It’s a new year, so you are full of ideas, shows on the calendar, and inspirational training ideas. It’s also January, so if you’re not lucky enough to be in Florida or California, it’s cold outside, and some days are just too cold/wet/snowy/icy/icky to do anything with your horse besides pet him on the nose. Consider this the perfect time to use your energy organizing your “stuff” for the upcoming year! Liv Gude of Pro Equine Grooms has a plan of attack for you.

It’s not enough to simply toss these items in the washing machine. 

Spring has finally arrived—your arena has thawed, the grass is growing, and you’re sweeping up the last of your horse’s winter coat from the barn aisle. With the arrival of warmer weather, your thoughts are turning to the upcoming show season, and you’ll want your tack and equipment sparkling clean to make a good impression.

Although leather care products have changed, a daily regimen is still your best preservative.

Tack care—we all know we’re supposed to do it and do it regularly, but beyond that questions abound. How often do I need to clean my tack? What products work best? What do I do with that ancient saddle molding away in the back of my tack room?

This saddler has had some unique experiences.

Being Master Saddler to the Queen of England is not a title that many saddlers can put on their resumes. In fact, Richard Castelow was the first man to ever hold the position. When approached by the Master of the Horse, Lord Somerleyton, and requested to leave his post as Master Saddler for the Household Cavalry and move to Buckingham Palace to be Queen Elizabeth II’s personal Master Saddler, Castelow, who was nearing his retirement from military service, agreed.