When winter
sets in, turning your paddocks into a sea of snowdrifts and your
riding ring into an ice rink, you may not feel much like riding.
So your tack can sit in the barn for weeks at a time, untouched.
But winter weather isn’t just harsh on your unprotected skin; your
expensive leather equipment is going to need a little extra TLC,
too.
Moisture and mold spores are the worst enemies of leather, often
causing permanent scarring and damage, says British master saddler
Dave Nangreave. If you intend to use your tack throughout the
winter, he suggests that you keep your saddles and bridles covered
– an old terrycloth towel will do if you don't have a saddle
cover. Also, wipe off mold with a vinegar and water solution as
soon as you notice it, and condition the leather regularly with a
product containing beeswax, massaging it in well with your fingers
to help keep the leather fibers supple and flexible.
Don’t Store Tack in Barn for Winter
“If you're not using your tack during the winter,” Nangreave says,
“the worst place to store it is in the barn. Bring it into the
house where it can be stored in a dry place – not the basement –
at room temperature. Clean it thoroughly. Make sure it’s
conditioned with an oil or beeswax product, and take all of your
bridles apart so that the metal parts, such as the buckles and
bit, are in contact with the leather as little as possible.”
If you have cloth or sheepskin parts on your saddles, you may want
to add a few mothballs to your storage area. But try to keep the
mothballs from touching the leather.
“If you're planning on storing the tack for a long period of time,
you may want to coat it with a thin layer of petroleum jelly to
help keep moisture and mold spores from penetrating the leather
fibers,” Nangreave says. But be warned: “It's sticky and difficult
to remove. You often have to rub on the leather quite a bit to get
it all off.”
Wherever you store your tack, make sure you examine it regularly
for signs of mold growth. And when you take it out of storage,
check it thoroughly before you put it on your horse.
“Cracks and breakage in the leather will usually occur next to the
metal parts,” says Nangreave, adding that rust on buckles can be
especially destructive. Leather that has dried and cracked could
break at any time, creating a potentially dangerous scenario for
you and your horse. If you discover any portion of your bridle or
saddle has started to develop cracks, don’t take chances – replace
it.
A final caution: “Watch out for barn cats who may want to snuggle
up to your saddles, or use them as scratching posts. I see more
destruction of tack from cats than from mold or moisture,”
Nangreave adds.
