Monday 23 September 2013

The Right Way To Clean And Store Horses Saddlery

By Steven James


When it comes to taking good care of horses, one of the most important things that must be done on a regular basis is proper maintenance of saddlery and equipment. Keeping these items in good condition will not only ensure that they last long but also that you will ride your horse more comfortably.

When it comes to the storage of saddlery, the atmosphere of the place matters a lot. This is because a damp area will lead to mold growth in these items while a hot and dry location will cause the leather to become brittle and therefore cause it to crack. The best place to store your items is one with a warm and dry atmosphere.

Before storing the saddlery, one should perform a routine inspection and carry out any repairs where necessary. Precaution should also be taken to ensure that rugs and other materials are carefully tucked away in their respective trunks. In addition, some moth balls are to be put together with the rugs inside the trunks to prevent moths from damaging them.

When horse rugs are stored indoors for some time, one should take them out in the open air and aerate them. This is best achieved by giving them a vigorous shake. Since buckles are likely to get tarnished when they are stored for long, one should lubricate them by applying Vaseline.

For the equipment that will be stored for a long time, one should unbuckle it to prevent the buckles from stiffening. In addition, any leather-work should be meticulously cleaned and carefully oiled before it is stored away.

The best way to ensure that the saddlery will last for years to come and give you wonderful service is by properly cleaning and storing it. Horse tack is suitably cleaned by use of a wet sponge or a soft piece of cloth. For effective cleaning, warm water and the appropriate saddle soap should be used.

A soft piece of cloth is to be used when cleaning any metallic equipment. In case of leather with grease stains, one should make certain that it is soaped thoroughly before the actual washing. This is done to prevent the grease stains from forming lumps on the leather.

At times, one may find that the saddlery is quite dirty. In such cases, soda crystals are to be diluted in warm water and then used on the equipment. When a contagious infection occurs on a farm, it is imperative that the equipment used on the affected horses be isolated and properly cleaned by sterilizing it in soda water.




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