Restore A Western Saddle
If you have an old western saddle can you bring back to life?
The answer to that question is how old is it and how has it been stored.
If the saddle has been left laying on the floor with a pile of junk on top of it then the tree will probably have suffered too much and will need to be checked out by a saddler. Likewise if there is any sign of insect attack the tree could be in a dangerous condition and may give way suddenly posing a danger to you and your horse.
If your old western saddle has been on a saddle rack and covered up in a dry environment the chances are you could bring it back to life. All it takes is some tender loving care and a good bit of elbow grease.
A tried and trusted method for restoring your western saddle is outlined here.
First clean it thoroughly using saddle soap and water, applied with a spray bottle to help it penetrate the leather and with a clean damp cloth really work it in. Use a toothbrush to get in to the tooling and little crevices.
Next rinse it off with clean water making sure all the saddle soap is removed. Dry the saddle with a cloth to remove all excess moisture and leave it to dry completely.
Next use a good quality saddle oil such as Fiebings and coat all the surfaces especially the roughed out parts. The oil will soak into the leather quite quickly and more coats may be required. You need to do this until the leather is soft but oil does not come off onto your hand.
Leave the saddle overnight so as the oil can really get into the leather, if it still feels dry in the morning apply more oil.
Finally, use a saddle sheen to get the saddle looking ready for business.
