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.
A yard or ranch fence is a good place to perch your saddle when you are working on it. The saddle can be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water. Do not use too much water on the leather itself or it will be destroyed. Scrub the leather lightly so as not to rip or tear the surface. This will maintain the integrity of the sealant.
Disassembling your horse saddle is also an important part of cleaning it. Certain issues can accumulate in neglected areas like fungus, mold or rust. These can ruin your saddle or cause a health risk to you or your horse. Thoroughness is a good technique to practice in order to eliminate any possibility of complications with your saddle in the future.
Before you begin working on the leather of your horse saddle, put the metal parts to soak in water. When you are done scrubbing the leather, you can finish cleaning these components. Remember never to soak the leather and don't forget about the metal parts left in the water when you are done cleaning the rest of the saddle.
Don't skip cleaning underneath the saddle where moisture builds up between the tree and the horse's back. Also clean any separated parts of the saddle that are leather including straps and stirrups. If you do not let the metal parts dry, before storage or use, they could rust and ruin the saddle.
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.
It is essential to maintaining the lifespan of your saddle that you give it proper care and attention on a regular basis. Like maintaining your teeth or the the finish on a car, there are both aesthetic and functional purposes for good maintenance on a horse saddle. Rust and rot makes metal and leather brittle, mold and fungus can make you or your horse sick, etc. So take care of your horse and yourself by taking care of your horse saddle.
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.
A yard or ranch fence is a good place to perch your saddle when you are working on it. The saddle can be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water. Do not use too much water on the leather itself or it will be destroyed. Scrub the leather lightly so as not to rip or tear the surface. This will maintain the integrity of the sealant.
Disassembling your horse saddle is also an important part of cleaning it. Certain issues can accumulate in neglected areas like fungus, mold or rust. These can ruin your saddle or cause a health risk to you or your horse. Thoroughness is a good technique to practice in order to eliminate any possibility of complications with your saddle in the future.
Before you begin working on the leather of your horse saddle, put the metal parts to soak in water. When you are done scrubbing the leather, you can finish cleaning these components. Remember never to soak the leather and don't forget about the metal parts left in the water when you are done cleaning the rest of the saddle.
Don't skip cleaning underneath the saddle where moisture builds up between the tree and the horse's back. Also clean any separated parts of the saddle that are leather including straps and stirrups. If you do not let the metal parts dry, before storage or use, they could rust and ruin the saddle.
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.
It is essential to maintaining the lifespan of your saddle that you give it proper care and attention on a regular basis. Like maintaining your teeth or the the finish on a car, there are both aesthetic and functional purposes for good maintenance on a horse saddle. Rust and rot makes metal and leather brittle, mold and fungus can make you or your horse sick, etc. So take care of your horse and yourself by taking care of your horse saddle.
About the Author:
About the Author, Tyler Wilmas is a equestrian expert and has many quality saddles for sale in his mountain ranch store. To learn more about horse tack and other horse issues, read more of his posts online.
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