How to Clean a Horse Tack

Keeping your horse tack clean will help keep your riding clothes and horse clean. It will also eliminate bad odors and any allergens that may be on the tack. Horse tack can be cleaned using a scrub brush and a mild dish or laundry detergent.

Items Needed:

• Buckets


• Dish or laundry detergent


• Thick brush


• Soft brush


• Metal polish


• Water hose


• Rags

1. Remove any metal pieces and hardware from the tack. Place the hardware in a bucket of warm soapy water and allow everything to soak while you are cleaning the tack.


2. Use a thick brush to remove any dirt or dust from the saddle, bridle, reins and other leather parts of the tack. You can also use the brush to remove dirt and dust from any saddle blankets and nylon ropes that you consider part of the tack.


3. Use a water hose to wet down the tack.


4. Pour a capful or dish of laundry detergent into a bucket, and fill the bucket with water. Dip a soft scrub brush into the soapy water, and use it to scrub the tack. Scrub each piece separately and thoroughly to remove any dirt and grime that may be present.


5. Use the water hose to spray off the tack, and rinse away the soapy water and dirt.


6. Gently pat down the tack with a towel, and allow it to air dry completely.


7. Remove the hardware from the water it was soaking in. Squirt a small amount of metal polish on a rag or cloth and use it to polish the hardware.


8. Use a towel or cloth to dry the hardware.


9. Attach the hardware to the tack, and store it or place it back on the horse.