Keeping your horse tack clean has a lot of benefits besides just making your presentation look great! Regular cleaning of your gear will help the leather to last longer and is also an opportunity for you to check that your gear is in good working order and pick up on any minor repairs that may be required for your own safety 'in the saddle'.

It is recommended that you use quality leather cleaning and conditioning products specifically designed for horse tack.

Before you clean your gear you should remove the bit and stirrup irons so that they can be cleaned separately.

If your gear is particularly muddy you should brush off excess dirt with a brush as this will help remove the loose debris from the bridle, reins, breast plate, saddle and girth. Nylon tack can be brushed the same.

Fill up a bucket with warm water; grab a rag or sponge and an old toothbrush and a good dose of elbow grease!

Wet the sponge and wipe down all your leather tack to remove surface dust and dirt before using a quality leather cleaning product designed specifically for horse tack. In most cases, if your cleaning soap is foaming then you are using too much water, and too much water will actually dry out your leather. Rinse your horse tack again with a damp sponge to remove any excess soap and/or dirt.

After cleaning your leather gear you will need to decide if your gear needs to be oiled or conditioned. Your leather should be supple and soft and free of cracks. Use oil sparingly as over-oiling is not good for your leather tack. Always ensure you use a reputable oil or conditioner designed for horse tack.

Cleaning The Metal

Not only does cleaning the metal on your horses tack make it look better, it is important to thoroughly clean and rinse your horses bit after each use.

When cleaning the metal parts of your tack you should first remove your stirrup irons from your saddle and the bit from your bridle.

You can remove most of the dirt using a hard toothbrush, which is also good for hard to reach places around the bit. A lot of people highly rate cleaning their horses bit by placing in the dishwasher, however this is a personal preference.

Make sure you check the integrity of the metal as you are cleaning, especially bits containing copper, and make sure nothing is bent or damaged.