When was the last time you took apart your bridle and oiled it? It may have been last week, or it may have been last year. If it’s the latter, it’s time to clean your tack.

Your location has an impact on your tack cleaning routine. If you live in a damp climate, you don’t need to oil your tack very often. If you’re a desert dweller, you might need to oil more frequently, particularly if you are storing your tack outside or in dry places. Here’s a basic routine to follow to prepare your tack for the winter.

1) If you’re not using a piece of leather, bring it inside and store it for the winter.

2) Before putting a piece of tack away, wipe it off with a soft towel and warm water, removing the gunk. Pay particular attention to the buckles, the keepers and the rein attachments, where dirt, dust and saliva accumulate.

3) Next, use a sponge, a soft toothbrush and a mild saddle soap to condition the tack. Get into the nooks and crannies, the stitching, under the keepers and around the buckles. Dirt can erode the stitching on even the finest tack.

4) Wipe off the soap residue with a clean towel (saddle soap can dry out tack).

5) Use oil made for saddlery, such as neatsfoot oil. It’s lighter oil used in damp climates. Read labels—you want natural oil, not petroleum-based products. Don’t over oil your tack (if it feels “tacky” it is over-oiled and over-conditioned), and don’t use oil on soft leather or parts you don’t want to stretch such as stirrup and billet straps.

6) Cover your tack, especially if you’re storing it for winter, to keep the dust off it.