How to Repair Saddle Equipment

Tack and saddle equipment include bridles, girths, breast plates, saddle pads and saddles. Predominantly used for horses, this equipment is usually made of leather, cloth, plastic components, metal or a combination of all four materials. Leather makes up a considerate proportion of saddles and equipment. It is possible to repair tack equipment yourself, which saves money and time.



While leather and cloth tack is repairable, replace metal and plastic components if broken. Broken saddle equipment can be repaired by sewing leather together with replaced hardware, or by fastening leather together with rivets.

Things You'll Need

  • Revolving leather hole punch
  • Leather straps
  • Snippers
  • Rivets
  • Rivet setters
  • Thread
  • Beeswax
  • Awl
  • Sinew
  • Replacement hardware
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Instructions

  1. Set a Rivet

    • 1

      Fold leather over replacement hardware and line top piece over bottom piece of leather.

    • 2

      Punch a hole in the leather with leather punch. Punch the hole slightly larger than the rivet you will use.

    • 3

      Place rivet in hole, with rivet sticking up. A rivet is made up of two pieces. A "burr" is composed of a metal head and shaft. A washer is the second piece of the rivet and is used to seal the rivet in place. It is a circular piece of metal with a hole the size of the burr shaft. Place washer through the shaft of the burr and firmly press rivet setter tool down on top of the rivet.The rivet end should be sticking out of the leather.

    • 4

      Cut rivet with snipper close but not flush to the burr. Leave about 1/16 inch from the burr.

    • 5

      Set the rivet tool to the concave setting. Firmly press tool down over burr and rivet. Repeat until rivet is flush with burr.

    Sewing Leather

    • 6

      Unfasten or cut away broken leather pieces on equipment that is to be repaired. Salvage any hardware for other projects or re-use for current replacement needs.

    • 7

      Punch leather to be sewn with an awl or hole punch. If leather is thin, only use an awl, as hole punchers tend to make holes pucker when sewn. Slide hardware over or through leather strap.

    • 8

      Thread needle with either waxed thread or use sinew. Wax thread with beeswax before sewing with leather. Back stitch by sewing through the several holes about an inch down the leather and reverse in direction, then sew back up the seam. Back stitching reinforces the seam and ensures durability.

    • 9

      Continue sewing strap pieces to each other by pushing thread or sinew up through one hole and down through the next until the end of a seam. This is a simple running stitch. Back stitch again through the last two holes to strengthen the end of the seam. Finish with an overhand knot and snip thread or sinew.