The Best Way to Store Western Tack

If you own a horse, you know that the saddle and tack you purchase for your horse can be pretty expensive. But the expense is well worth it because tack that is sound and in good condition can mean the difference between a safe ride and injury to either you or your horse. When you store your tack for any length of time, take steps to ensure that it's cared for properly -- not only to protect your investment, but to protect you and your horse during your next ride.

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
  • Cloth or sponge
  • Saddle soap
  • Leather conditioner, neatsfoot oil or olive oil
  • Saddle rack or sawhorse
  • Rawhide conditioner
  • Bridle rack or wide hook
  • Washing machine or hose
  • Laundry soap
  • Large plastic containers
Show More

Instructions

  1. Saddle

    • 1

      Clean your saddle before you condition it and store it away. Use a stiff brush to remove any dirt and dust. With a wet sponge, dampen all leather parts of your saddle and apply a good-quality saddle soap. If part of your saddle is suede, don't wet it down or apply saddle soap -- instead, just brush it thoroughly to remove dirt. Finally, wipe off the leather again with a wet sponge to remove the soap.

    • 2

      Condition the leather after it has dried completely. Using a soft, clean cloth, apply a coat of good-quality leather conditioner or neatsfoot oil to all leather areas of the saddle. A light coat of olive oil also works well to condition the leather. Rub the conditioner into the leather thoroughly, making sure that all leather surfaces are treated.

    • 3

      Place your saddle on a sturdy saddle rack, making sure that the stirrups are well above the ground. If you don't have a saddle rack, a sawhorse may work, but be certain that it's tall enough to keep your stirrups off the ground. The saddle and all the tack should be stored in a dry, dark shelter that is protected from the weather and keeps your equipment out of direct sunlight -- either a shed, a barn or inside a house is best.

    Bridle, Bit and Reins

    • 4

      Clean your bridle, bit and reins with a damp sponge to remove dirt.

    • 5

      Condition all leather surfaces by applying a coat of good-quality leather conditioner or neatsfoot oil. If your tack is rawhide, apply a coat of rawhide conditioner, which you can find in most saddle and tack or feed stores. Clean Nylon tack in the same way as leather and rawhide, but it's not necessary to condition it.

    • 6

      Hang your bridle, bit and reins on a bridle rack. This maintains the shape of the headstall while also keeping it safely off the ground. Alternatively, you can hang your bridle and reins from a wide hook. Just as with saddles, all tack should be stored in a dark, dry area that is protected from the weather.

    Blankets and Saddle Pads

    • 7

      Wash your horse blankets or saddle pads. You may wash some pads or blankets in a regular washing machine with mild laundry detergent, while others -- particularly those with leather trims or foam pad inserts -- may need to be rinsed down with a hose, and without soap.

    • 8

      Lay the blankets and pads out on a flat surface and allow them to air dry.

    • 9

      Fold the dry pads and blankets and store them in a large, airtight plastic container. Ideally, the plastic container should be large enough to hold pads and blankets that have only been folded once -- much the same as they would lay on the back of a horse. Just as with saddles and tack, the airtight container should be stored in a dry, dark place, out of the weather and direct sunlight.