Ask the Groom: The Honest Truth About Tack Cleaning (And How to Make It Suck Less)
Jun 1st 2026
I know I’m supposed to clean my tack after every ride, but honestly? By the time I’m done
schooling, hosing off my horse, and sweeping the aisle, my body aches and I just want to go
home. Is skipping it really that bad, or am I secretly destroying my gear?
— Tired in the Tack Room
Dear Tired,
Let’s be entirely honest here: cleaning tack is the ultimate barn chore paradox. We love the
smell of fresh leather, but at 7:00 PM on a Tuesday when your calves are shaking and you’re
covered in arena dust, the absolute last thing you want to do is scrub a martingale.
To answer your question directly: yes, you are shortening the lifespan of your gear, and worse,
you’re taking a safety risk.
Think of leather-like skin ( because it once was). When it gets caked in horse sweat (salt) and
arena dirt, it dries out. Dry leather cracks. And when dry, cracking stirrup leathers or bridle
cheekpieces are put under pressure, they snap. Trust me, the last thing you want is a stirrup
leather breaking while you're tracking down a vertical.But don’t despair. You don’t need to spend an hour meticulously dismantling your bridle everyday to keep your gear safe. You just need to work smarter. Here is my official guide tostreamlining your tack-cleaning routine so you can get out of the barn faster.
The Quick-Grab Toolkit:
The market is flooded with products, but you only need a few essentials. Keep these organized
in a dedicated utility bucket so you aren't hunting for supplies when you're tired:
Tack Sponges & Rags: Buy the cheap 12-packs of small round synthetic sponges so you
always have a clean one. Grab a microfiber cloth for stubborn, caked-on grease.
The Daily Cleaner: Use a spray-on cleaner to dissolve sweat fast. Moss Melt Away Spray
is a personal favorite for getting dirt off without leaving a sticky film.
The Deep Hydrator: New leather needs frequent conditioning, but older leather needs
love too. Use a dedicated leather conditioner.
Groom’s Hack: If you use oil, apply it with a clean brush. An old, cleaned-out hoof dressing
container with the brush built into the cap makes the perfect, mess-free oil applicator!
Glycerine Soap: This is your secret weapon. Glycerine seals the pores of the leather and
leaves a glossy finish. If you seal your saddle with glycerine, you can get away with just a
quick wipe down with a damp cloth for your next two or three rides before needing a
deep clean again. Moss Goats Milk Saddle Soap is highly recommended and comes with
a built-in treat of 4 great scents to choose from.
Bit Spray or Wipes: You can always scrub the bit with a sponge or throw it in the
dishwasher, but keeping a pack of peppermint-flavored bit wipes in your trunk is a
lifesaver for quick trailer cleanups and your horse will thank you for the tasty treat.
Wipes or spray is just a personal choice.
Mold and Mildew: There is nothing worse than coming into your tack room and finding
the air-conditioning was off all night and your tack is covered with mildew. There are
very few things that can prevent this from happening. Moss has created a wipe that
helps stop mildew in it’s tracks and helps prevent mold from ever forming.
Set Up a "No-Excuses" Workstation
If your cleaning supplies are buried at the bottom of a trunk, you’ll never use them. Dedicate a
small corner of the barn to a permanent cleaning station.
First, hang a heavy-duty tack cleaning hook from the ceiling. This holds your bridle securely so
you can pull the reins taut and scrub with some actual leverage, rather than playing tug-of-war
with a dangling strap.
Second, keep a folding or a portable saddle rack right next to it. It keeps your saddle at waist
height so you aren't bending over and aggravating your aching back.
The 5-Minute Post-Ride Routine
You don't need to do a full restoration every day. Do this instead:
1. Dunk your bit in a bucket of water or hit it with a bit wipe immediately so the green
foam doesn't dry like cement.
2. Give the panels of your saddle and the inside of your bridle straps (where they touch the
horse) a quick spritz and wipe with your Melt Away Spray.
3. Once or twice a week, seal it with a quick cleaning of Moss Glycerine Saddle Soap.
Taking five minutes after your ride will extend the life of your tack by years, save you thousands
of dollars in replacements, and most importantly keep you safe in the stirrups.
Now grab a bucket, set up your station, and take care of that leather!