Horse lovers who know how to clean tack what do you think of...?

Question

i wrote out how to clean a bridle on a web site, and i wanted to know: a. if i'm missing any steps. b. if there's any tips i left out. c. anything i should change about the steps? i wrote it out how i do it, but maybe i'm wrong or should change my methods.

also: how do you clean your bridles? and how often? and what for you is the hardest part of cleaning?

http://www.ehow.com/how_4444326_easily-clean-bridle.html

Answer 1

Pretty good - not exactly how I do it - I use bar soap and wipe the whole lot down with a wet cloth first to get all the mud and sweat off.

Couple of spelling mistakes =you put lager ( that's beer) instead of larger and whip instead of wipe.

But ! I love the idea with the twist ties - how come I never thought of that one ?

The hardest part of cleaning a bridle is actually getting started, I'm afraid it's one of those jobs that tends to get put off, and as everything generally wants doing at the same time it's a major undertaking.

Answer 2

WOW   This is very complete and accurate.

Answer 3

Hello,

You did a great job, nice a through!  Only thing I can think of, is NOT everyone uses a bridle with a brow band, I also use one ear and two eared headstalls.

GREAT job!

Answer 4

I clean tack after each use, and tack that does not get used still gets cleaned once a month.  In all honesty I have NEVER  taken a bridle apart to clean it unless someone found it laying in the bottom of a trunk and it is nasty with mold.  I do take them apart for oiling, but not for everyday cleaning.

If the horse has sweated a lot I will add a little sudsy ammonia to my water and wipe it down with that first.  Then I wring out my sponge really well and soap it up.  I try not to make too much lather.  If the tack is on the oily side I will use castille soap and if it is on the dry side I will use a combination of Lexol cleaner and then conditioner.  I never use glycerin soap as I find that the tack gets a little bit of a haze after it dries.

If there is any brass that also gets wiped with a little bit of straight sudsy ammonia.

As for your article it is very good if you wish to take a bridle apart.  You need to check your spelling, I noticed a few repeated spelling errors.

Answer 5

WOW perfect!

Answer 6

It looks good!  I would add a note saying that most of the water should be squeezed out of the sponge first if using bar soap so that suds are not left on the tack.  I would also add a note in the "putting it back together" section warning to make sure the bit is put back on properly.  I don't think your article is the place to go into all the different bits and how to fit them, but just a general warning like "Attach the bit.  Make certain it is on the right way".

Also, change whip to wipe.  Change this sentence: Now take a towel and whip the dust off of it... to Now take a towel and wipe the dust off of the bridle...  When I first read it, I thought you were "whipping" the dust out of a dirty towel.  Change "it" to "bridle" to avoid that confusion.

Answer 7

This is perfect. You didn't miss anything. Putting the bit back on the bridle after a take it apart is the hardest part for me!