How to maintain your bridle? The right gestures.
Maintaining your bridle, bridle and leather is a must for anyone who wants to keep their equipment beautiful, safe and strong. However, it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what are the right gestures to keep your bridles, halters and other bridle pieces in good condition. Here is a small guide, concocted especially for you, which will allow you to pamper your leather halters and custom bridles.
Cleaning your horse’s bridle on a daily basis:
After each use, a wipe with a dry cloth is beneficial to remove dust, sand, mud etc. Inexpensive tip: you can use baby milk afterwards. This contains mild surfactants that allow the dust to « stick » and be removed more effectively. Be sure to wipe it off.
This routine maintenance is the most important step, which, if done properly, will extend the life of your leather bridles, bridles and halters.
Note: this step is particularly crucial for cleaning the bitless parts, which are in close contact with the horse.
Monthly glow up of your bridle
Once every two weeks or once a month depending on the intensity of use and storage conditions, a small cleaning with glycerine soap is recommended. If the daily maintenance is well done, this small passage of glycerine soap will be more than enough. In the end, it doesn’t take much time when the small gestures are done regularly.
Grease your bridle once a year
Once or twice a year, it’s time to grease the leather with a nourishing balm. Generally speaking, oil is not necessary and will not be useful for the leather of your bridle (generally quite fine) but you can alternate the use of balm and oil.
Precaution on the maintenance of your bridle:
It seems obvious but a small error of inattention is quickly made. In general, after greasing your bridle or any other leather element, avoid leaving it in the sun.
And the bit?
How to clean your bit? It’s quite simple and quite essential.
Indeed, a poorly cleaned bit, in addition to being visually unpleasant, can be dangerous for your horse:
– The saliva on the bit, which dries in the open air, is a cosy nest for bacteria and germs that will end up in your horse’s mouth, which can lead to infections.
– Where the bit’s joints can be blocked by residues, the rings slide less well, the hinges are less flexible. Less flexibility means a less clear bit and especially a bit that can hurt.
-Some materials can be damaged (in particular certain alloys sensitive to humidity, but also rubbers and polymers)
The right thing to do to clean your bit is simple and daily: a shot under the water jet (or in a bucket) and a correct drying with a rag dedicated to this use will be the best ally of your bit. From time to time, a more sustained water bath and a cleaning of the joints of the bit is necessary.
You now have no excuse for not having your horse’s bridle shiny and healthy for years to come! Do not hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions regarding the maintenance of your Smart Wag halter or bridle.
Team Smart Wag
