The groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.......six more weeks of winter!!!! So how do horse men and women "chopping at the bit" for that first spring ride pass the time...????
They start by taking out their western leather horse tack and do a "spring check" on all their horse equipment. The "spring check" includes cleaning, oiling, and conditioning your leather horse tack. This check of your leather horse tack is vital to insuring your first spring ride is safe and enjoyable for both you and horse.
Western Leather Horse Tack Spring Check List
First-
Take everything apart and inspect all your leather horse tack, including your saddle for wear. Especially at all areas ("picture 1") where your tack folds around the bits, buckles and saddle riggings. This is where there will be the most wear and stress. You need to replace any parts cracked or stretched. Chancing it is not worth the safety risk. Take your time; your piece of mind is worth it.
Secondly -
Clean all your leather horse tack and saddle with lots of water and glycerin saddle soap. Don't be afraid to get your leather tack wet. You have to get all the dirt and sweat out.
Third -
Hang all your horse tack to dry. Before it is completely dry, oil with a good quality neatsfoot oil. The drying process will help suck the oil into the leather.
The western leather horse tack "spring check" is a great habit to get into, not only for adults, but for children too. Teaching your children about quality AMERICAN MADE leather tack and it's proper care will insure the safety of both your child and horse.
It will also give you a sense of pride and confidence in your saddle and horse equipment....
This springtime check is essential to keep your leather horse tack in good working order for the safety of both rider and horse. Not to mention increasing the longevity of the leather. Cleaning is important but checking the durability of your leather horse tack is vital.
One of the ways to stop the wear on your saddles billets, are Wear Leathers!
One of Buckaroo Leather's innovations is the Wear Leathers (pictured above) on all our offside billets. The wear leathers stops your saddle rigging dee rings from wearing into the billets, which can cause a stress point!!
You can purchase the wear leathers separately!! Buckaroo Leather always puts safety first! The wear leathers can be added to any billet. Slides on very easily!
To find out more about the Off Side Billet Wear Leather, click here to watch our How-to-Video!
Along with the leather horse tack spring check an important thing to remember is knowing you have quality leather horse tack to begin with!
Buckaroo Leather prides itself on the AMERICAN MADE quality leather we use from Hermann Oak Leather to manufacture all of our western leather horse tack. A quality leather horse tack will be more durable and much less likely to crack making it safer!
The following will give some guidelines to follow when choosing Quality Leather Tack.
The Four Key things to look for in Quality Leather are:
1. Feel
.......Is the leather soft and supple? If it feels “dry” probably not quality. Even though “harness” leather may seem roughed out it still has a soft and pliable feel
2. Smell......
Yes, it important to “smell the Leather. Quality leather has fresh warm smell, whereas inferior leather can have a chemical or ammonia like smell. Off odors are the first hint of leathers tanned quickly and inexpensively.
3. Color
......Even so, some Quality leather may be dyed it will still show the pliability and fresh smell noted above. Inferior leather seems to be “dull”. Dark color dyes can hide lower quality and poorly matched leathers.
4. Check the Details
.......Examine the fine, even stitching (less than 12 stitches to the inch) with all ends neatly finished and tucked in is a hallmark of good workmanship and quality tack. So are edges that have been skivved and burnished or rubbed until they are round and hard before being dyed. Look for durable hardware with strong steel tongue buckles and rounded edges that won’t cut into the leather.
Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving the
Western Horseman the safest most durable
Quality American made leather horse tack.......Buckaroo John Brand
Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
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