How do I take care of my horse tack?
Our leather work should be considered an investment and if looked after properly will remain good as new for many years. That is why horse tack care is so important
All our leather work can be cared for as you would a normal bridle, even the coloured parts. Saddle Soap once weekly and an occasional oil and it will look great for years.
The coloured leather has been specially coated to ensure that the colour stays exactly where it is meant to. We’ve sourced our coloured leather piping direct from luxury car manufacturers to ensure that you will not end up with a pink (or any other coloured) horse and the colour will remain bright for years.
A quick guide to care is:
It may be necessary to oil your tack once in a while and also two or three times when it is new, but do avoid over oiling as this can make the bridle far too soft.
General Care
Cleaning instruction apply to all Mattes sheepskin products.
Please allow the product to dry immediately after it has become damp or wet. If the material has gone stiff, just knead it to soften it again. The wool should be brushed frequently. All parts which are exposed to the horses sweat during use, need special care.
Mattes sheepskin products should be thoroughly dried after every use, then before the next use, brush the wool with a grooming brush. Numnahs and Saddlepads should generally be placed on top of the saddle wool side up when storing the saddle.
When dry, before saddling, or girthing brush and shake the wool to remove horsehair and dried sweat and dirt residue. This assures the full function of the Saddle pad and girths, it also saves you a lot of washing and prolongs the overall lifetime of the product.
Washing and cleaning instructions.
Before washing it is essential that you:-
Mattes recommend special washing liquid ‘MELP’ (included with your order) which is biodegradable. It is a highly concentrated mix of washing agents and fat liquors used for the manufacture of their own sheepskins. ‘MELP’ has re-greasing properties, thus restoring the elasticity and other natural properties of the wool, the leather and also the textile materials used in their products. You should avoid any other type of detergent, soap, or bleach products as these will damage your fleece/sheepskin saddle pad and void any warranty.
MELP is also ideal for washing washable leather goods. Your usual detergents could possibly harden the leather and could make the wool brittle or matted. Common detergents can contain components which are very damaging to sheepskin. Do not use powder detergents, which will clog the wool.
Most Mattes products can be hand washed or machine washed at 30 degrees Celsius or less. Washing at above 30 degrees Celsius will cause shrinkage of the products. Please look at the labels affixed to each individual product. It is imperative to follow the washing instructions.
Mattes can identify easily if their products are returned to us after washing at more than 30 degrees Celsius, which would affect any consideration of a faulty product so it’s vital to follow these instructions.
For more information please refer to Mattes product care instructions.
In order to keep your William Leistner Brushes in top condition, it is important to remove any hair from them after use, simply use a plastic curry comb to do this as this will not damage the bristles. You can wash the bristles, however dry with a towel afterwards and only pack away once fully dry.
Your brushes are made from wood with leather handles and these can be damaged if exposed to water or damp conditions. They are expensive brushes and therefore obtaining a quality grooming box for storage is a good investment.
HKM & Lauria Garelli Saddle Pads and Ear Bonnets can be washed at 30 degrees Celsius or Less. Always wash separately, as other products could cause colour bleed on your purchase. Always follow the instructions on the label for washing and do not tumble dry at all unless the instructions specifically confirm this is ok.
HKM Boots can also be washed, we would recommend that these are done by hand with a mild detergent and that they are allowed to dry naturally to ensure the shape is retained.
