How do you properly care for your Western headstall?
Just like Western saddles, Western headstalls are often equipped with many details. Conchos, rawhide decorations, horsehair tassels.
As a rider of any riding style, you are usually well equipped with leather care products. In our guide, we will focus on the elaborate decorations. If you would like to learn more about leather care, please read more in our leather care guide.
Conchos:
Plain metal conchos can be brought back to shine with a little metal polish. It is more difficult with more elaborate designs, e.g. with sparkling stones. Here you can usually remedy the problem with a soft toothbrush and a mild cleaning agent (e.g. washing-up liquid).
Rawhide ornaments:
Rawhide is the flayed skin of an animal that is subsequently dried. The material itself is very stiff and delicate. When caring for rawhide ornaments, you should definitely avoid using water and oil, as the rawhide elements will otherwise soften and become all the more stiff afterwards. There are special rawhide care products, but if you don’t have them at hand, you can also clean with a little saddle soap.
Horse hair tassels:
Horse hair tassels are made of real horse hair. You can apply the same care of a real horse’s mane to the tassel. You can use a comb or brush to untangle the hair. If the hair tassels are dirty, you can use a mild hair shampoo. Then place them in a well-ventilated spot at room temperature to dry. Too much heat can make the hair brittle and fragile. At the same time, washing too often will damage the real hair in the long run.
What else can you do to protect your Western headstall?
- After each use, wipe the headstall with a damp cloth to remove sweat residue and dirt that can make the leather brittle.
- Intensive care including disassembly of all the headstall components should take place 3 to 4 times a year. The leather straps for fastening the bit and the reins in particular are usually neglected during care, although it is precisely these components that are of great safety significance for the use of the headstall.
- You should store your bridle in a dark, dry and temperate location so that it does not fade, become mouldy or brittle. With a bridle bag you can optimally store your Western headstall and transport it safely to the show.
