Upkeep On A Horse Saddle
Mantaining your horse\’s saddle is a top priority. Since saddles are usually made of leather, they require quite a bit of attention to make sure that they last and that you get you money\’s worth out of them.
If you perform upkeep on your horse saddle at least once per month, you can prevent the build up of grime and eliminate the possibility of rotting. Of course if you ride more frequently than most, you may need to put in a little extra time tending to your saddle.
Horse saddles should last for decades. Unless they are not properly cared for. Then they can go to waste quite rapidly. Cleaning the horse saddle is important, but you will also need to apply a leather protector regularly to lock in the finish.
If you do not have a saddle stand to place your horse saddle on while cleaning it, you may drape it over a sturdy fence instead. Saddles can be cleaned with just soap and water. You do not want to get the saddle too wet and when scrubbing the leather you should not apply so much pressure that you stress the surface of the leather. Doing so could compromise the effectiveness of the leather protector you have already applied.
If you can dismantle the saddle to clean it, that would be ideal. Dirt and molds can build up in nooks and crannies. These can at the worst make you or your horse ill and at best cause quite a foul odor. It is always a good idea to do a thorough job of cleaning your horse\’s saddle, rather than saving time by skipping the detail work.
While you are scrubbing the main part of the saddle, soak the detached metal parts that are safe to soak. You will be finishing these later. Do not leave them soaking longer than it takes to clean the rest of the horse saddle. Do not soak any leather!
Remember that the horse is in contact with the underside of the saddle, so do not forget to clean this part as well. You will also need to clean all straps and harnesses and any metal pieces that are connected to the saddle core. Be sure these are allowed to dry before the saddle is stored to prevent rusting.
After cleaning the saddle with soap and water, apply a leather protector to the leather of the saddle and oil all of its metallic parts. Spread the oil well over the entire saddle and do not allow it to dry in drips. This will permanently discolor the saddle.
So once the parts have all completely dried and you have begun to put it back together, assuming you remembered everything and what goes where, do not leave any parts out. Or one day soon, you will regret it because your saddle is not operating properly.
Taking Care Of your horse saddle will prolong it\’s usefulness. You are working to keep up it\’s looks and it\’s functionality. Rust and rot can break down a saddle and have a negative effect on you or your horse\’s health. If you tend to your horse saddle on a regular basis, you should have no problems keeping it in great, usable riding condition.
Article contributor, Tyler Wilmas, is a horse connoisseur and has a lot of great saddles for sale in his feed supply shop. For more info on horse tack and other horse issues, read more of his posts online.
