Winter Leather Care

The cooler temperatures that accompany the arrival of winter should be a reminder that the season’s rain, wind, and snow can wreak havoc on your tack. Saddles, bridles, and other leather equipment represent important investments, and preventing leather from cracking, drying, or becoming moldy is crucial to its longevity. Here are some guidelines for keeping your tack in tip-top shape throughout the winter.

The first step in your end-of-fall routine should be a quick reorganization of your tack room. If you haven’t been using a piece of leather equipment and you don’t foresee yourself using it over the winter, bring it into the house and store it in a dry, pet and rodent proof place at room temperature, and out of direct sunlight.

Before storing it away, clean your leather tack thoroughly and condition it with a product containing natural oil or beeswax. Remove stirrup leathers from the saddle, and stirrup irons, and take apart any bridles or similar gear so that the metal buckles and bit don’t remain in contact with the leather. As you clean your tack, check for any cracks or breaks in the leather.

If the damage to the item is advanced, contact either the manufacturer or a reputable local leather worker. Cover your refurbished tack and store it away, ready to be rediscovered in the spring.

Once you’ve thinned out your tack collection, consider the foes your tack will battle against over the course of the winter. Mold and mildew are living organisms that can permanently damage, stain, and weaken the integrity of your leather equipment. Leather is particularly susceptible to these two fungi because the material retains “pores” from when it was originally a skin. Mold spores can penetrate the outer layer (the grain or epidermis) of the leather and become trapped in these pores, from which place they set about eroding the second layer of the leather, the corium. Once mold reaches the inner layers of the leather, it’s nigh impossible to eradicate without damaging the leather itself.

The best way to protect your leather from mold and mildew is to inhibit the growth of these fungi. Mold and mildew thrive in damp, dark areas, so you’ll want to make sure your tack room is dry, airy, and well-lit. Windows provide natural light and ventilation, and you can install a dehumidifier, leave a light bulb or two on, or place packages