i wash my tack usually before a show or during a clinic with this one woman (if you don't clean your tack after the first ride you can't ride the second)

other than that, most people where I ride NEVER clean their tack, especially after every ride...the school tack might get cleaned once a year if the kids are learning how to clean tack? no barn that i've ever taken lessons at has had you clean tack after a lesson...

My barn is the same as Laura's.

OK so it's not uncommon then... i see. Thanks :)

I think it is a good practice for the students. I know a woman who went to england and rode at a school and they made you clean the tack each time also. It may not be the norm but I think it is a good thing.

At my barn, some of the lesson kids just kind of hang out at the barn so they clean it if they are bored. But you are not asked to clean it. That would be a good practice though.

My barn you are required to clean the bit and bridle and just wipe down the girth and saddle after each ride. I wipe my things down and give them a good scrub and conditioning once a month at least. It keeps your things nicer and longer.

At my first barn you were required to clean your tack after every ride. We had a stand that had a bucket under it with sponges and a bar of saddle soap. Bits, bridles and saddles if you used one of theirs were wiped down after every ride to keep them from drying out and getting too dirty. Where I am now, it's not required, but I wipe my stuff down once a month. It depends on the barn and how much they spend a year on schooling tack. It's a good practice to get into though, it'll keep the leather supple and clean tack is just nicer to ride in :D

At most of the barns I rode at we were expected to clean the bridle and wipe down the saddle, then before shows or every so often or whatever give a good scrub and condition. I always wash the bit no matter what though

Ya i wanted to keep up my routine of taking care of the tack but i have absolutely NO idea where the saddle soap is...