Cleaning Tack

Cleaning tack – everyone does it every day, right

Cleaning tack – either you like it, or you don’t. YES, you should do it after each and every ride. Taking care of your tack ensures it will take care of you. You will keep the leather in top condition, and you can spot repairs that must be made long before your stirrup leather fails during the lesson with BNT.

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Get the surface dirt and stuff gone.

A stiff brush is good for getting the grit out of your stirrup pads.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for tack cleaning

If you don’t have those instructions anymore, a quick call to the closest tack store or saddle company representative can help you. A quick internet search will also give you an answer as to how to clean your particular brand of saddle.

This is because of the many different types of leather that are out there today, from calf to buffalo and even ostrich, and the manufacturer will likely be able to recommend a cleaner and conditioner that matches your saddle’s leather type.

If you have no idea what to use as far as products go, you likely can’t go wrong with generic glycerin soap. If it’s humid where you live, the glycerin residue may get sticky over time. Many choices are outlined here!

The small sea sponge is excellent for cleaning tack.

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Get the dust, sweat, and hair off.

Lift all flaps and get under there, too! You will notice that the seams are often the first place that hair and goop like to collect.

A stiff nylon brush can get into the nooks and crannies to remove horse hairs that want to live there. This works for saddles with tons of texture, you may not want to risk scratches with smooth leather.

This is a great time to check all of the stitching and the overall health of your tack. I once had a girth billet break while riding (yikes). It’s dangerous, and embarrassing that I had not noticed the stitching was giving out before I threw my leg over.

Proceed with whatever tack cleaner is suggested.

I use a glycerine/conditioner blend for my saddles that the manufacturer suggests. Applied with a sea sponge, this process takes seconds. For foamy saddle soaps, you may want to wipe the excess with a cloth before applying the conditioner.

For my very old and slippery jump saddle, I use more of a conditioning paste to add a little tacky so I don’t slide off during a ride. You can also purchase sticks and sprays of tacky goo to help you stay planted in the tack. Quite important!

I use a super short bristled brush and paste conditioner to get into every nook and cranny for my textured and specialty leather dressage saddle. This creates that tacky finish, and the applicator brush bristles get all of the hair and dirt from the seams.

You can also make your own saddle cleaner/conditioner in your kitchen. Adding great-smelling oils to this concoction (recipe here) is easy, too.

This finishing brush is handy for working your favorite saddle cleaner into hard-to-reach places! Not suggested for saddles with smooth leather.

Use oils to soften new leather.

You may want to use neatsfoot oil to soften or darken a new saddle. Shades of brown leather often start out as orange, and a bit of neatsfoot oil can tame that color. Hydrophane oil will absolutely darken leather.

This is great on occasion – and please be warned that some saddle flocking can be disrupted and damaged by oils on the underside of the saddle, so use caution or avoid that area altogether when oiling.

I like using a toothbrush to get into areas my fingers won’t – like around the stirrup bars. You can also wrap a cloth around the non-bristled end to apply oil or conditioner to those hard-to-reach areas.

Don’t forget to inspect the stirrup leathers where the stirrup rests.

Tack cleaning demo

Leather care basics to avoid your tack drying out

Alternatives to glycerin soap

If you want to pick up some lederbalsam or oils for conditioning your saddle, I like these below. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but no worries – you aren’t charged extra. I truly appreciate your support! Thanks!