Bridles and leather halters maintenance

The same goes for virtually any tack item that is used regularly: clean and maintain the product at least once a month. Or, if you use the item exhaustively and/or ride outdoor a lot, more often. Proper maintenance increases durability and longevity of your bridle or halter.

1. Before you start cleaning: take apart your entire bridle or halter by loosening the buckles.
2. Remove any filth with a cloth or soft brush
3. Clean all parts and straps with exclusive saddle soap (either liquid or solid shape) or tack cleaner. Saddle soap thoroughly cleans tack and removes filth, sweat, and sebu,/ Don't use too much water as this will make the leather tough. Wringe your sponge before use, an extremely wet sponge made spread foam between buckles and stitching, causing stitching to come loose.
4. Make sure the leather is clean and dry before you start treating it with conditioner. The best temperature to dry leather is room temperature. Mind though, don't place the tack near a heat source or radiator as this will cause dehydration of the leather which might result in cracking.
5. Once all parts are clean and dry you can start treatment with leather balm, cream, oil or conditioner. Oil makes leather incredibly supple and is as such advised for your bridle. However, oil is absorbed a lot quicker and should thus be applied more than often.
6. Rub the balm, cream or conditioner with a clean cloth or sponge and leather oil with a brush. A proper rub has a longlasting effect compared to applying in thick layers. Make sure it is absorbed before giving the leather another rub with a clean cloth (make sure the fabric is antipilling).
7. As soon as the leather care product has been absorbed properly you're free to reassemble your bridle or halter.
8. Before you use the item again it won't hurt to give it one last touch up with a clean cloth to remove any excess conditioner.

Tips and tricks

• Store your bridle or halter in a dry, well-ventilated area. Watch out with ammonia filled air as this damages leather. Freezing cold won't hurt your tack.
• Clean the bit after each use, this will help prevent bacteria to affect the leather. There are stainless steel cleaners for extensive maintenance.
• Treat your bridle one day before you wish to use it, so that the care product can be absorbed properly.
• Don't treat fake leather, patent leather, or synthetic leather with leather care products.
• Do you have a halter or bridle with rhinestone inlay? Treat these areas with a moist cloth only. NOTE: loss of rhinestones or damaged rhinestones do not fall under warranty.

Maintenance of synthetic bridles

Synthetic bridles are a piece of cake compared to leather ones. Make sure to regularly remove any dirt, mud, sweat, sebum and other stubborn stains. Wipe your bridle clean with a moist cloth and spray for synthetic products. Rub in circles until a clean bridle emerges. Use a hard brush to remove any stains that remain. Once all stains are gone, you can give the bridle another rub with a clean cloth. No extra care product is needed.