Cleaning Your Tack
Not only must you be looking your best in your clothing, your horse's tack must be clean and well fitted. Clean all of your gear the day before the show, or earlier if you have special show gear that you won't be using the day before. If you do use a different saddle or bridle, use it a few times before the show to make sure your horse is used to it.
Saddles
At lower levels, an all purpose saddle, whether it is synthetic or leather is perfectly acceptable in most disciplines. Although a dressage saddle is preferable for hacking and dressage, you won't be marked down for not having one, except possibly in turnout competitions. Try to make sure that your saddle and bridle are the same colour (if possible) as well.
Cleaning a Synthetic Saddle
There are a few ways I clean my saddle. If it's a show saddle that is still clean from last show, as it hasn't been used since, then I'll just wipe over it with a damp sponge, making sure all the Ds and metal bits are clean. If it is dirty, however, I normally take my saddle outside, take off the mounts, and spray with the hose. To really clean off dirt (normally just thoroughly spraying the saddle does the job) I use dissolved Pure Soap Flakes and a sponge and work up a slight lather before rinsing it off. If you're like me and have left cleaning you're saddle to the last minute the night before and don't want to venture outside in the dark (!) you can stick your saddle under the shower and this works almost as well. However, if you really soak the saddle it will take a while to dry, and so make sure you leave enough time. Also don't dry it using direct heat (like sticking it in front of a heater or in very bright sunlight) as this can damage the saddle.
I clean my synthetic girth by soaking it in the bathroom sink, then hanging it up in the shower to drip dry. Cleaning synthetic 'leathers', just requires wiping with a sponge, and scrub out stirrup treds or at least clean with a sponge. You can make stirrups really shine by using 'Brasso' or 'Silvo' and lots of elbow grease!!
Cleaning a Leather Saddle
Sorry this took so long to be written up. Cait wrote an article, but I've deleted it somehow - oops! So, I'll explain the way that I clean my leather saddle, which I've owned for only a month or so.
For a normal clean, simply clean the saddle using glycerine saddle soap and a small piece of sponge dipped in water. Lather gently, and then use a clean damp sponge to wipe off. For a great shine and to keep the leather in great condition, use a dressing, creme or balsam, like Effax Leather Balsam, which you just wipe on and buff to shine. For a more thorough clean, when the saddle needs oil, clean first using glycerine saddle soap or just warm water (don't use one of the 'leave on' soaps as this seals the leather from the oil) and then brush on the oil (I use Effax Leder-Soft - I love Effax!). When the oil has soaked in feed it with a creme or similar, as normal.
The Bridle
To clean the bridle properly you will need:
- Two small bowls of clean water
- Two rags
- Saddle Soap (I like glycerine saddle soap)
- Leather/Saddle Oil (and brush)
- Leather Dressing (and brush)
Sit down somewhere where you have laid out lots of newspaper. Disassemble your bridle, making sure you know which hole all the buckles should be on. Clean your bit under the sink, and if it is squeaky you can use vegetable oil to oil it.
Lay the bridle out to your left, and taking one section at a time, clean it with saddle soap. You do this by dampening a cloth in one of the bowls (make sure you know which one) and then rubbing some saddle soap onto it. Work up a slight gentle lather on the leather, but don't over do it as you can damage the bridle. Clean both sides, and place each section to your right as you clean it, leaving the saddle soap on for the moment. When you've applied saddle soap to all the pieces, take the other cloth and using the clean bowl of water, dampen it and wipe the saddle soap off each section, making sure no soap is left in the buckle holes.
This is when you oil your bridle if you're going to do so. I only oil my bridle three or four times a year, it is unnecessary to do it every time you clean your bridle, and it is possible to 'over-oil', so don't over do it. Using either your finger or a brush, brush the oil over the leather pieces, mostly on the 'rough' side, as it will take ages to absorb on the smooth side. Wait until it is all absorbed, or when it obviously won't absorb anymore before cleaning the bridle with saddle soap as before to seal it in. (see why I don't oil or the time!?). Alternatively use a creme or balsam to seal in the oil. If the oil is absorbed instantly the bridle is too dry and you may want to do a few more coats.
So now you have a clean bridle, that has either been cleaned, oiled , then cleaned again; or just cleaned once. Dressing the bridle with a Leather Dressing gives the bridle a shine, and protects it. I have used a dressing made by Hydrophane which I just brush on and leave on, and now I use Effax Leather Balsam (wipe on) which is fantastic.
Saddle Blankets, Pads and Numnahs
Different shows require a different style of saddle blanket. For hacking a shaped sheepskin or synthetic sheepskin numnah (like the one in the photo of the synthetic saddle above) is needed. For dressage square-shaped white saddle blankets are used, and for showjumping pretty much anything goes.
To clean one of these use Woolwash or soap flakes, or some other cleaner that isn't too harsh and may irritate your horse. I use a clothes brush to brush off excess hair before I wash it (so that my Dad doesn't scream at me for covering the inside of the washing machine with horse hair) and then after it is washed, as some of the 'imbedded' hairs will be a lot looser. If you can't get all the hairs off, a neat trick is to fold some masking tape with the sticky side outwards, and then just press it lightly against the saddle pad. This pulls off quite a lot of hair.
Shampooing, Clipping and Trimming
Plaiting and Braiding
Preparing Your Tack and Clothing
At The Show