How to Repair Leather Harnesses & Saddles

You left your favorite saddle uncovered on the rack and the barn cat found it perfect for her nap; unfortunately, she left her mark with a nice little rip in the seat. Or something used one of your draft collars as a scratching post or a means of escape to the ceiling. Your leather harness and saddle are bound to undergo small rips and tears like these, or through everyday use. There is no need to throw out equipment for such blemishes, or to take it to a tack shop for an expensive repair. You can fix most of these rips yourself, making the tack usable for many years to come.

Things You'll Need

  • Shears
  • Curved needle
  • Waxed thread
  • Scrap leather
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Instructions

    • 1
      Shears

      Trim any raveling threads. Do not over-trim, as this will leave you too little material with which to work.

    • 2
      Heavy thread

      Thread the curved needle with waxed thread and knot the butt end. You must use a weight of thread appropriate for the task: use a heavier gauge for stress points, such as the seat of a saddle or when reattaching a hamess to a collar, and lighter gauge for areas that don't see as much wear.

    • 3

      Insert the needle from the underside, and tightly pull together the raw edges of the rip.

    • 4
      Baseball stitch

      Sew using a baseball stitch, a very tight, elastic stitch. It lies flat if done correctly. Begin at one end of the rip and use six to eight stitches per inch. Pull the thread taut so the edges of your rip meet without overlapping.