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.

A good cleaning every thirty days or so should e adequate. This will be enough to stop build up of dirt and rust on the components of your saddle. If you use your saddle more frequently you may also want to increase the frequency of your cleaning regiment to err on the safe side.

Many saddles can outlive your horses, except for horse saddles that are not cared for properly. Horse saddles need regular attention to stay in good usable condition. This includes cleaning as well as the application of some sort of leather sealant or oil.

If you do not have a saddle stand to place your horse saddle on while cleaning it, you may drape it over a sturdy fence instead. Saddles can be cleaned with just soap and water. You do not want to get the saddle too wet and when scrubbing the leather you should not apply so much pressure that you stress the surface of the leather. Doing so could compromise the effectiveness of the leather protector you have already applied.

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.

While you are scrubbing the main part of the saddle, soak the detached metal parts that are safe to soak. You will be finishing these later. Do not leave them soaking longer than it takes to clean the rest of the horse saddle. Do not soak any leather!

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.

Clean parts are now ready for an application of some sort of protectant, both the leather and metal parts. When applying the oils to leather, do so evenly so that it doesn’t leave strange smears and streaks and be sure to clean away any extra drips or pools of oil that accumulate.

Once you have oiled your saddle and thoroughly dried off all of the leather and metallic parts, it is time to reassemble your saddle, Hopefully, you have kept careful track of all the parts that you detached. Do not leave any parts out when putting it back together or the saddle may fall apart or fail during use.

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.

Author, Tyler Wilmas, is a equestrian expert 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.

Tags: Horses