Washing Mohair Horse Tack

Is mohair horse tack difficult to keep clean? Absolutely not, it’s very easy to wash your piece of mohair tack.

Mohair is a hair fiber, so it naturally repels dirt better than other fibers, such as cotton or nylon. Depending on the climate, type of riding you do, and amount of riding, can all affect how often you need to wash your tack. I trail ride in Colorado, riding weekly, and I wash my mohair tack maybe once a year. If you ride daily, in a very hot and humid climate, where there’s lots of mud, you will likely want to wash it more frequently.

Washing your tack will keep it free from dirt build up, so it not only looks good, but also keeps it soft and supple for your horse. And keeping the fibers clean, will reduce wear and tear as well. To wash a piece of tack, first remove any large leather pieces, such as breast collar tugs, and clean and oil them separately. You can leave certain leather pieces on your tack while washing, such as concho leather laces, rein slobber straps, and dog collar leather sections. Make a warm water bath in a sink or bucket, using a non-detergent such as baby shampoo or Woolite. Add your tack and let it soak for awhile, maybe 15 minutes. Do not scrub it, just agitate it in the water to get it clean. Do not aggressively try to remove the horse hair that gathers on the horse side of your tack, because keeping the fur on the back side will help to “felt” the piece, and this is a good thing. When most of the dirt is off, and your water is quite dirty, take it out, drain the sink, and repeat the first step if necessary. When you are done washing, rinse in cool water, and hang outside to dry. It will take a full day, or two, to dry, so plan washing around your riding days. Never machine wash your mohair tack.

There are also other steps you can take, in the care of your mohair, to make it last for many years. Do not store it in direct sunlight, and store it away from rodents, dogs, and cats. Avoid riding through burrs or cacti, that are tall enough to get stuck in your tack. Avoid spraying any chemicals, or fly spray, directly on your tack. And before tacking up, always check for anything that might have gotten stuck in it, that could poke your horse and cause discomfort. Taking good care of your tack will allow it to last for many, many years.

The Washing Process