How to Store a Saddle without a Rack: Easy Tips for Horse Lovers

Saddle is very important for horse riding as it distributes the rider's weight evenly on the horse's back. It gives protection to the horse from different kinds of injuries and helps the riders to ride comfortably with full enjoyment. 

As saddles play a significant role in horse riding, proper storage procedures of the saddle can enhance its lifetime. 

In storing the saddle without a rack, the first step is to choose a controlled environment, where a suitable temperature is maintained and moisture does not enter on it from the outside. After that, clean and condition the saddle properly to remove dust or accumulated moisture and wrap the saddle by using a plastic wrapper or any clean cushion cover. 

Now, you can keep the saddle into the saddlebag, hanger or a box for storage and maintain its original shape easily. Finally, a regular inspection is helpful to check the condition of the stored saddle. 

A saddle storage without a rack might be critical. Let's jump into the procedures and tips for storing the saddle without a rack:

How can storing my saddle right make it last longer?

Saddle will last longer if you strictly follow some storage conditions after completing the washing step. Let's discuss the proper storage methods to ensure the long lifespan of your saddle:

Maintaining a controlled environment: It will be best if you can store the saddle in the tack room, where all the things used in horse riding are kept organised. Make sure that the room where the saddle is stored is not exposed to direct sunlight or dusty air to avoid the risk of moisture accumulation or discoloration of the saddle.

Clean the tack room daily to protect the horse riding equipment from rodents and other vermin.

Separate storage for saddle pad: Store the saddle pad in a separate place with sufficient ventilation and airflow so that the pad gets easily dry off. A major problem with tech rooms is that they are often inhabited by small rodents. If you store your saddle pad in that place, then you can surely understand what will happen to your saddle pad! 

They will ruin the saddle pad and create a foul smell that is very unhealthy for the horse and you. So, you must store it in another location. 

Where should I keep my saddle without a rack?

Many people recommend storing horse saddles in traditional racks, which is very harmful for horses because storing saddles in metal racks causes them to lose shape by forming cracks, and cause serious injury to the horse's back. 

As a result, the horse doesn't  feel comfortable while riding. Read this article to know: why do horses allow us to ride them?

Besides this, the saddle rack is very expensive to purchase. So, you should choose some affordable and safe options for saddle storage. 

There are some other options for storing the saddle without a rack, such as keeping onto the clean floor in a controlled environment, hanging it into the wall or using a correct sized saddle bag. 

Among them storing onto the floor is not very appreciated because there is a chance of mould growth from the floor into the saddle. So, the best option for storing the saddle is hanging onto the wall or using a saddle bag.

How do I clean my saddle before storing it?

Cleaning is very important to ensure proper storage. You must clean the saddle properly by following some additional steps. 

Let's discuss the proper cleaning methods before storing the saddle:

Wipe off the saddle pad:  At first separate all the adjustable parts of the saddle such as the girth, cantle and stirrup leather carefully. Then, wipe off the saddle pad properly after each and every ride, to remove sweat from it, because salt particles from sweat damage the saddle's leather which ultimately create soreness to the horse's skin. 

Washing: Mix a mild soap with lukewarm water and create foams, then gently rub the saddle using a sponge to remove dirt particles from it. Now, rinse the saddle thoroughly using lukewarm water and after rinsing, remove the additional water by using a towel. 

On the other hand, you should clean other metal fittings separately that were attached to the saddle and rinse them off.

Drying: Allow the saddle to air dry, but be careful not to overdry as over drying will cause cracks in the saddle's leather. Similarly, wipe the metal fittings with a dry towel as well. 

Conditioning: After the drying process, use a mild conditioner such as balsam oil or other light oil for retaining the remaining moisture to the leather, which ensures softness to the saddle. The conditioner must be soap free in nature to reduce the chances of imposing harshness to the saddle. 

Frequent conditioning is not good for the saddle, so you should condition it every month to maintain its softness and shine. After conditioning you can store the saddle in a proper place. 

Can I hang my saddle without a traditional rack?

You can hang your saddle without a traditional rack, but you must follow some hanging strategies to avoid any complications. 

You can easily hang the saddle on a clean wall or beam by using the hooks or screws in the right position.You can use a padded hanger as well. One thing you must keep in mind while hanging the saddle on the wall is that the screws or hooks on the wall can support the weight of the saddle properly, otherwise you will need to buy a hook that can carry a little more weight. 

If you want to see the correct positioning to hang a saddle in the wall, watch this video: Hanging your saddle.

How can I protect my saddle while hanging it?

There are a few things you need to take care of, for its protection when hanging it on the wall. The saddle must be wrapped with a good quality saddle cover before hanging. 

Hang the saddle in such a way that its shape does not change and excessive temperature, humidity and direct sunlight cannot expose it to convert its colour into pale. You must clean the top layer of the saddle cover regularly to remove dust and debris from it. 

Should I use a cover for my stored saddle?

Sure, a saddle cover is very important to protect the saddle from different kinds of dirt coming from the outdoor area. You should use a good quality fabric cover, plastic material or newspaper to protect the saddle from dust, debris, mould and other impurities. 

Waterproof covers are now available in the market for saddle storing, which will protect it from outside moisture, in case any moisture accidentally enters into the room. You can make a DIY saddle cover using a big pillowcase and elastic, which might be an affordable and easy option for you. 

How often should I inspect my saddle in storage?

You can occasionally visit the storage area to inspect the condition of your saddle. However, regular inspections can resolve any problems related to the saddle immediately. 

If you are very busy, you must visit the storage area twice a year because your horse's weight and shape might change throughout the year, or because of age its body structure changes. In that situation, you need to purchase a new sized saddle. 

Again, most of the time you can see dirt accumulated in the saddle, mould growth, wool or foam coming out from the inner mesh of the saddle pad or moisture buildup in the saddle, so, it is very important to inspect the storage area to solve such problems.

What do experienced riders recommend for saddle storage?

Experienced riders recommend storing the saddle in a cool and dry environment where direct sunlight and moisture can not enter causing any damage to the saddle. They use a big sized saddle bag or hanger to maintain the original shape of the saddle. 

They always appreciate the maintenance of proper hygiene in the storage area because unhygienic storage steps can cause harm both to the rider and the horse while riding. 

If you want to know anything more from an experienced rider or professional horse trainer about the matter of saddle storage, you can read this: How to find a reputable horse trainer?

To Conclude

A clean and comfortable saddle makes horse riding very enjoyable for both horse and rider. In order to ensure a long lifespan of the saddle, everyone should pay attention to its correct storage methods. By doing this, the shape of the saddle will remain as before and its freshness will be maintained for a long time. 

If you have any opinion about this topic, feel free to comment and share this article to anyone who is concerned with storing their saddle without any conventional rack.