question--tack care

I

ishmael

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Nov 24, 1999
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Edmonton, AB, Canada
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I've been riding for a while now and though I'd like to think i know a lot...the truth is ,I don't.

You see, I half-lease this mare and I've always used the tack that her owner provided me with. I know how to clean it and everthing but now I've bought my own saddle, girth, and stirrup leathers. My question is, what is the best way to properly "break in" these pieces of tack? The leathers are fairly stiff and I don't want them to crack on me. I know I have to oil them but I'm not sure what the best way to go about doing that is.

Help would be greatly appreciated, I'd like to start using them soon!!

thanx,

ish
 
New tack rarely needs oiling these days. If the saddle is brand new then oil it once with neats foot oil, leave it for a few hours or over night, then wipe off the excess and treat as normal. Just clean the leathers and girth as normal and they will supple up quickly.

Rachel
 
hello!

My saddler told me to sterr away from using the traditional saddle soap on leather as it can actually draw out the mmoisture fromt he leather and make it brittle. You can try to put the moisture back in by oiling it, but this can rot the stitching.

He reccomended using a well squeezed out wet sponge to clean it with then to apply leather cream (which you can get from any saddler). If you really need to get a shine on the leather, this can then be buffed up after the cream has been absorbed.

Your new stirrup leathers shouldn't crack, if you are worried, put on some cream before you use them.

bye!
 
Hi Ish... I have always used Car, Day & Martin glyncerine saddle soap with a damp jay cloth and if the leather been very wet, once it has dried out I use Hydrophane oil. This is supposed to give limited wet weather protection and keep moisture in the leather.
BTW. I have two bridles which have been cleaned this way for 17 years and have not had to have any stiching or components replaced and also seems to work fine on my new saddle.

Hope this info helps you.

Remmy
 
Use a good leather dressing (eg Hydrophane) especially if the leather appears dry. Dry, particularly cheaper leather can snap - straps like stirrup leathers or reins MUST be strong and supple for safety. A lot depends on the quality of the gear you are using - the cheaper the gear, the more preparation it will require.
 
Well, you should make sure that it's oiled well, and just ride it a lot to break it in. They shouldn't crack if they are in good condition, and is good quality leather.
 
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