Restoring and Repairing Tack

If cared for and stored correctly, quality leather tack can last a lifetime. However, due to humid summers, cold winters, and rainy days, tack can begin to dry out, mold, crack, and even break. In this blog, we explore the various ways to repair and recondition your leather bridles, saddles, girths, halters, and stirrup leathers so that you can restore your tack to its former glory.

Dry Leather

Wet conditions, such as riding in the rain, often contribute to stiff, dry tack. It is best to address this as quickly as possible in order to maintain the integrity of the leather and prevent cracks or breaks from occurring. After getting caught in the rain, hang your tack to dry prior to treating it (never use heat to dry it as this will dry out the leather more). Start by taking the brittle tack completely apart and treating it with a leather cleaning solution. Then, use a leather conditioning oil to restore moisture to the leather. Many people find that warm oil (approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit) soaks into the oil more thoroughly; try warming your oil on a designated saucepan on the stove. 

Depending on the severity of the condition, it may take several applications of oil spread out over hours or even days. Multiple thin applications of oil are recommended, as opposed to soaking the leather in the oil, to prevent the leather from becoming oversaturated which is harmful to both the leather and the stitching. Once the leather is pliable again, wipe it down with a lint-free cloth to remove the excess oil and seal the leather with a light layer of a leather conditioning balm for increased protection from the elements and prevent it from becoming sticky.

If you routinely ride in wet conditions, you may want to consider a waterproofing product. After all, you know what they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a mold of cure. After cleaning, oiling, and conditioning your leather, use a thin layer of a leather waterproofing product to prevent water from further permeating the leather. 

Caked on Dirt and Hair

When not cleaned consistently, tack can accumulate a thick layer of dirt, dander, sweat, and horse hair. This can cause the leather to deteriorate and may also cause the tack to rub on your horse’s skin, which may be uncomfortable. Prepare the tack for the heavy-duty cleaning by taking it completely apart, then it is time to get to work. Using a small brush and leather cleaner, work in small sections and scrub the leather. Then use a damp lint-free cloth to remove the dirt and soap. It may take several passes over each piece of leather to completely remove the grime. Rinse thoroughly and follow up with a leather conditioner. You can learn more about the process of cleaning and maintaining tack on our blog post, TLC: Tack Love and Care.

Moldy Tack

If stored in a humid environment without ample ventilation, such as a tack room, tack trunk, or bridle bag, for an extended period, mold may develop on your tack. Mold is more than a cosmetic issue, it can quickly degrade the quality of the leather and the strength of the stitching. When dealing with moldy tack, it is important to realize that both the interior and exterior of the tack must be treated due to the porous nature of leather. In order to eliminate mold from the tack and prevent it from recurring, we suggest using an antimicrobial and anti-fungal leather care product.

These specialized leather cleaning products, such as Leather Soap with Tea Tree Oil, contain compounds that will kill the mold fungus and help prevent it from recurring. Make sure that you spend extra time scrubbing the stitching and lacing. Simply cleaning your tack with a traditional leather soap will remove the mold from the exterior of the leather, but will not treat the mold at the source which means that it will regrow rapidly. It is also important to keep moldy tack away from other tack, because the mold spores can easily spread. Due to the caustic nature of the mold-reducing leather care products, we recommend following up the mold treatment with a leather conditioning product, such as Passier Lederbalsam, to keep the leather strong and supple. Additionally, if you live in a humid environment, consider using a dehumidifier in your tack room to take the excess moisture out of the air and prevent mold from reoccurring.

Broken Pieces

Sometimes, pieces of your tack are beyond restoration. If you find that your tack has broken pieces or deep cracks in the leather, it is time to make the necessary repairs or consider replacing the tack to ensure the safety of both you and your horse. Carefully inspect each piece of tack looking for telltale signs of cracking, loose stitching, or rodent damage. These may cause the tack to break when in use, putting you in a potentially dangerous situation. Never ride, work, or handle your horse with tack that is extremely dry, cracking, or broken. If you are ever in doubt, it is safe to assume that you need to replace or repair the piece.

Stay safe by choosing to replace questionable tack parts and repair any broken tack or stitching. If the tack has loose stitching, consider utilizing a professional tack repair service. They can restitch the leatherwork and repair aged girth elastic, as well as replace broken hardware such as O-rings, halter buckles, halter snaps, and D-rings. Many people also choose to replace these pieces of hardware if the halter is in great condition, but the buckles and snaps are exhibiting their age and beginning to rust. 

Some repairs you can even do yourself. At The Cheshire Horse, we carry an extensive selection of bridle replacement parts, including cheekpieces, browbands, nosebands, and reins in a wide variety of colors and thicknesses, as well as halter repair parts, such as safety crownpieces and chin straps. This allows you to replace damaged or broken pieces easily, simply swap out the damaged parts with a replacement strap and your tack will be as good as new! 

We know how important the integrity of your tack is to your equestrian pursuits. From your foal’s first halter to upper-level competition bridles, we carry everything you need to enjoy and care for your horse. If you have any questions regarding tack restoration or would like assistance selecting the proper leather care product for your tack, we encourage you to speak to a member of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff.