Tack Conditioning?

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Tack Conditioning?

justice · Grand Prix

I rinse my bits in mouthwash after every ride but clean my saddle about once month or so. I do not ride every day. Partial to plain ol' Castile soap but a good glycerine is ok, too. Like Belvoire's : )

SiobhanDressage · Well Schooled

I usually use Lederbalsam on my saddle every once in a while, and it gets rid of the stirrup leather scuffs.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Have you guys ever stuck your bits or other non-leather items in the dishwasher? That's usually how I get some real stuck-on goop off and clean inside the links of my snaffles.

justice · Grand Prix

I toothbrush the residual gunk left behind, if there is any, when I rinse them so the build-up is minimal to non-existant. Prior to a competition, I am far more thorough and even drag out the silver polish, then a good boil on the stove so.. I would think the dishwasher would be a great idea : )

Lederbalsam is fabulous stuff!
-- Edited by justice on Monday 20th of December 2010 07:35:11 PM

-- Edited by justice on Monday 20th of December 2010 07:35:52 PM

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Do you guys have any homemade conditioner/cleaner recipes? I hear white vinegar with water is pretty good for cleaning. Also canola/olive oil, and I even heard WD-40 today on one site.

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I use lard to condition the leather. With lard one must avoid all contact with metal, wipe it off immediately, and rubber. It will darken the leather, and it seems to lift off some of the black dye of black leather, or the dye on really cheap leather. Otherwise it is great for restoring leather, I've brought back dried out good saddles with lard.
Good leather takes up more of the lard than bad leather, on cheap bad leather the lard does improve it but there always seems to be a residue. Good leather just "eats" the lard up. I use three "working in" sessions of lard with new tack, after I have cleaned the leather with glycerine soap. With old dried out tack after the initial cleaning I do around 9 sessions with "working in" the lard with my fingers before taking the tack in for necessary repairs. My saddler always comments on what good shape my leather is in.
For regular cleaning I just try out various things. Unfortunately I am sensitive to many chemicals, so glycerine is my standby cleaner. Leather Therapy works great with dusty, mildewy tack, but the chemicals affect me, as do th chemicals in many other combination cleaners.
One great thing about lard is that it tends to stay in the leather and protect the leather from drying out when I just can't work with the leather for a while. I regularly check my unused tack, and after several years of treating with lard I can go up to a year before I have to feed the leather again.
So if you run into an old saddle or bridle made with decent leather (English, German, French, and some others) whose main problem is dried out leather (lard does not work to fix major cracks and wrinkles) and you can get it for cheap, remember about lard. My dressage saddle, dried out leather but German made, cost me $100 USD, $15 USD for repairs, and hours of working lard into the leather. Since I don't show I don't care about the wrinkle and some worn down leather, and I have a decent dressage saddle to ride in thanks to using lard.

Queenrider · Advanced

The bit goes into the dishwasher to be cleaned. I use Leather Therapy for cleaning and conditioning my tack.

justice · Grand Prix

I have used warm olive oil on the underside of brand new saddles. No complaints : )

I know that the best conditioner is to maintain 'clean' however you like and USE it. Leather lives best and longer when it works : )

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I clean my bit and wipe the tack with water to remove the sweat, then once a week I use some sort of conditioner (whatever is in the communal tack-cleaning box at the time.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Oh, I love your toothbrush idea, Justice. There is always a bit of gunk where my reins attach to the bit (too many crunchy treats with the bridle on!).