Looking After Your Saddlery & Tack
No matter what type of riding you do, you will have tack that is used often and needs to be cared for. If you have a well organised tack room you will have an easier time of storing and cleaning your tack. Tack can be very expensive and by making sure you clean and store it properly it can last you a long time. You should also check with your horse insurance company about getting all your saddlery and tack insured against theft, as most good insurers will have an option to include this in your policy.
Leather horse tack if not cared for properly will eventually become brittle and stiff. This makes it harder to undo and do up the buckles and fastenings. Not caring for the leather tack can also cause the equipment to break and could cause an accident when riding.
When you are cleaning and checking over your tack you need to check to make sure the stitching is not rotten. If you are unsure you should have it repaired. It can sometimes look fine, but if you pull the leather pieces apart and the stitching breaks away very easily then the stitching has become rotten. You need to find a local saddler who can make repairs on your tack.
Good tack that has been taken care of will last for years and will give you a safe riding experience. You should wipe all tack after use with a damp cloth. This will help prevent dirt and sweat from building up. Then you should use a leather cream on the tack and wipe it all over. This will nourish the leather and help prevent dirt adhering to the leather. The cream acts like a sealant and there are products available that will also give the leather a nice shine. If you do this often your tack will stay in excellent condition for a long time. Once sweat and dirt has built up on your tack it will take much longer to clean. Usually warm water will be enough but sometimes you may need to use leather cleaner. An old toothbrush comes in handy to get into difficult to reach places. Once the tack is clean, make sure you wipe it dry and apply leather cream to keep it supple.
You may have to try different types of tack care creams to find the one that will fit your needs. Some creams can be very sticky and not very easy to use. Also remember not to put too much cream on the tack, use it sparingly so the leather doesn't get clogged up. If you set up tack cleaning hooks it makes it a lot easier to hang up your tack and clean it. You also want to get cloths that are not too big for wiping down your tack. A smaller cloth is easier to use on bridles and saddles. If you wash the cloths regularly they will last a long time.
You should be careful what you use on your saddle seat. Sometimes you are better off not using anything on the seat but just using leather creams on the underside. If your saddle is new or not worn in; oiling it can make it very slippery. Also remember if you use oil on the seat it can mark your clothing, especially jodhpurs in a light colour.
New tack takes time to wear in and if you oil it at first this will help it become supple and pliable. Supple bridles are less likely to rub the horses. If your tack is stiff it can rub on the horse and make them sore. You should also take into consideration where you store your tack. If the room is too warm and dry your tack will start to dry up. If the room is cold and damp mould can build up on your tack. If your tack room is too warm and the temperature can't be adjusted you might want to consider getting a dehumidifier. If the room is too cold and damp you might want to get a small heater to help dry any dampness in the air.
If you establish a routine when it comes to tack care you will have tack that will last longer. By doing daily tack care you will save time and energy by not having to spend hours scrubbing off built-up dirt and sweat. Also by keeping your tack well cared for you will ensure you and your horse will have a comfortable and safe riding experience.
Do you own horses? Are you tack supplier? Do you have advice for our equine insurance customers that could help? Perhaps you had an accident because of faulty tack and would like to share your experience? Please comment here and share your experiences with other memberss of AFI's Horse Community would love to hear what you have to say. Thank you and enjoy the blogs.
