Upkeep on a horse saddle is very important. The leather and metal components can ruin easily if not properly cared for. More than likely, you have spent quite a bit of money on your horse saddle and it would be a shame to waste it with carelessness.
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.
Saddles have a long lifespan in general, but if they are not cared for they can rot and deteriorate rapidly. It is also always important to use some sort of leather oil when caring for your saddle once you have cleaned it. This will help to preserve the leather.
You can straddle your horse saddle over a fence to scrub it. You may use water and a mild soap to begin cleaning, but do not soak or saturate the leather too deeply. You can use a medium soft brush to scrub the leather, but be careful not to shred or tear it.
You do want to take your saddle apart to clean those hard-to-reach places. Crud can collect in cracks and areas between saddle parts. You do not want your saddle to become a petri dish of funk that can make you sick, your horse sick or just plain reek a foul odor. Be diligent with the sanitation of your saddle and you will save yourself the grief of a nasty fungus ruining your riding time.
Place all metal parts that can tolerate soaking into warm water before scrubbing the tree and other leather parts. The metal pieces will be ready for their turn, by the time you've finished with the rest of the saddle. Again, too much water will destroy the leather and also remember leaving the metal soaking for too long will cause it to corrode.
The horse will cause moisture underneath the saddle, so you need to sanitize this area as well. And don't forget to take care of any detached leather parts like the straps and stirrups. Do not replace any parts when reassembling the saddle until the are completely dry to avoid rusting or fungus growth.
Once you have cleaned all of the parts of the saddle you should oil them, both the leather and the metal. Apply an even coat to the entire saddle and wipe any extra drips so that they do not dry and stain your finish with odd markings.
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.
Routine upkeep of your saddle will ensure that it lasts you for many, many years. Saddle maintenance has both a visual and a practical purpose. Decay can come in the form of rust or bacteria which can ruin your saddle, your health or your horse's health. The more you care for your horse saddle, the less problems you may have while riding in the future and the longer it will last.
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.
Saddles have a long lifespan in general, but if they are not cared for they can rot and deteriorate rapidly. It is also always important to use some sort of leather oil when caring for your saddle once you have cleaned it. This will help to preserve the leather.
You can straddle your horse saddle over a fence to scrub it. You may use water and a mild soap to begin cleaning, but do not soak or saturate the leather too deeply. You can use a medium soft brush to scrub the leather, but be careful not to shred or tear it.
You do want to take your saddle apart to clean those hard-to-reach places. Crud can collect in cracks and areas between saddle parts. You do not want your saddle to become a petri dish of funk that can make you sick, your horse sick or just plain reek a foul odor. Be diligent with the sanitation of your saddle and you will save yourself the grief of a nasty fungus ruining your riding time.
Place all metal parts that can tolerate soaking into warm water before scrubbing the tree and other leather parts. The metal pieces will be ready for their turn, by the time you've finished with the rest of the saddle. Again, too much water will destroy the leather and also remember leaving the metal soaking for too long will cause it to corrode.
The horse will cause moisture underneath the saddle, so you need to sanitize this area as well. And don't forget to take care of any detached leather parts like the straps and stirrups. Do not replace any parts when reassembling the saddle until the are completely dry to avoid rusting or fungus growth.
Once you have cleaned all of the parts of the saddle you should oil them, both the leather and the metal. Apply an even coat to the entire saddle and wipe any extra drips so that they do not dry and stain your finish with odd markings.
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.
Routine upkeep of your saddle will ensure that it lasts you for many, many years. Saddle maintenance has both a visual and a practical purpose. Decay can come in the form of rust or bacteria which can ruin your saddle, your health or your horse's health. The more you care for your horse saddle, the less problems you may have while riding in the future and the longer it will last.
About the Author:
Contributor, Tyler Wilmas, is a horse connoisseur and has a lot of great saddles for sale in his mountain ranch store. For more info on horse tack and other horse issues, read more of his posts online.
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