Cleaning your tack is very important to your safety and your horses safety.
All the top riders and and professionals in every Horse related sport clean their tack regularly.
cleaning Tack can be boring and time consuming so make it a little bit more inviting by putting on some music.
If you clean your tack regularly you will be able to notice any damage that may have occurred while riding easily and find weaknesses before they cause any problems, and it looks so much more professional if you rock up to your instructors place or show with your tack already nice and clean.
What you need to Clean your tack is: 1.
A bucket 2.
A rag or two 3.
A sponge or 2 4.
Saddle Soap and Leather Conditioner 5.
A towel or old sheet to put your clean stuff on.
6.
A saddle horse and a bridle hook (you don't need one, but they do make life easier) 7.
A note pad and pen (only if you can't remember the holes everything is on, write them down first) Now if you can't remember what hole all your gear is meant to be on, then go through it all and write it all down before you start cleaning and oiling.
Have your list in a good (dry) spot so that you can see it when you go to starting putting all your stuff together but so that you can't get it dirty.
I don't use saddle soap I use Hot water, you don't need to use saddle soap but some other professionals will disagree.
Use what ever you like to use, as long as it's good quality it won't do any harm.
So the first step is to clean all your tack.
I get some hot water and a rag or sponge and clean while I pull everything apart.
A good tip is to make sure that your oiling sponge or rag stays separate to your water/soap sponge or rag.
Enusre that you clean under all your buckles, and try to clean under your keepers.
Make sure that you clean in all the creases as well.
I place all my bits of bridle in one pile, and all my bits for the second Bridle in another pile, continue like this until you have cleaned all your tack with Hot water or Saddle Soap.
To clean your bits, place them in a bucket of Hot water and leave them to soak for a little while, the grass and gunk should just come away easily with your rag or sponge.
Although there shouldn't be much gunk on yur bit as you really should be washing your it off every time you ride.
The next step is to oil all your pieces and put everything back together.
Start with your bridle, oil it well and start putting it back together as you go.
Check all your leather gear for any cracks, or tears or anything that is of concern.
If it is broken beyond repair don't keep using it, you need to through it out and get a new piece.
It is dangerous and silly to use any gear that isn't in full working order! It is important to learn how all your gear works and how to put it all back together again.
Knowing all about your gear will allow you to know when something isn't right and to fix it straight away.
You will also be able to help other people if they are unsure because everyone at some point is learning.