Some of us love it and find it therapeutic to clean our tack to a beautiful luster and suppleness. Some of us think it’s a chore before a show and wish we could “I Dream of Jeannie” it, and poof it’s clean! Regardless of your personality type, taking care of your tack is important for everyone. Max Corcoran, our resident professional and incoming USEA President, let us know what her tack cleaning routine is.
Q: Hey Max, what’s your old faithful tack cleaning routine?
A: Well, to be honest I have a few. I have one that’s great for the daily “all-in-one” need. And then I have a deep cleaning routine that I try to do at least one to two times a month, or just before a big show.
Yes! Clean your tack! Your bank accounts will thank you later!
For a daily, quick, all-in-one I typically go with Horseman’s One Step®. Just like its name, it is a one-step cleaner and conditioner. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy eliminating a step out of their day and streamlining a process? I know I do! Horseman’s One Step is really great to use right before you go in the ring for a touch up. Just a quick wipe after warm up and you are good to go! It provides a nice shine to the leather as well.
For my deep clean, I have grown to enjoy using the Leather Therapy® line. I use a damp cloth in combination with the Leather Therapy Wash. It’s great to get the build-up of grime off the leather without drying it out. After the leather dries, I apply the Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner with a sponge or brush. It makes and keeps the tack nice and supple. This really maintains and extends the life of your tack as we all know it’s expensive. Plus, from a safety stand point, we want to have assurance our tack will not give out due to poor care or cracked dry leather. If you are eventing, in water often, or want to be prepared for an unexpected rain storm, I highly recommend taking it one step further with the Leather Therapy Water Repellent. It’s a great tool to protect your leather from the elements of nature and water.
Horseman’s One Step® all-in-one cleaning and conditioning leather cream helps keep your tack soft and pliable, protecting it against drying and cracking with a lanolin-based, PH-balanced formula. Read more about what Horseman’s One Step can do for your leather.
Leather Therapy® Wash deep cleans from the inside out, without leaving surface residue and is gentle on both leather and stitching. Leather Therapy® Restorer & Conditioner helps maintain your leather’s durability while moisturizing the leather to give it a supple feel and rich color. Additionally, it helps prevent mold and mildew stains. Learn more about the full Leather Therapy® product line here.
Like the insight into a pro’s secret sauce to horse care? Want answers to additional question? Click here to read more from our Pros.
