Care For Your Western Saddle And It Will Love You Back

A western saddle i a fairly expensive piece of kit and so it will pay you dividends to take the best care of it that you can, for your own benefit and if at some point in the future you wish to sell it a well cared for western saddle will fetch a higher price.

A basic piece of equipment in the tack room is a saddle stand. This will help your saddle to maintain it's shape and it is important o purchase a saddle stand that is the correct width for your particular saddle. Too thin and your saddle will bend out of shape , too wide and the saddle will splay, ruining it.

Try to never lay your saddle on the ground, especially on it's side, you can scratch the leather and the tree may deform if it is left like it for any length of time. If you have to put it on the ground try to stand it on it's nose on the fork.

Cover your saddle whenever it is not being used. This will keep dust and muck off of it and help prevent the leather from drying out. Cover your saddle with a cotton drop cloth, not plastic sheeting which will hold in moisture and cause fungal growth.

So you have hung your saddle on a properly sized stand and have a cover to keep it clean but before you cover it up you have a little housework to do. Wipe down the whole saddle with a damp, not wet, cloth to get rid off any crud on it. Allow it to dry naturally if possible, forced drying can boost fungal growth and make the leather smell.

Condition the leather saddle every two to three months, even if you don't use it very often. It is the stored saddle that suffers most with fluctuations in humidity and so you must feed the leather. Remember to condition the parts that are not on show as well as the top parts. Do not oil the rough sides, ie the side that is not finished as this area will suck up too much oil and it could weaken the hide.

Use conditioning oil or cream for all the leather parts of your western saddle and rawhide cream for the rawhide coated parts such as the horn, stirrups and bindings. Really work the conditioner in to the little nooks and crannies, getting into any intricate tool work and up under the fenders. This is an important part of caring for your saddle so don't skimp.

When you have cleaned and condition the leather you can use a coat of saddle butter or similar leather finishing product. Go all over the saddle and then it is ready to cover and store. If you live in a humid area then a dehumidifier in the tack room is to be recommended.

You will reap the rewards of taking care of your western saddle every time you ride upon it and your horse will be so much more comfortable too.