1966-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1966 February Voice | Page 14

5. Protect the user, by minimizing the breaking
of a rein or line, girth, girth straps, stirrup leathers,
or other vital parts.
6. Impart pride and pleasure in the ownership
and use of equipment. Your equipment, your horse
and you will look smart and feel smart.
Cleaning Equipment
HOW TO CLEAN AND CARE FOR TACK
As used herein, tack, gear, and equipment em­
braces all articles used on, or attached to, riding
and driving horses.
Good tack, gear, and equipment are expensive;
hence, they merit good care. If properly cared for,
they will last for years.
Ideally, each article should be cleaned thoroughly
every time it is used on the horse. However, the
owner and/or caretaker of pleasure horses may not
be able to devote this amount of time. For the busy
person, therefore, it is recommended that the vital
parts be cleaned following each use — that the bot­
tom of the saddle and the inside of the bridle be
cleaned, that the bit be washed, and that the pad
or blanket (if used) be brushed after drying out and
before re-using. Then a thorough cleaning should be
administered to all tack and equipment once each
week.
The tack, gear, and equipment used on race and
show horses, where maximum performance is all-
important, should be thoroughly cleaned after each
usage.
The general principles presented in the accompany­
ing discussion also apply to the equipment used on
race or show horses, with the following changes:
Do not use soap (or cream) on leather boots
used on horses; it tends to deteriorate the
stitching and catch a film of dirt. Instead, brush
(preferably with a circular brush) to eliminate
the sweat, dirt, and grime; wipe dry with a
cloth; rub in petroleum jelly or liquid preserv­
ative; and dust with talcum powder or corn
starch before using, either of which will absorb
moisture and smooth out minor rough or chaf­
ing spots.
Why Clean?
Good tack is expensive. Proper cleaning will —
1. Extend the life of leather and metal.
2. Impart softness and pliability to leather.
3. Make for comfort to the horse. It will lessen
saddle and harness sores from the use of dirty,
crusted and stiff leather; and avoid irritation and
infection from a rusty, moldy, and dirty bit.
4. Assure that minor tack defects will be noticed
and repaired promptly, before they become serious.
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A list of needed cleaning equipment should include:
A saddle rack on which to rest the saddle when
it’s being cleaned. Preferably, the rack should be
designed so that it will also hold the saddle upside
down, to facilitate cleaning the underside as well as
the top.
A bridle rack, peg or hook on which to hang the
bridle for cleaning.
A bucket of warm water.
Three sponges, preferably (although one sponge
will suffice if rinsed properly):
1. One for washing — for cleaning off sweat,
dirt, mud, etc.
2. The second for applying leather preserva­
tive or glycerine soap.
3. The third for occasional application of neats-
foot or other similar oil.
A chamois cloth for drying off leather.
Cheesecloth (about a yard) for applying metal polish.
A flannel rag for polishing metal.
Cleaning Materials
Saddle soap, or a bar of castile soap, for cleaning.
A leather preservative, or bar of glycerine soap,
for finishing.
Neatsfoot oil.
Metal polish.
Petroleum jelly.
Order of Cleaning
To assure that all tack and all parts are cleaned
(that none are overlooked), it is important that some
logical, practical and regular order be followed —
automatically and routinely. Any order that accom­
plishes this purpose will be satisfactory.
The following is suggested for articles used in rid­
ing, and is perhaps most common:
1. Clean the Saddle —
a. Remove and clean girth.
b. Clean underside of saddle.
c. Get topside of saddle.
d. Clean nearside (left).
e. Clean offside (right).
2. Clean the Bridle.
3. If a saddle pad or blanket is used, brush it
after it has dried.
How to Do It
Once a week, wash with saddle soap or with castile
soap as described and apply neatsfoot oil or other
leather dressing lightly to all leather parts. Avoid
excess oil, which will darken new leather and soil
clothing.
Wooden parts, such as wooden stirrups, may be
sanded, varnished, and waxed.
(Continued on page 14)
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse