Horse hair sporran

[navycb]

Does anyone know the best way to clean a Horse hair sporran? I am thinking about getting an antique U.S. military one that appears to be in real great shape but the hair looks a little yellowed. also it looks like it was kept in a box that was too small and the hairs are curved tward the left, is there a good way to straighten them out?

Thanks

[PiobBear]

There are several "Mane and Tail" shampoos and conditioners available in tack shops. At least one whitener is specifically made for un-yellowing white horsehair (apparently that's a problem with white horses even before they're sporrans), and I've seen similar preparations for dog grooming sold at pet shops. You can also use peroxide from a beauty supply shop (it is hair), but you'll have to leave it on longer, as horse hair's three times thicker than human (or dog). Remove the tassels, and clean and condition them separately.
After whitening it, shampoo and condition it well (don't comb it when wet; just shake it out, rub some conditioner on your hands, and run your fingers through it), and store it hanging up. You might try a section of panty hose; cut off a leg, cut off the foot, and pull the sporran through the panty hose cantle-first. Hanging in a well-ventilated area, the hair might straighten and take the set as it dries (you could even use a blow drier on a low setting). Otherwise, you might have to take a straightening iron to it.
Once you have it squared away, always store it hanging up. I store mine in those long plastic bags Sunday newspapers or submarine sandwiches come in. Other folks I know use panty hose as above, and one friend of mine made a naugahide case, open at each end, that he can pull his sporran through, keeping all the hair straight and parallel.

[HeathBar]

The following site has some instructions on cleaning horse hair sporrans.
http://www.westcoastkilts.com/highla...s-sporrans.php

Good Luck!