Tack Cleaning

Bodshi

Bodshi

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Apr 23, 2009
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Following the thread on grooming, I just wondered about tack cleaning - how, how often and products/equipment used.

I'm pretty much a self-taught tack cleaner and have no real idea whether I do it right - I tend to use Naf easy cleaner, or whatever it's called, and every now and then I give my saddle a treat with the conditioning cream that came with it. I also clean my boots with tack cleaner and occasionally give them a proper polish with shoe polish.
 
If my saddle gets wet or dirty I'll wipe it off when I get home but it only get properly cleaned and treated with jefferies balm a couple of times a year (its surge underneath so that doesn't need doing like leather would).
Most of my tack is synthetic now, bridle, girth etc so they just get a quick wipe off as needed, which isn't often.
 
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Cremola Foam said:
Not as often as I should!!

I use the leather balsam that comes in a brown tub. Can't remember what it's called but it smells like honey :)
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Effax CF that's what I use too, last ages as well.
As for cleaning, not as often as I should I guess, but my saddle pad is washed regularly :)
 
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I aim to clean my tack properly once a week with some amazing product I got from shoe shiners at Olympia but I cannot remember what it is called! In reality its nearer every 2 weeks, but I do a good job when I do it!
 
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When I helped / worked on a posh yard the tack was cleaned every time it was used. Usually daily. We used saddle soap with some water. The result was beautiful - my share had soft tack and very different from RS saddles and bridles.
The only tack I own are my stirrup leathers. They are soft expensive Italian leather and get done with Effax as above. I dont do them as often as I used to but it does make it easier to get them under the stirrup bars when they have been cleaned and when the saddle has just been cleaned too. My long black boots get done frequently with good black shoe cream. I have had them 10 years and ride in nothing else. They cost a fortune and I expect them to last me my life time.
 
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Saddle soap, minimal water (if I have foam there's too much water, I even dry my fingers). I try to wipe it over after every use. Take bridle apart weekly. Kocholine conditioner when it "feels" like it needs it so as not to saturate the leather.
 
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Skib said:
When I helped / worked on a posh yard the tack was cleaned every time it was used. Usually daily. We used saddle soap with some water. The result was beautiful - my share had soft tack and very different from RS saddles and bridles.
The only tack I own are my stirrup leathers. They are soft expensive Italian leather and get done with Effax as above. I dont do them as often as I used to but it does make it easier to get them under the stirrup bars when they have been cleaned and when the saddle has just been cleaned too. My long black boots get done frequently with good black shoe cream. I have had them 10 years and ride in nothing else. They cost a fortune and I expect them to last me my life time.
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Ooh err! Now I have an image of a naked Skib riding her horse lady godiva style.
 
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Every time I ride. So pretty much daily. One step horse man. Take apart and treat once a month. Saddle once a week. Albion condition balm.

Saddle cloth changed minimum of once a week always after jumping.
 
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I try t o do a thorough bridle clean every couple of weeks, the saddle gets done less often simply because I have to remember to drive to the yard in order to take it home to clean. In Summer it is more likely to be cleaned as I take cleaning stuff to yard and sit outside to do it.
Saddle cloth get washed every week at least, more often if it looks particularly grubby....
I didn't get on with Effax, found it to be a bit sticky, even using e tiniest amount.
 
I'm pretty good actually at tack cleaning!

It gets wiped after every use, cleaned every couple of uses & taken apart to clean & oil if necessary once a week.

I'm a bit OCD about dirty saddle pads, so they get changed every two uses & get cleaned before reusing.

My bit gets rinsed off after every use & cleaned & scrubbed properly (with minty toothpaste, of all things!) every couple of uses.
 
Weekly here for a full clean,it's one of my Friday jobs at work as that ties in for hunting or eventing at the weekrnds , bits washed after every ride and if any mud is on tack, which is quite often come winter it's cleaned off after every ride. Numnah weekly, but have 2 for all horses and they are swapped mid week do really every 3/4days. Tack was never looked after here in regard to cleaning and the difference in it now it's cared for and conditioned is very noticeable.
I clean my tack weekly and pad as a when, it's a non slip lining so gets a wipe off regular but only goes in the washer when needed.
 
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