The Equine Network, Inc   Monument, CO   (719) 210-7720    Karen@TheEquineNetwork.com

Cleaning Your Tack - It's Not Hard!

     Your tack is a large part of your investment in this sport and it is well worth the time and effort to care for it properly. Cleaning your tack after each use is ideal but not necessarily practical. However, if you can get in the habit of cleaning it once a week, your tack will stay as good as new for a very long time. It will also be much easier to clean each time. Here is an easy step by step guide for you to follow.

1. Fill a bucket half or less full with very warm water.
   
   
2. Without removing your bit from the bridle, soak the bit in the water by hanging the bridle over the outside of the bucket. Be careful not to let the cheek pieces touch the water.
   
   
3. While the bit is soaking, take a clean sponge (preferably sea sponge) and get it wet, but well wrung out. Wipe off your entire saddle (Top,Flaps,Stirrup Leathers,Underneath Flaps,Girth Straps,Bottom of Saddle) - rinsing the sponge occasionally. This will remove the dust and dirt prior to cleaning your saddle.
   
   
4. Rinse sponge, wring out again, and then soap it up lightly using a good bar of saddle soap. Be sure not to make it too lathery. Again, cover the entire saddle, rinsing and resoaping the sponge often. Make sure there are no lather bubbles left on the saddle.
   
   
5. You have now cleaned your saddle! Repeat this same process for your girth.
   
   
6. Now hang the bridle up and with a clean sponge and scrub the bit clean. Fingernails may be necessary here.
   
   
7. Again, go over the entire bridle (removing the straps from their keepers) with a lightly damped sponge.
   
   
8. Repeat this process with the soaped sponge. Be sure to do the reins as well and really rub the sponge into the braids if braided. Then remove any lather left on the bridle.
   
   
9. Your tack is now clean - Well Done!
   
   
10. Now to hang your bridle professionally, there are several ways. I recommend taking the reins and hanging them inside the throat latch and be sure to put the straps in the keepers. Then take the nose band and hook it AROUND the cheek pieces and reins and hook securely. Ta Daa!