How to care for your Tack

Purchasing a new Saddle and Bridle is a huge investment for any horse owner. Find out how to look after and maintain your tack to keep on tip top condition for years to come.

Poorly maintained tack will not last you as long and can be dangerous if stitching is not checked on a regular basis.

The key to keeping leather items in excellent condition is hydration. Using saddle soap is fine if it is not overused with too much water present. It should only be used to wipe away surface grease and sweat and should not be left too long to be allowed to soak into the leather.

Sweat gets into every crevice of your bridle and saddle, where it eats away at the stitching, causing it to rot and ultimately to fail. Sweat dries out the leather, eventually triggering cracking and making the leather brittle.

To clean your tack properly, you’ll need a sponge, a cloth, warm water, Saddle Soap (a bar is best), and a high-quality Leather Conditioner/Balsam product. A toothbrush is also a handy tool for cleaning the bit.

Using a damp sponge apply a small amount of saddle soap to your leather to remove all dirt, grease and sweat. Ideally repeat this process every day after each use. Pay particular attention to the seems and creases in your leather. If there is any excess residue use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe this away. When your tack is clean apply a layer of good quality leather conditioner or balsam to your tack.

On occasions when your tack has been soaked during a rainy ride, you should wipe everything over with a damp cloth to remove sweat. Then, apply a light application of leather balsam to restore the moisture to the leather and keep it supple.

There is no point having a sparkling clean saddle and bridle if your girth, saddle cloth, and bit are all filthy! Not only does that look unprofessional, but uncared for accessories could harm your horse.

If you use a leather girth, wipe the sweat, and muck off it after each use. Then wipe the girth over with a damp sponge and a light dressing of saddle soap. Use a clean cloth to remove any soapy residue, and then finish off by applying some leather balsam.

Fabric girths and saddlecloths can be washed in your washing machine, but always place them inside an old pillowcase or wash bag  to prevent the buckles from damaging the machine’s drum and containing all loose hair and grit.

Always rinse your bit under the tap after each use, it is much nicer having a clean bit in your horses mouth rather than a dirty one

Look carefully at all the stitching on your tack, especially in areas such as where the buckle attaches to your stirrup leathers and where the bit is fixed to the cheek pieces of the bridle. Also, check all the billets on the bridle to ensure that the leather around them has not stretched or become worn.

Make sure that you have any damaged tack repaired as soon as you discover a problem.

It’s not just about looking smart, continuing to ride with damaged tack could mean that you are putting your life on the line. People are injured or even killed every year when stirrup leathers break or reins snap.

It is a good idea to have your saddle checked by a qualified saddle fitter regularly, not just for your horses change in shape but also the main structure of the saddle to ensure it is kept in the best condition for you and your horse.  If you ever take a tumble where your horses go over on the saddle please get the soundness of the saddle checked straight away before its next use.