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23 articles

Care & cleaning

Manage mud, moisture and wear, with care suited to the material.

Detached brown leather bridle strap on a wooden table beside a barely damp sponge.

Care & cleaning

A manageable routine for cleaning leather tack

A small cleaning kit and a repeatable order make regular tack care easier to fit around a ride.

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Close still life of a supple brown stirrup leather with a soft cloth and small open unlabelled leather conditioner tin.

Care & cleaning

When leather tack needs conditioner

Conditioner should suit the particular leather and its maker's instructions; it is not a way to hide wear.

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A rain-damp English saddle resting on a broad rack in an airy tack room.

Care & cleaning

What to do with a rain-soaked saddle

A saddle that comes back wet needs space, support and time before it is put away.

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Black synthetic English girth and synthetic reins laid on a washable worktop next to a soft brush and bowl of clean water.

Care & cleaning

Cleaning synthetic tack without guesswork

Synthetic tack can contain several materials, so check each section before choosing a cleaning product.

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A plain stainless snaffle bit beside a small soft brush and shallow basin of clear water on a utility sink ledge.

Care & cleaning

Rinse and inspect a bit after use

Cleaning a bit gives you a clear view of the mouthpiece, joints and rings before it is used again.

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Pair of stainless English stirrup irons and a removed black rubber tread on a wooden cleaning bench.

Care & cleaning

Cleaning the parts around a stirrup tread

Mud around a tread can hide wear and moving parts. Clean according to the particular stirrup's instructions.

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The underside of a detached brown horse girth turned upward beside a soft damp cloth and plain basin.

Care & cleaning

Keep a girth clean where it meets the horse

The surface against the horse deserves as much attention as the buckles that are easy to see.

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A blue quilted saddle pad draped over a broad drying rail beside a mesh laundry bag.

Care & cleaning

Wash saddle pads without losing their shape

Hair removal and a little space in the drum make a better start than a hotter wash.

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A disassembled plain leather English bridle arranged carefully by component on cream fabric.

Care & cleaning

Keep track of a bridle during cleaning

A few clear records can prevent a cleaning session from ending with a puzzle of similar straps.

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Extreme close-up of regular cream stitches along a dark brown equestrian leather strap.

Care & cleaning

Look closely at stitching before the next ride

Clean tack and good light make loose threads easier to notice, but appearance alone cannot certify strength.

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A detached old brown leather rein showing clear surface cracking at a bend on a light workbench.

Care & cleaning

When a mark in leather needs attention

Distinguish a cosmetic concern from a question about strength before reaching for conditioner.

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Close view of a removed tack buckle and clip with light rust spots beside a clean stainless buckle on grey linen.

Care & cleaning

Spotting corrosion on tack hardware

Cleaning can reveal corrosion; it should not conceal damage beneath a brighter finish.

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