Hawkeye Tack and Western Wear

Horse Tack

WESTERN TACK
CARE & CLEANING GUIDE

The reliability of all horse tack depends on proper maintenance and care.

Sweat, Dust and Neglect is your Tack’s worst enemy!

Here is a checklist of what to look for in getting your equipment ready to use.

Check for any holes that are stretched or worn to a point that they could rip.
Check around the rigging plate and check the leather for dryness and cracking.
Check your latigo and off billets for wear, cracking and drying.
Check stirrup leathers and fenders. These are another essential part of your saddle. Check Blevins buckles and holes of stirrup leathers for cracking, drying and stretched-out holes.
Check all of the leather on the bridles or head stalls for cracking or worn-out holes on both the front and back.

If you find any of these places to be suspicious as to your safety, then take your horse tack in for repair or purchase replacements parts or new western tack equipment to make your riding adventure a safe one. Bring your old Western Tack in to the experts at Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear, and we will try to answer any questions that you might have.

Periodically cleaning, oiling and conditioning will greatly extend the life of your western horse tack.

The process of cleaning Western Tack can be broken down into 3 stages…

Cleaning the leather
Conditioning the leather
Protecting the leather

Tack Cleaning Supplies you will need and can use:

For leather

Tack Hook
Saddle Rack
Small tack sponges
Soft Rags
Soft Brush
Lexol Wipes
Bucket

Lexol Cleaner
Lexol Cleaner nf
Lexol Conditioner
Glycerine Bar
Leather Therapy Wash
Farnam Leather New
1” Paint Brush

Weaver Cleaning Wipes
Weaver Conditioning Wipes
Saddle Soap
Saddle Oil
Neatsfoot Oil
Warm Water

For Silver

Silver Polishing Buffy Cloth
Never Dull Silver Cleaner
Goodards Polishing Cloth
Simichrome Polish

Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear has a great selection of western tack and silver cleaning supplies.

CLEANING

You will need a bucket of warm water, a rag or sponge and a soft brush such as an old toothbrush (if the brush scratches you, it is too stiff). Brush the dust and dirt off the saddle or western horse tack before starting to get the dust and dirt from the intricate parts of the leather. Wet the sponge or rag and wipe down the leather to remove surface dirt and dust. Then use a cleaner such as Lexol Cleaner or any of the fine leather cleaners sold by Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear to clean the leather. Don’t allow the soap to foam, as this indicates the use of too much water which will actually dry out the leather. Then rinse your horse tack with a damp sponge, getting the soap as well as the dirt off the western tack. If the tack is still dirty, then repeat the cleaning again. If you are cleaning a light colored saddle or western tack you should use Lexol Cleaner nf, a neatsfoot based cleaner that will not darken leather. If your saddle or western tack needs a light dusting, you can use items such as Weaver Cleaning Wipes or Lexol Cleaning Wipes to keep your saddle or horse tack clean between rides and to prevent accumulation of excess dirt.

CONDITIONING

At this point it needs to be determined if the leather needs to be conditioned or oiled.

Leather should be soft and supple and free of cracks and should not creak when being used. If the leather needs to be oiled or conditioned, use a 1” paint brush to apply oil in thin layers. Then WORK the oil in by hand by bending it back and forth as well as rolling it in your hand. The heat from your hands as well as the rolling action will allow the oil to soak into the leather. DO NOT dip western horse tack into a bucket of oil. Over-oiling is not good for the leather. Lexol Conditioner or Lexol Conditioner nf are both good products to condition your saddle or western tack. If you want heavier oil, use saddle oil or pure neatsfoot oil. If your saddle or western tack does not need oiling, you can use products like Weaver Leather Conditioning wipes to maintain the leather between rides and to help prevent the need to oil your leather.

PROTECTION

Bar glycerine (Saddle Soap) is the traditional choice for protection, but there are also items such as Leather Therapy’s Water Repellent if you are more of an avid trail rider and ride during the rainy season. Fiebings also makes Saddle Sheen, which will make the leather soft and flexible as well as give it a sheen. Weaver Shine Wipes also put a nice shine to the leather and give it that finished look.

CLEANING SILVER

If your saddle or western tack has plated silver such as Montana Silversmiths Silver, it has a tarnish free protection on it. You can maintain your horse tack’s silver with an occasional wipe of a damp cloth. DO NOT use chemical or abrasive cleaners on Montana Armor protected products.

If the silver on your saddle or western tack is a German Silver, it can be cleaned by many products. One such product is Never Dull, a wad of cleaner that is simple and easy to use. You may also use Goddards Cleaning Cloths and Buffy Cleaning Cloths, both of which simply require wiping and polishing the silver clean. If you have tougher-to-clean tarnished silver, Simichrome Polish is a more traditional cleaner that you apply, let dry and wipe off.

NYLON TACK

Nylon tack is different in that it does not need oiling, but it does need to be inspected and checked periodically. Sweat deteriorates the buckles on these products usually more so then on leather tack. If you inspect your horse tack and your buckles seem weak or brittle, then it's time to get a new one or have someone repair it for you. Usually these products are cheaper to replace than to fix.

Cordura Saddles can be brushed with a soft brush between rides. Use a rag to wipe down sweaty areas after using them. These saddles need to be inspected as well for any stretched or worn areas.

Saddle Pads & Blankets

Always allow blankets and pads to air dry completely before storing or putting in air-tight containers. Blankets can be washed in the washer from time to time to get the salt off of them and to clean and brighten up their look. Only use a detergent that is approved for wools and use only half the amount that you would use for a regular wash. You do not want to leave soap in the blanket that might burn your horse.

Pads should be brushed off with a damp cloth to remove hair and dirt after every ride for better drying and less odor. If a rinse is needed, just rinse with tap water or a hose and allow to dry completely. Never use soap on a pad because they seem to hold the soap. If you don’t get it all rinsed out, a blistered horse is not a happy horse and will slow down your riding for days or even weeks.

TACK STORAGE

Store your western tack or saddles in a cool dark place. Do not keep horse tack in direct sunlight or a hot trailer. Saddles should be kept on a saddle rack. Blankets and pads should be hung as to allow them to dry. A saddle carrier or cover is a great investment in the care of your saddle. Bridle and blanket bags are also available to store your tack. In cold climates, it is best to take your tack and saddles inside when not in use during the coldest months.

There is no such thing as checking your equipment too much. If you think something is wrong, have it checked out or repaired. It could make a crucial difference to the equipment, your ride and your safety.