More than 1,050 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “How often do you do a full cleaning (polish silver, clean/condition leather, etc.) of your tack?”

• Once a year 31.75% (335)
  
• Once a month 23.41% (247)
  
• Before every horse show 21.23% (224)
  
• Only when it looks dirty or something breaks 20.38% (215)
  
• Other 10.31% (142)
  
• I don’t clean my tack 3.22% (34)

Readers shared tack cleaning tips in the comments below.

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• I try to clean my tack quarterly as it really improves to look and feel of the leather.
  
• Once a year, or sooner if it needs it.
  
• If you’re not cleaning or insepcting your tack you’re at risk for an accident!
  
• Wipe it down after every use, full cleaning once a year
  
• once or twice a year
  
• Use a disposable tack cleaner wipe cloth in between times.
  
• toothpaste cleans silver up nicely! and a toothbrush is essential for cleaning tooling!!Before shows we brush our bits with toothpaste – the bits shine and the horses love the taste!
  
• not so much the silver, but olive oil the leather every month and especially after it rains!
  
• keep up with it and it is always ready to go
  
• what silver on tack…….huh?
  
• give a quick wipe after every ride and annual cleanings are much easier
  
• once per week
  
• cleaning and maintenance ensures less accidents from breakage.
  
• 2 a year. Once in the spring and Once in the fall.
  
• Every time I use my tack.
  
• Soak the leather in a bag of oil. Dishwasher the stirrups and bit.
  
• Actually 2-3 times per year
  
• not enough…
  
• Being in So FL we have shows practically every 2 weeks-super clean tack!
  
• I clean and condition after every ride, which is six days a week.
  
• Buy a wintec saddle then you just have to rinse it off.
  
• I wipe my bridle down after each ride, and condition my saddle every few days.
  
• Or more if we have an event to attend
  
• but i know it does better when i clean it more often!
  
• More often if we are competing in CTR heavily
  
• Clean it twice a year and also keep it covered between rides.
  
• I have to say, in a southern climate like GA twice a year is o.k. and mine are kept in a tack room.
  
• use Synthetic tack, hang it on the fence and hose it.
  
• I wipe my tack off with real neats foot oil after every ride and saddle soap good monthly
  
• quick clean after every use,oil after 2 cleanings
  
• Lexol!
  
• Every day
  
• I wipe over my tack after every ride & clean it thoroughly 1x a month or as needed.
  
• 2x annually
  
• The correct answer is not even listed! You should wipe down your tack after everyuse to remove dirt
  
• a quick wipe after rides plus a once a month breakdown, inspection & cleaning takes no time at all
  
• usually 3-4 times per year & depends on how wet the weather is
  
• Murphy oil soap in water is great for cleaning leather harness.
  
• Perfect activity for a rainy day when horse is off
  
• Golden Gaits tack is cleaned each day.
  
• I clean it each use, but in depth b4 a horse show or Clinic.
  
• and before a horse show
  
• call me lazy…….
  
• Thorough cleaning after every use (leather, bits, etc.) Conditioning, oiling & polishing 1x/week
  
• Once a month or after heavy use.
  
• usually early spring and mid summer
  
• Tack cleaned after every use, fully cleaned on Sundays
  
• usually once a month, but if it looks dirty, I’ll clean it!
  
• Only my saddle is leather ,all else is synthetic and rinses off with water
  
• We need a better range of choices / 4-6 times per year is a good average
  
• Deep cleaning once a year, but i am always cleaning my tack.
  
• Before a show/clinic, which equals about 4 times a year
  
• A group of friends gets together and makes a party of it every Labor day weekend
  
• When showing I cleaned tack all the time – now retired and very remiss in cleaning
  
• 4x/year
  
• By doing it monthly, it gives me the chance to see if things need fixing. or replacing..
  
• not as often as I should, no time after riding
  
• sometimes i do it every week just depends on how busy i am
  
• fine leather tack will last a lifetime if taken care of properly
  
• not enough poss. answ.-I wipe tack after every ride, clean thoroughly when ride was sweaty or dusty
  
• I clean everything after ride, wash saddle cloth & girth, wipe saddle & bridle so its always clean
  
• not enough!!!!
  
• one a month
  
• I wipe down my tack after every ride and give it a full cleaning as needed.
  
• biothane – cleans up very quickly and is soft and supple
  
• There aren’t enough hours in the day!
  
• But I take it apart and clean in after every use
  
• Typically twice a year but I wipe it down after each ride.
  
• I own synthetic, it gets hosed off with every use, along with the horse
  
• I have a synthetic saddle, just wipe it down with water and go, I keep my leather equipment very cle
  
• I do spot cleaning/oiling every month but don’t always take everything apart.
  
• In the winter.
  
• twice a year and regular wipe downs. Extra cleanings if we got grubby on trail!
  
• I do a clean wipe down after every use, but do a thorough cleaning once a month
  
• Biothane harness. Gotta love it.
  
• My saddle has been cleaned every 2-3 months for the last 15 years and still looks brand new
  
• After every ride I dip the bit in a bucket of water and wipe all saliva off.
  
• Certainly not often enough!! Pretty sad, actually.
  
• 4 times a year
  
• I clean my bridle after every ride and my saddle once a week. I do a really good job before a horse
  
• wintec isnt as easy to clean as they say it is. toothbrush needed and their cleaner doesn’t do much
  
• Always a quick clean after every ride, full clean once a month
  
• clean it after every ride, thorough cleaning and conditioning once a month
  
• If you give it a once-over whenever you ride and protect it when it is not in use, it is easy.
  
• synthetic saddle, only one leather headstall, pretty much all else is nylon
  
• I wipe my tack down everytime I use it.
  
• Unless I’m riding,I keep all my tack in my living room -great decor & conversation pieces!
  
• As a judge I am quite put off by competitors who do not think enough of themselves to clean their ta
  
• I clean it when it needs it, about once a month in the summer.
  
• Clean inbetween, but not “show” clean
  
• Once every week
  
• After each ride!!
  
• partial usually after each ride.
  
• I really need to do that!
  
• Clean 1x/mo. & wipe my tack with a well wrung out microfiber cloth after every use.
  
• My leather saddle is lucky to see saddle soap once a year. Synthetic gets a hose regularly.
  
• After every cleaning condition your tack. It will keep it supple.
  
• I clean my tack daily
  
• whenever I actually have time!
  
• daily
  
• Once a year I take it all apart and give it a good cleaning, surface cleanings regularly.
  
• Silver is cleaned before show season. Tack is cleaned at least 1x year or more if needed.
  
• I clean my bridle after every time I ride. Quick wipe down with a damp cloth
  
• Usually give it a good going over before every ride.
  
• I wipe of the sweat after every use, soap & oil several times a year.
  
• only about 4x a year ;>
  
• once a week
  
• whenever i feel like it or have the time to clean it. or when it gets wet
  
• I wipe down tack every time it is used The small impregnated wipes are great for this
  
• I do mini-cleans often, but full-on it’s about twice/year before a show/clinic
  
• Cleaned for monthly shows. Vinegar works on moldy tack
  
• Cleaning tack after every ride makes the full cleaning less demanding.
  
• I ride dressage and clean my tack every time I ride which is 4 or 5 times a week

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