it was not my favourite job at the stables where I spent my weekends, but looking back I’m glad we were drilled in it because I’m not sure where else I would have learnt how to do it in the pre-internet days.

Years later, while at equine college, I won a competition that involved putting a bridle back together while blindfolded. I remember being surprised at how many of the other students had never taken a bridle apart to put it back together, while I was feeling confident I could do so by feel alone – who knew how handy my tack cleaning practice would be all those years later.

Nowadays, like most horse owners, I probably don’t clean my tack as frequently as I should as I was once told: “Georgia, if you’ve got time to clean your horse’s tack you don’t have time to ride it”, but I still pull out all the stops if I’m heading out in public or if I’m tasked with putting the best saddle soaps to test.

I’ll take you through everything you need to clean your horse’s tack, including what to use and a few tips I’ve picked up along the way, to help you clean your kit in the best and most efficient way.

Horse tack cleaning kit

You will need:

• two sponges – one for cleaning, one for conditioning
• microfibre cloths (like these) for buffing and drying
• leather cleaner
• leather conditioner
• soft toothbrush
• cocktail stick
• bucket of warm water

How to clean tack

1. Take the tack apart

For a full and proper clean, you need to take the bridle apart completely – including the martingale if you have one. The same goes removing stirrups, stirrup leathers and girth from the saddle. Remove the bit and unbuckle every strap on the bridle – you can’t clean the leather under the buckles if you leave it assembled, and that’s usually where sweat and dirt causes the most damage.

2. The dry wipe

Use a dry cloth to wipe off loose hair, dust, and dried mud off the leather. If you jump straight to a wet sponge, you’ll just be “painting” mud into the pores of the leather.

3. The deep clean

Dampen your sponge (it should be damp, not dripping) and apply your leather cleaner (I like this one). Focus on the buildup of grease and sweat that you’ll find on the undersides of straps.

Soak the bit in warm water to loosen dried saliva or grass, then scrub it clean, using a toothbrush to get into the links. Do not use leather cleaner or chemicals on the bit. Do the same with the stirrup irons and use a toothbrush on the tread.

4. Rinse and dry

Wipe away any excess saddle soap with a clean, slightly damp cloth, then let the leather air dry naturally.

Never put leather near a heater or in direct sunlight to dry as it will shrink and crack.

5. Condition and feed

Once the leather is clean and dry, it’s time to put the oils back in. Apply your leather conditioner (I like this one) with a clean sponge or cloth.

Avoid over-oiling as the leather will attract more dirt. You should also avoid heavy oiling on the seat of your saddle unless you fancy a very slippery ride and oily breeches.

6. Buff and reassemble

Use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the leather to a soft sheen and polish your metal buckles (I use this one). Then put everything back together, ensuring all the runners and keepers are in place.

How to clean mouldy leather

If you’ve not cleaned your tack in a while and come across mouldy leather, make sure you clean it outside to avoid spreading spores. Wipe off any mould with a damp cloth, which should be soaked in boiling water with disinfectant if you plan to use it again, then treat the tack with a leather-specific mould inhibitor (like this one), and finally condition the leather.

Check that stitching hasn’t rotted and that spores haven’t spread to other items. Fitting a low-wattage electric bar heater (like this one) in the tack room will help prevent leather from going mouldy.

How to clean synthetic tack

Synthetic tack is not only usually cheaper, but it is also easier to maintain – and you don’t need to use any soaps or conditioners. You can, if you would like, use a synthetic leather cleaner (like this one), but otherwise you just need to use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down synthetic leather areas.

For faux suede, use a stiff brush or suede brush (like this one) to lift the nap and restore the texture. If there is dried sweat, use a lightly damp sponge to dissolve it, then brush it once it’s dry.

Tack cleaning tips

• Gift your tack a “daily wipe” after every use – it might seem like hard work at the time, but it will make your life easier in the long run
• Keep tack cleaning wipes (like these ones) in your lorry or tack box – they’re perfect for a quick wipe down when you’re short of time
• If your bridle is not well worn, make a note of which holes your cheekpieces and noseband are done up on for a good fit before you take it apart
• Use a cocktail stick to gently poke out dirt and product deposits from buckle holes in the bridle pieces and stirrup leathers
• If you have a crystal browband, use a toothbrush to clean between the stones
• You can use any sponge, but a purpose-made tack cleaning sponge (like this one) will last well over time and create less waste

Why bother cleaning tack?

Keeping your tack clean keeps in it good condition from a safety point of view. It gives you a chance to check the stitching and fixings, so that you notice any wear and tear before it becomes an issue. Keeping the leather clean also increases its lifespan, preventing it from becoming brittle, which could cause it to break. Well-maintained leather lasts for decades, but neglected leather becomes dangerous.

A bridle breaking while it’s hung up is annoying – you’ll have to buy another – but a bridle or stirrup leather breaking while you’re riding could leave you in a tricky situation.

Aside from safety, keeping your tack clean is important if you want to look smart. This might not matter so much to you on a daily basis, but if you’ve got a lesson booked or have a show, competition or day’s hunting in the diary, it pays to make the effort.

Best way to store tack

Ideally, you want to tack room to be at a consistent ambient temperature, but this is often not the case. Storing your bridle in a bridle bag (like this one) and covering your saddle with a shaped cover (like this one) will give them extra protection.

• For more advice on how to look after your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also enjoy: