HAVE you decided to turn your horse out while competitions are cancelled? What have you done with your tack if so? It is important not to neglect your tack during this time and if you plan on not riding for a few weeks, you should clean and store away your tack properly.

With leather, prevention of damage is key. Before you store away your tack it is important to clean, condition and oil it to prevent damage from dirt, sweat, mildew or dryness. This should be done every few months to prevent your tack from drying out or cracking.

After conditioning, leather should be covered with a fabric cover so that it can breathe and stored in dry, cool environment. The storage area should also be free of insects and rodents which often chew on leather.

There are many different saddle covers on the market which zip up to cover all of the leather, these are ideal as most saddle covers only cover the top of the saddle.

If you don’t have one of these covers an old, clean towel or sheet will work perfectly, but make sure to cover the underside as well.

Bridles, martingales, reins, girths and whatever other leather you have can be stored in small storage containers. If leather is going to be stored for a long time, it should be periodically checked and reconditioned. Leather strapping such as stirrup leathers, bridles and reins should be unassembled and stored flat if possible. Saddles should be stored on a saddle rack so that they maintain their original shape.