KEEPING
IT CLEAN! - GENERAL ADVICE ON TACK AND HORSE COVER CLEANING
Written by SHNZ
Keeping your tack clean is one of those jobs that you either love or hate, however it's one of the necessary aspects of horse care if you want your gear to remain in good condition for as long as possible. From saddles, bridles and halters (especially leather ones), through to saddle cloths, covers and brushes, cleanliness in your tack shed will see your gear last longer and remain more pliable than dry, dirty, unkept equipment.
Saddles
and Bridles
Ideally you should clean your tack after every ride or use (although lets
admit this isnt always the reality!). The most important part of tack
care is ensuring that dirt is removed - pvc and synthetic gear can simply
be wiped down as dirt cannot penetrate into it, while for leatherware
keeping clean means keeping the leather pores free of grime, The best
way to do this is using a bit of elbow grease, a clean sponge or soft
brush, saddle soap and warm water. Soap up an area of your saddle, then
rinse with a damp sponge, you will know you've got the dirt out when the
water rinse is clear.
After
cleaning, when the equipment is almost dry, you can apply leather conditioner
or oil to replace the natural leather oils, however dont over do it or
you can end up attracting more dirt and dust to the gear, not to mention
excess jodphur marks! Finally a quick buff with a soft dry cloth will
remove any excess oil and give the leather a lovely shine.
Bits should be wiped clean after each use to remove build up of food/grass/saliva. If you have removed it from the bridle, make sure the bit is dried thoroughly before replacing or your bridle will soak up the extra water and possibly crack.
Saddle
Cloths
Saddle cloths should be washed regularly to remove sweat, dirt and prevent
any skin problems developing or spreading. Saddle cloths containing foam
padding can be worse at harbouring sweat and germs than other cloths made
from wool or cotton etc. Before you start check the material used as some
may stretch or require different care to others. Loose hair can be removed
with a vacuum cleaner or stiff brush before washing either in a tub or
washing machine (if big and hardy enough!). Some professional cleaning
companies will accept saddle cloths although may still require you to
remove excess hair as much as possible. Using a disinfectant wash aid
is a good idea to really keep your saddle cloths hygenic. Dry them over
the clothes line in the sun for a fresh clean result (make sure completely
dry before using again).
Grooming
Equipment
Keeping grooming gear clean is also important, it can pay to keep a seperate
kit of grooming equipment for each horse to avoid spreading any skin problems
around should they eventuate. Remove loose hair from brushes before scrubbing
clean in a tub of hot water and disinfectant. Allow to dry thoroughly
in the sun. (Note: if your brushes have wooden handles try to avoid too
much water contact.)
Covers
Horse covers are best cleaned when they wont be used again for awhile
(eg change of season and change of rugs required) - just in case you give
them a thorough scrubbing and cannot get them dry again in time! Depending
on the type of cover, your home washing machine and drainage system is
problably not going to cope with this type of job, although lighter summer
sheets and some stable rugs could possibly be cleaned this way. The better
alternative, if you have the time, is to lay the cover out flat before
first removing as much hair as possible with a brush or vacuum cleaner,
then soaking with the hose and using a stiff brush (or broom!) and disinfectant
or soap to scrub. Keep rinsing and scrubbing until the water runs clear
- very important because as bad as sweat residue it, your horses coat
and skin will not thank you for excess soap residue either. This can be
quite a physical effort and it pays to start early to allow lots of time
for the cover to dry completely in the sun. Avoid using or storing the
cover until it is totally dry, otherwise you may end up with mildew/rot
problems.
When cleaning your covers you can also check that all straps and joins
are still strong and secure.
Once dry, apply a good waterproofer over the cover if the material can
take it.
As an alternative to doing the hard work yourself, some professional cleaning
companies will clean horse covers, including disinfecting and deodorising
- this is no doubt a great option if you can afford it! Especially for
show rugs etc as the result will be very good.
Store your covers on racks, mouse-proof bins or even in plastic bags to
keep them in best order.
You, and your
horse, will be most pleased when the time comes to use this cover again
and it's all clean, waterproofed and repaired!
TACK TIPS
- Mildew, while it doesn't look very attractive, is actually a sign of healthy leather as it shows there are enough oils within the leather.
Don't
over condition your saddle or bridle to the point that it feels oily.- Never place your saddle on the ground as if it were sitting on your horse, and hang up your bridles and halters on hooks to keep them in shape.
- Getting into a reasonably regular routine of cleaning your gear also gives you great opportunity to thoroughly inspect it for any damage or wear that could cause a problem and needs to be repaired or replaced.
- If your saddle has suede seat or knee rolls avoid using water on these as it will ruin them, instead clean them with a soft brush or clean dry cloth.
- Toothbrushes are ideal for gear cleaning as they have soft bristles and can reach right up under the flaps and around buckles.
- If a horse in your paddocks/stable block etc has any sort of skin irritation then be sure to keep a seperate bucket of grooming equipment aside for this horse and not use on the other horses until the problem has been resolved, as brushes, sponges etc are an easy way for bacteria to move from horse to horse. This also obviously applies to saddle cloths and covers too.
- Store your gear in a clean, dry area with good ventilation for best results.
Most saddleries and horse shops provide plenty of options for tack care. Some saddle soap, a leather condition or oil (some people just use wamed olive oil for equally good results), a disinfectant, a toothbrush, a few soft cloths and perhaps some waterproofer are good basics to start with for all your cleaning requirements.