How to Make a New Saddle Look & Feel Old and Broken In

Saddles are designed to be used year after year. Leather is extremely durable and holds up to years of wear and tear, but that same stiffness presents a problem when breaking in your new ride. Although breaking in a new saddle may be more difficult than breaking your new foal, a few small tricks and a lot of riding will transform that stiff, squeaking abomination into the perfectly-fitted saddle of your dreams.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle soap
  • Sponges
  • Leather conditioner
  • Baby powder
  • Saddle cover
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ride in the new saddle as often as possible. It may be noisy and uncomfortable, but the more often the saddle is used, the faster the leather will break. If it's too painful to ride in the saddle all the time, tack up the horse and lunge it for 30 minutes a day to slowly break in the saddle until you're able to climb aboard.

    • 2

      Soap up the saddle once a day with saddle soap. Dip a sponge in warm water and rub across the pot of soap to build a lather. Rub the soap into every surface of the saddle, starting at the pommel and working back towards the cantle. Lift the skirts and soap between them, as well as the front and back of the stirrup flaps. Let the soap sit for an hour, then buff away residual lather with a cloth.

    • 3

      Rub the freshly-soaped saddle with leather conditioner. Dampen a cloth with leather conditioner and rub it into the saddle, working in small circles to push the conditioner into the leather fibers. Use enough conditioner to make the leather look damp but not so much conditioner that it drips from the saddle.

    • 4

      Sprinkle the underside of the saddle and the spaces between the skirts with baby powder. The baby powder absorbs excess moisture and cushions the leather to keep it from squeaking. Use your fingertips to push the powder up into small crevasses, and wipe away spilled powder with a damp cloth.

    • 5

      Cover your new saddle when you're not sitting in it. A good-fitting cover keeps dirt and grime away from the leather and prevents the saddle from drying out from prolonged air and sun exposure. If you're showing or dismounting often during rides, carry a slim-fitting cover in your trailer and cover the saddle between classes.