Before I
ask my question, I just want to say that you're website is amazing! Thanks for
all the helpful articles!
Anyways, I have
a question about my tack. My horse died a few years ago, and even though I didn't
ride her very much, I still kept my western saddle and bridle clean. But, since
I have no one to ride anymore at home and I've been very busy, my tack has not
been cleaned for quite a while. What are the health risks of stiff tack? I'm worried
about the horse's comfort. Is there anything else I can do to my tack to make
it less stiff? Thank you very much!!
- Claire
Hi
Claire,
I'm glad you find our website helpful. We
do work diligently on it in hopes that it will help horses and their people.
As
far as tack, yes, supple, well-fed leather is more comfortable for the horse.
Stiff leather can cause discomfort and abrasions. And dry, stiff leather can crack
and be unsafe.
You
can bring dry, stiff leather back to life. Dry and stiff is better than wet and
moldy.
To begin, be sure it is very clean and free
of any sweat, dirt, mold or any dust from storage.
First
I'd vacuum all surfaces, then brush with a soft brush to get into all the nooks
and crannies.
Then I'd clean the item. My favorite
product is Leather Therapy Wash.
While the leather
is still damp, apply a conditioner (again, I prefer Leather Therapy Restorer and
Conditioner) to the rough side of the leather - that is, for example, the backside
of an English saddle flap or the backside of a Western saddle's fenders.
Once
you have conditioned the leather, you want to seal it.
I
outline the complete procedure for taking care of leather tack in this article
- Leather
Tack Care and Cleaning
When you are reconditioning
tack, be sure to use good products and don't overuse any conditioner or you could
make the leather limp, greasy or cause the stitching to rot. Good leather has
body and life to it. So clean it, feed it and seal it according to the article
and it should start to come back to life.
For
more information refer to
Tack
Care and Cleaning booklet
101
Horsekeeping Tips DVD
Best of luck,
Ask
Cherry Hill
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