Do you spend a lot of money on cleaning and conditioning supplies for your horse's tack? I used to but I don’t anymore. Years ago, when I worked the polo seasons in Rancho Sante Fe and Indio, California a friend told me the secret to how he kept his tack in such good condition.
Honestly, it stunned me because I had always thought if you spent hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on a saddle or bridle then you need to spend a lot for the best cleaners and conditioners too.
Cleaning and conditioning your saddle for pennies
His secret was the pumice free automotive hand cleaner you can purchase darn near anywhere for a couple of bucks a can. The cleaners in the hand cleaner remove grease and buildup from your leather goods quickly and easily while the lanolin in it conditions the leather.
Here are some of the reasons I really like using pumice free automotive hand cleaner:
- The leather gets really clean, the build up that occurs where leather parts rub together comes off.
- The leather comes out conditioned and supple, not oily.
- I can ride my saddle the same day I clean it.
- I don’t get oil and dye stains on my riding pants or jeans.
- If my gear gets super sweaty or lathered from the horse, I can dip it in a bucket of water and go.
- The lanolin offers some water resistance protection.
- It doesn’t have to dry or soak in overnight.
- My gear isn’t slick or slippery when it’s dry.
- My saddle doesn’t feel like an ice slick.
- I can use the same product to clean or to condition
It may not be for everyone
I haven’t used anything else to clean my horse equipment in almost twenty years. Now, here comes the qualifier: Before you take my word for it and clean all your leather equipment based on my opinion, please clean a small piece of leather or an unimportant piece of equipment, and make sure you like how it cleans for you! I will not take responsibility for anything you try this on and then decide that you don’t like the outcome.
Ultimately, you should use what you’re comfortable with to clean your equipment. For me, especially since I don’t show (although truthfully I would use it on that too), functionality is the most important aspect. I like instant gratification. I like not dreading cleaning my gear because I know it is going to be quick and easy to get clean and will look good when I am done. I like not having grease or dye stains on my butt after I cleaned my saddle the week before. Funnily enough, I do use a well-known glycerin tack cleaner to detail my automobile’s dash and doors.
Tanya Drayton - I am a Reiki practioner, I do CranioSacral bodywork, I am a qualified equine appraiser through the American Society of Equine Appraisers ...
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