8 Best Leather Cleaners for Horse Tack (Expert Rider Review)

Taking good care of your horse tack is an essential part of horse ownership.

Whether you have inexpensive or premium quality tack, regular cleaning horse tack cleaning kit will prolong the leather’s life.

05/15/2024 04:44 pm GMT

In today’s tack shops, you will see a huge selection of leather cleaners and conditioners. Some are better than others.

Here we will introduce you to some of the best leather cleaners for horse tack

Let’s start with a quick look at our top picks, then keep reading for all the glorious details.

Check: What Bridle is Best for My Horse?

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Check the table below for a side-by-side comparison of our favorites!

Tack Cleaning Product Categories

Bridle and saddle cleaning products come in a variety of forms.

You will also see conditioners, which you can’t go without if you want to take proper care of your tack.

woman checking the brown horse's tack

These are the categories you will see.

  • Bar soaps
  • Creams
  • Sprays
  • Oils
  • Liquids
  • Tinned soaps
  • Wipes
  • Foams

Solid Soap Leather Cleaners

First, we’ll show you soap leather cleaners. These are the tack soaps that have been around longer than any other type.

The most recognizable is the rectangular bar of glycerine soap. However, other established brands come in metal tins.

These solid soaps are very easy to use and only require a damp sponge, some warm water, and a towel.

Oils

Oils do not really clean your horse tack, and should not be used for this purpose. It is one of the oldest and most traditional ways to condition new leather.

Many years ago, oil and solid glycerine soap were pretty much the only options available for tack care.

Oil is best used on brand new tack that needs softening. It will also darken leather. However, today it is not the only good option.

Creams

Creams for cleaning your tack come in different textures, ranging from smooth to clumpy goops.

Some creams combine cleaning and conditioning elements, while others do one or the other.

Sprays

More recently on the scene are tack cleaners in spray bottles.

Spray cleaners are handy because they are not as messy to use as other types of saddle soap. They also allow for quick spot cleaning.

Liquids

Liquid tack cleaner comes in bottles. It is thicker than water but easy to apply to a sponge and then your tack.

You will find both soap and conditioning liquids for leather.

Tack Brands

Many tack brands, particularly high-end tack manufacturers, such as CWD, make their own leather cleaners and conditioners.

TRY CHECKING: How to Tack Up a Horse

5 Best Leather Cleaner For Horse Tack (Review)

To help you pick a good option, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite tack cleaners or best leather conditioner for saddles here.

1. Belvoir Tack Conditioner

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05/19/2024 02:24 pm GMT

Don’t confuse this horse barn staple for a true leather conditioner. You will find a bar of this saddle soap in just about every horse barn around the world.

It is an old-fashioned bar of glycerine soap that contains some coconut oil. The coconut oil helps to condition the leather, but it is primarily cleaner.

BenefitsDrawbacks
Traditional and provenIt can get very wet and lathery if you use too much water
Safe for most leathers
Not expensive

2. Fiebings Saddle Soap

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05/15/2024 04:44 pm GMT

One thing we love about this tack soap is that it comes in a tin, which makes it easy to store in your grooming box.

Feibings is an American brand that is one of the oldest leather care manufacturers in the United States, founded in 1885.

Their saddle cleaning product is tried and tested and continually comes at the top of lists for the best tack cleaners.

This is a semi-solid soap that has a paste-like consistency. 

BenefitsDrawbacks
Great storage tinSome people don’t like the smell
Reasonably pricedNot always packaged well.
Long established brand that consistently gets your leather clean
Keeps leather soft

3. CWD Leather Soap

This leather soap is an own-brand made by one of the most prestigious saddle makers in the world.

It comes in liquid form and is easy to use. The soap is made with glycerine and coconut oil.

BenefitsDrawbacks
Easy to useExpensive for the amount you get
Cleans tack really well
Doesn’t require water to use
Helps soften leather

4. Lexol Leather Cleaner

Lexol leather cleaner has been around for many years and comes in liquid form.

It doesn’t leave any residue on your tack and is great at removing any dirt build-up. A nice feature of this cleaner is that it is Ph balanced specifically for leather.

BenefitsDrawbacks
Won’t damage leather like some leather cleanersIt is a little runny inconsistency
Suitable for leather shoes as wellCan leave behind a sticky feeling
Helps to soften the leather

5. SmartPak Leather Cleaner & Conditioner

This is a very popular combo cleaner for your horse tack. It does not leave a greasy or sticky residue like some cleaners, and won’t darken your leather. 

BenefitsDrawbacks
Cleans and conditions with just one productNot quite good enough for really dirty tack
Made with natural ingredientsCan be sudsy, so make sure to have a towel to wipe of excess
Nice smell
Comes with a tack sponge

3 Best Leather Conditioners For Horse Tack

In addition to tack cleaner, you also need to use a leather conditioner. It is a good idea to use this at least once a week after you clean your tack.

It will keep the leather from getting brittle, hard, make sure your tack lasts for many years.

1. Effax Leather Balsam

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05/20/2024 06:05 am GMT

Effax Leather Balsam is made by Effol, a German brand established in 1906.

Their leather balsam has an excellent reputation and is made with several leather nourishing ingredients.

The ingredients include beeswax, lanolin, and avocado oil.

The beeswax helps give your leather a water-repellent coating. Another great reason to use this product is the beautiful shine it gives your tack.

BenefitsDrawbacks
Not expensiveSome love the smell, others hate it
Fantastic conditioning qualities
A favorite with many riders around the world

2. CWD Conditioner

BenefitsDrawbacks
Very good at conditioning leatherIt is a little greasy, but if you buff it in well, this isn’t a problem
Good shineDoesn’t smell very nice
A little goes a long wayA little pricey

CWD conditioner’s texture is not quite a cream and not quite a paste. It is thick and soft. The company recommends you use it on your tack monthly.

It will give your leather a deep condition and a great shine. The ingredients include wax and vegetable oil.e7f5fe

3. Absorbine Horseman’s One Step Cream Leather Cleaner & Conditioner, 15-oz tub

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11/02/2024 03:12 am GMT
horseman leather cleaner

Horseman’s One Step Cream is an all-in-one leather care solution that cleans and conditions leather and synthetic leather items in a single step.

The simple washing conditioner penetrates the leather’s interior fibers, releasing deep-down filth, perspiration, and grime and gently pulling it away.

BenefitsDrawbacks
Can be used on natural and synthetic leatherLeaves a white residue
Provided deep cleaning that removes dirt and sweat quickly
Has lanolin that provides that extra moisturizing restoring suppleness and
color to old or dry leather

The leather conditioning cream protects and softens the leather, making it smooth and flexible.

This unique cream leather conditioner protects both new and old leather from drying and cracking while leaving a gorgeous satin shine and no tacky or sticky residue

Other Tack Cleaning Products

When looking at tack cleaning options, you will see sprays and wipes.

While we haven’t tried every brand of spray available, we found that they just don’t work as well as non-sprays.

They are handy to have for a quick wipe down on a daily basis. However, we found they tend to not be great at moisturizing the leather.

a woman removing the horse bridle

Wipes aren’t for deep cleaning your tack. However, they are great to put in your grooming kit for ringside at a show.

You can use them to give your tack a quick wipe to remove any dust before you enter the ring.

Lexol makes a wipe that comes in a convenient container. Just make sure to keep the cover closed, so they don’t dry out.

If you are new to tack cleaning, take a look at this helpful video.

Conclusion

Sometimes the manufacture will recommend the best leather cleaner for their horse tack.

It is a good idea to ask them if there are certain types you should not use on their leather.

In an ideal world, you should give your tack a quick clean after every ride to maximize its health, and longevity.

However, for many people daily cleaning just isn’t possible, so do the next best thing and clean it as much as possible.

Finally, don’t forget to condition it regularly. 

a lady cleaning and wiping horse's bridle

What leather cleaner for horse tack do you use? Please share with us!

Siun L
Siun L

Siun is an all-around animal lover, with a passion for horses. She grew up in the United States, competing in the hunters, equitation, and jumpers. Now living in Ireland, she competes with her own showjumping horses. She is experienced in the care and training of horses, as well as teaching riding lessons. She loves to combine her love for horses with her work. When not working, Siun will be found at the stables, rain or shine.
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