Saddle Repair Is Best Left To The Experts

Well-made saddles can take quite a bit of heavy use, but eventually you may find your saddle in need of repair. When this happens, it's tempting to try to fix the saddle yourself. How hard could it be, right? Wrong.

Saddles repaired by amateurs can often look quite amusing with their "clever" approaches to repair. I've seen just about everything, including duct tape. But while they may be funny to look at, they can be very dangerous to ride. Having a repair fail while you're riding at a gallop, or in treacherous terrain, or on an inexperienced horse can be a very serious situation.

When your saddle needs repair, turn to a professional. Saddle repair is a skill learned through years of experience and practice. Look specifically for a saddle repair specialist, rather than just a leather craftsman who may do some saddle work on the side.

If you're truly interested in learning to repair saddles, a good place to start is with a couple of very good saddle repair books:

Saddlemaking: Construction And Repair Techniques by Dusty Johnson