Taking Care of Your Tack While Maintaining Your Investment
Taking Care of Your Tack While Maintaining Your Investment
By Maribeth Dunlap
March 2007
If you’re like the average horseperson, you have a great deal of money invested in your tack and equipment. It only makes sense then to take proper care to maintain it so it will last. Leather maintenance recommendations can sometimes be very confusing, as some saddle makers may recommend one thing and some may offer conflicting advice. The bottom line is that the more knowledge you have, the better.
For brand new saddles or bridles, I give them two coats of a light conditioning oil, such as Tanner’s oil. Don’t use Neatsfoot oil, as it is too heavy. Let the first coat soak in, and then apply the next. Don’t over-saturate the leather. If the first coat hasn’t been absorbed in ten minutes, wipe off the excess and apply a lighter second coat. The “don’t over-saturate” instruction is particularly important on saddle panels, as you don’t want the flocking or foam to soak up oil. Excessive oiling can also cause the stitching to rot and become weakened.
Oiling should only need to be done once IF the saddle is regularly conditioned. If you buy a second hand saddle and the leather is pretty dry, then apply a coat of Tanner’s oil. If the leather absorbed it as soon as it was applied, apply a second coat. Be sure to wipe off any excess oil after about 10 minutes.
After the saddle or bridle is oiled, all you should have to do is keep the leather clean and conditioned. If you wipe your saddle and bridle down after every ride, you should only need to do a complete take-it-apart cleaning once a week, and condition it every other week. However, if you live in a dry climate then you might have to condition your tack more often to keep it soft and supple. Dry leather loses its suppleness and can shrink and crack. On the other hand, if you live in a humid climate, then you might want to consider keeping a dehumidifier in your tack room.
For cleaning, I use glycerine saddle soap for light jobs, castile soap for heavier going, and Effax Leather Combi for really filthy leather. Effax is also good for weekly cleaning, as I’ve found it to be a very effective and has a light conditioner in it, as well. I also like Farnam’s Leather New Products. Leather New makes a nice liquid glycerine saddle soap for weekly cleaning and a pretty good product called Leather New Foam which seems to work really well for very dirty leather. When cleaning, try not to use too much soap or water. Wring the sponge out almost completely and then apply a small amount of cleaner. Wipe the leather in small circular patterns and then wipe the leather with a clean soft cloth.
For conditioning, I like Effax or Passier Lederbalsam. Leather New also makes a liquid deep conditioner, which is also nice. The Leather New products are less expensive. When you condition, be sure to do the undersides as well as the surfaces. Don’t forget the billets, stirrup leathers, panels, and girth, as well. Let the conditioner dry and then you can wipe off with a clean soft cloth for additional shine.
For final touches, be sure to clean your bit and stirrup irons. Be sure to remove the rubber grip pads from the stirrup irons and scrub them with a stiff brush to remove dirt and grime in between the treads.
If you take the time to take care of your tack, it should last many good years and maintain your investment.
Photo Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/5starburst/art/Dressage-Tack-540300899#
This article was written by Maribeth 2007 – All Rights Reserved Used With Permission.
