Upkeep On A Horse Saddle
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.
Cleaning your saddle on a monthly basis will help keep maintenance minimal and prevent the hefty job of undoing long term neglect. If you use your saddle on a more regular basis, you may need to tend to it more frequently.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
