silly question, what to clean tack with? how?

[amanda1788]

Hi I am new to horse owning, and wondered what people use to clean their tack with? I have a synthetic saddle, and leather bridle, what do you use to clean these? Also what about the bit and stirrp irons?
Thanks

 

[kerilli]

i use bathroom cleaning sponges from Wilkinsons, they're blue sponge one side, soft scourer on the other. they do a week in the kitchen doing dishes, then get demoted to tack cleaning!
immediately after use, i use warm water, Belvoir tack cleaning spray for the greasy bits, lots of elbow grease. then i leave the leather to dry completely, and apple Effax (in the brown pot) which is brilliant for keeping leather lovely and supple.

 

[jackjack]

I use good old saddle soap- I had no faith in this stuff until I spent 3 months on an olympic yard in Australia and she insisted on saddle soap, but the difference in the tack is incredible, it will stay so soft. If you want to waterproof stuff I have some awesome kieffer leather oil- its expensive but I've had it since 2006 and its still over half full. (and I have a LOT of tack) ;o)

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Synthetic tack only needs a warm, damp sponge & tiny, tiny bit of soap for the really muddy bits if you've been hunting etc.

Stirrups - Damp cloth then metal polish. (also applies to buckles)

Bit - Rinse under tap after each use (at least, that is what I do. Saves dried food making horses mouth sore then next use).
DO NOT use metal polish on the mouthpiece, horse will refuse bit. If you're going to a show etc then you can use a bit on the actual rings but make sure none gets on the actual mouthpiece.

 

[Donkeymad]

As C_M85, but also use a good leather balsam on any leather tack, such as Effax. Do not use any oil of any sort. Apply with a clean cloth, allow a few minutes to dry then buff to a shine. It will protect and strengthen the leather as well as make/keep it supple.

 

[spotty_pony]

If you have a synthetic saddle then it obviously won't need soaping as it is not leather but you will need to wipe it over with a damp sponge and warm water from time to time. You should wash the stirrups irons in a bucket of warm water and then dry them to prevent them from rusting.

For the bridle, you should wash the bit in a bucket of warm water. Use a damp sponge to wipe all of the grease/dirt off the leather, then use a seperate sponge (slightly damp) and rub it onto a bar of saddle soap and rub well into the leather. The sponge shouldn't be too wet or the soap will go all foamy. If your stirrup leathers are leather you may need to soap them too.

ALternatively there are lots of new products such as Carr&Day&Martin Tack Cleaner (Step 1) and Conditioner (Step 2) Step 1 is the equivilent to using water and Step 2 is the same as putting saddle soap on the leather, but I prefer the good old traditional way.

Hope this helped!