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Equestrian equipment for horses as well as riders is expensive. Therefore, it must be taken care of well to last a long time and still look nice. Especially right now, with high inflation and prices moving up, the personal budget might be a little tight. Here is some advice on how to clean equipment properly and take diligent care of it.
Leather equipment can last for several years, if taken care of properly. No matter if boots, bridles, saddles, girth or halter, the correct care will provide you with long lasting, durable tack.
Before using leather soapsuds or saddle soap to clean the saddle, remove the stirrups and straps from it. Make sure the sponge you clean with is not soaked in water, then it cannot hold any soap, and the leather might dry out. Put some water on the saddle soap and then take it on the sponge. Remove any remaining moisture with a cloth after cleaning and let the saddle dry. Afterwards, apply leather grease to all the parts off the saddle and let it sink in overnight.
You can clean your bridle in the same way. Take the bridle apart to clean it thoroughly, and then apply leather soap, being careful not to use too much water. After letting it dry, rub in leather grease and let it stay overnight.
To save some product we recommend a cleaning session, rather than rinsing the sponge and wasting saddle soap each time. Take the time and schedule a cleaning date with a friend. For applying leather care after cleaning, like oil or grease, the same sponge can be used multiple times.
Before putting your boots back into their cover and storing them away, brush off the sand and dirt from the riding arena each time and give them a quick wipe with a cloth. Be careful to use a soft brush, that does not harm the leather. It is important to store your boots in a dry and warm tack room and use boot stiffeners to avoid wrinkles at the ankle.
Periodically, or after a good trail ride, give your leather boots or chaps a more thorough cleaning ritual with some glycerin soap and shoe polish. Do not use leather grease on them and remember regularity is key. It is better to clean the boots often than over lubricating them sometimes.
Use zipper spray regularly to clean dust and dirt from the zipper and make sure it runs smoothly. To protect your boots, only wear them while riding, not, muck the stable or clean your horse.
The bit should be cleaned after each ride with some water and a cloth. The type of material of the bit determines the life span and the further cleaning method. Usually, bits are made of metal, like German-silver or stainless-steel. They can be used for a long time, if kept clean and polished occasionally. In contrast to this, bits made from plastic can get sharp spots from the horse chewing on it and thus they must be replaced more often. If you have a metal bit, you can put it in a water bath with a denture cleanser occasionally.
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Use a hard brush or a silicon one to get rid of hair and dust on the inside of the saddle blanket. Especially, while horses change their coat, there will be a lot of hair on the saddle pads after each ride. Giving it a quick brush will keep it clean and prevent dirt and hair from rubbing on the horse's back, when you use it the next time. Keeping it clean after a ride can extend the time until the next wash a little bit and the pad will last longer. Eventually, wash it to remove sweat and dirt.
Before putting the outside rug in a washing machine, prewash your rugs with a hose and brush the dirt off with a broom. Even when bringing them to the laundry service, it is helpful to prewash them when they are extra muddy. Remember that after each wash, they must be made waterproof again.
To ensure your horse’s health and prevent bacteria from settling down, it is necessary to clean the feed and water trough frequently. Take a bucket with some lukewarm water and dish soap to clean the manger and waterer with a brush or sponge. To prevent disease from spreading, it is also helpful to disinfect it from time to time. Make sure to wash any remaining cleaning products, and let it dry completely. While waiting for it to dry, you can grab a broom and get rid of all the cobwebs in your horse's box and give the place a good clean all around. Regarding the hygiene of the stable, at least once a year the box should be emptied and cleaned completely.
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