HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR WESTERN SADDLE
To prolong the life of the leather and fittings the following guideline should be used to care for the saddle.
1. Keep it Clean.
If your saddle is dirty or greasy, scrub it with a stiff stubble brush with a soap specially made for leather. DO NOT use acid household products to clean your leather and do not use any products that have alcohol, turpentine, or mineral spirits as an ingredient.
2. Let it Dry.
If your saddle is damp leave it in a well-ventilated space and let the leather dry completely. Do not put your saddle in an enclosed area if it is not properly dry; rather lay it outside and air dry before putting it away, also do not use any form of heat to dry your saddle with, as it will dry out the leather and cause cracking.
3. Condition leather parts when needed.
To keep leather looking and feeling soft and pliable, apply a light conditioner with a cloth or a soft brush. It is important not to over oil / condition your leather, as it will eventually soften the leather too much and weaken it. Leather should not feel greasy, this only adds to the sticking and build-up of additional dirt and slows the drying of the leather.
4. Cover your saddle.
When you cover your saddle you protect it from dust and unwanted filthiness, but be sure not to cover your saddle with plastic or any other substance that cannot breathe. Protecting your saddle from extreme humidity is a must to prevent mildew and when your saddle is in extremely dry conditions remember to condition it more often.
It is important to check your saddle before each ride to make sure there are no damage to the saddle which can put you and your horse in danger.
Before you ride restore worn or broken parts to a safe condition.
CHECK BEFORE EVERY RIDE
Saddle for proper rigging & adjustments.
All parts attaching the saddle to the horse. Billet straps & girth for deterioration of leather and hardware parts.
(these items receive more wear than other parts and need a lot more of attention.)
Stirrups, stirrup leathers & buckles.
Blanket or pad for burrs or sharp objects.
Bridle parts, throat trap, curb chain, strap cheeks, reins, bridle bits, plus all points of attachment.
REPLACE IMMEDIATLY
Leather that shows signs of wear, stretch, cracking, stiffness or elongation of holes.
Worn lacing, broken or rusted hardware, girth with areas of broken or worn strands.