Cleaning Horse Tack Sucks
posted by citizen.K on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 / 
Print & Hang in the Barn
I have a problem. My problem is I hate cleaning horse tack. I was forced, as a child, to clean my tack everyday. I don’t mean just wipe it down, I mean CLEAN it with a toothbrush, then a sponge, and finish off with a conditioner or oil, everyday.
My horses still jump great with dirty tack.
I think because cleaning tack was shoved down my throat as a child, I just cannot seem to bring myself to do it. My tack has to be filthy, I mean 6+ months of sweat and grime before I consider cleaning it. But once it’s that dirty, it takes forever to clean, so I leave it for another 6 months.
I know it’s terrible. But, I can vouch for the durability of my tack. I remember as a child being told how expensive tack is (you have to take good care of it or it will fall apart!) What a bunch of bulls#^*; my saddle, bridles, breastplates, martingales, and leather accessories are rarely cleaned and they are still holding strong (some for 15+ years). No cracks, no weakness, no bad stitches; it’s all just dirty. And believe it or not, my horses all still jump, they jump big, and they jump well. The dirt is not holding them back!
As a kid, I was forced to clean my tack everyday, with a toothbrush!
The final push in breaking down and finally cleaning my tack happens after I start to feel bad putting dirty tack on my horses. I know they don’t care, but the year plus of sweat accumulated on the bridles has got to make it itchier. So, I breakdown and spend a whole day cleaning tack. Wow, the satisfaction from removing grimy buildup and lost color and turning the leather soft, supple, and shiny is great!
So, I guess cleaning tack only sucks if you HAVE to do it every day. Cleaning horse tack is very satisfying if you do it once a year. You really get a sense of accomplishment.
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6 Responses to “Cleaning Horse Tack Sucks”
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May 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
HA HA thats funny, i TRY to do it every 3 months or so just because we all know what a bitch it is to scrub that nasty sticky stuff that becomes fixture on your nooks and crannies. hey any advice on an EASY way to get the gunk off would be MUCH APPRECIATED!
May 31st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I too was forced to clean my tack EVERYDAY for 10 years and definitely hated it. I only had 1 trainer who didn’t ride my a** about it. It didn’t really bug me a whole lot, but I did think it was ridiculous. I think once a week is more than sufficient. Personally, I would probably clean my tack as often as I clean my apartment (once every 2 weeks) if I had the time but I just DON’T have the time. I make it a point to only by inexpensive tack because then, if it gets funky, I can just throw it out and replace it. On a slightly unrelated note–does anyone out there know of a figure 8 noseband that’s fully adjustable? I want one that’s totally flat with no raised parts at all so i can put as many holes in it as I need. Also, if you are a recreational rider and REALLY don’t want to clean your tack and don’t need a noseband, there’s always nylon or synthetic tack that never needs cleaning.
June 1st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I have had great luck with using horse tail to scrub off grime. When its time to trim my horses tail, I save it, ball it up and use it to clean my tack. Works better than a toothbrush! Also, for the super dooper thick build up I scape it off with a dull knife. It doesn’t wreck the leather and it saves an hour of scrubbing!
I too hate cleaning tack, I usually wait until it’s a big job. I don’t have an excuse, just lazy I guess
June 1st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I have a great tip for cleaning tack: use vinegar for mold and mildew and also for stripping new tack!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I hate cleaning tack too. But, I do feel guilty putting filthy tack on my horse. I know - he doesn’t care, unless of course, he gets rubs or galls. That’s what really motivates me to keep the stuff at least possibly clean…
April 20th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
A friend sent me a link to this page.
I am starting a tack cleaning business, b/c I love doing it so much and there are so many people who hate doing it.
Bring your tack home with you, a small metal saddle stand an over the door bridle hook. Set it up in front of your tv and just go nuts. You’ll be cleaning your tack but not wasting your barn time. Plus you’ll be watching your fav. tv shows.