Do you keep your horses clean?
Of course, you do!
But what about the horse tack? How do you treat your equipment? Do you fling it out as soon as the horse reaches the stable? Do you keep it safe and clean?
Most new horse riders are very attentive to their horse’s health. Yet, they make grievous mistakes when it comes to the horse gear they have bought. With time this negligence turns fine polished leather into dried lacklustre sheets of skin.
You see, high-quality leather is a great investment because they can last for years. Some riding enthusiasts even boast of passing down saddles and bridles to future generations. However, this only works if you take great care of the equipment.
Otherwise, you will only get brittle bridles and sagging saddles that are no use to anyone.
How Do You Fix This Problem?
At the end of the day, leather is skin. That is why it has a tendency to get dry and scraped when you use it day in and out without proper care. The secret to enhancing its longevity is to ensure that it is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned after every riding session.
Doing so keeps the dirt off these skins and doesn’t allow them to suffer from the elements once they are off your horse’s back.
Here are some things that will help you to kick-start your tack maintenance:
1. Safe Storage
Essentially your equipment must be kept in dry, temperature-controlled areas. This is because if kept long in extremely high or low temperatures, the leather is bound to get damaged.
Apart from that make sure to:
- Cover it with fabric so it is not exposed to the elements
- Keep checking unused equipment for mildew infestation
- Ensure that the storage area is away from pests that might chew on your equipment
2. Hydrate Your Tacks
As weird as it sounds, your tacks needs nourishment during the unfavourable dry weather. Some equestrian experts say that oil is a great remedy to repair dried leather. The trick is to first clean your equipment and scrub off any grime that may have accumulated on the surface.
Then put fresh coats of oil or polish that reaches the deep pores and revitalizes your leather-made horse gear.
3. Cleaning Ritual
The best way to keep your equipment in good condition is to clean it right after your riding sessions. This is because fresh dirt is easier to clean than the one that has been accumulating over a long time.
Use a gentle non-toxic soap, brushes, and sponges to scrub off the stains. Then polish the bits, girdles, and saddles with some fresh coats of wax or oil.
We assure you that making this a daily habit will save you from a lot of trouble in the long-run.
Invest in Great Tack Care!
Get the best tack maintenance products online at Little Fields Farm. They have microfiber grooming sponges that help you to wipe off the stubborn stains on your gear. In addition to that, they have leather soaps and balms to bring back its lost shine.
In short, they have everything you need to keep your bridles and saddles in top-notch conditions.
