Keeping your saddle cleaned and conditioned is your goal. How and where you store your saddle is a very important part of keeping your saddle in great shape for a long time. Here are a few best practices for storing your saddle.
- After your saddle has been thoroughly cleaned, oiled, conditioned, and air dried, a climate-controlled area is the best place to keep your saddle when not in use.
- If a climate-controlled area is not available, choose a cool, dry location away from heat and sunlight.
- Never place leather tack or your saddle in a plastic bag or airtight plastic trunk as this keeps the leather from breathing.
- Mold and mildew can form on leather tack when exposed to high humidity. Wipe down the leather everywhere you see the mold/mildew with a glycerin-based saddle soap.
- You’ll be stirring up mold spores, so tackle this task outdoors or in a well-ventilated environment. It may take a couple of applications depending on the amount of mold on the saddle.
- Let the tack or saddle dry naturally and then apply a leather conditioner.
