The best way to clean your rope bitless bridles or rope halters is actually in the washing machine!
You can also use this method to clean most other types of synthetic tack such as biothane or nylon halters, girths, reins and breastplates.
All you need are some pillowcases with string ties or mesh bags that you generally use for washing delicates in, along with biodegradable washing powder.
To remove serious stains,  give them a light rub down with a mix of 4 parts warm water and 1 part eucalyptus oil.
You could also put a few drops of eucalyptus oil into the machine before filling if you have a horse with infectious skin problems, or use the gear on a range of horses. This natural oil has an anti-bacterial and cleansing action.

1. Remove the clips and put the reins in a mesh bag or pillowcase tied at the top.
2. For a rope halter that doesn’t have a stitched Fiador knot (large one under the chin), place a rubber band above and below the knot so it doesn’t come undone with the washing machine action, and put them in another mesh bag or pillowcase. The LightRider Rope Bridles have their fiador knot stitched through so you won’t need to worry about securing them.
3. Put the bags in your top or front load machine and wash on a warm/cold cycle (never hot) using a biodegradable washing powder. The delicates cycle is best. Never use bleach! And there’s no need to use a fabric conditioner – it will make the rope too soft and floppy.
4. Hang out to dry on a line – do not dry in a tumble dryer!
5. The noseband padding on the Performer bridle is made from a synthetic anti gall material so there’s no need to treat it with anything. It’s a good idea to wipe the sweat off this regularly so it stays in good condition.

If you’d rather not to use a washing machine, you can simply hand wash the bridle or halter without the need to use mesh bags. Soak in cold or warm water for at least an hour then use a small scrubbing brush or a nail brush to clean off the sweat and dirt.
Regular cleaning will keep your rope tack looking great, smelling sweet and make it last a whole lot longer!
For instructions on how to clean your leather horse tack click here. ​

LightRider Bitless bridle improvements include a new noseband to cheekpiece attachment and new chinstrap keepers shown here on the Western bridle.

A new shipment of stock has just arrived so we now have most of theLightRider Bitless Nosebands, English Bitless Bridles, Euro Bitless Bridlesand Stockhorse Bitless bridles people were waiting for.

Cynthia Cooper, designer of the LightRider Bitless Bridle is always making improvements to the bridles. The new stock now has better chinstrap keepers made from the same soft, flexible material as the chinstrap, and the buckle has returned as the favourite form of adjustment.

All new bridles coming into stock now have an updated noseband to cheekpiece attachment the same as the Bitless Noseband design which has proven to be stronger.
The cheek pieces also have additional keepers to hold any excess length tidy when the higher holes are used, except for biothane bridles as the biothane material sits flatter. If anyone needs keepers for cheekpieces or chinstraps please contact us and we will send some free of charge.

The black leather samples of the LightRider English, Stockhorse and Bitless Noseband have arrived and look stunning. They are nicely padded and with neatly stitched noseband and browband, they will shine in the competition arena.
I will have photos up soon, and hope to have at least the Bitless Nosebands available around the end of March - just waiting on the brown leather sample swatches to arrive before I place an order.
If you'd like to be notified of when they are in stock please sign using the form at the bottom of this page.