Old tack from storage - usable?

[Kaybie]

Hi!

I stopped riding around 10 years ago and my old tack has been stored in a box in a garage for about 9 years. The saddle I have was bought new, probably around 13-15 years ago. It's a synthetic Wintec (I thought it was a 500 but it looks like the 250 on the Wintec site) with a red gullet, so it had about 3-5 years of use on two different horses (one had a white gullet, other had red) before storage.

Now I've returned to the hobby I'm wondering if the saddle would still be usable? What should I be looking for? There's no visible signs of damage or mould, though it is a bit dirty.

There was also an old bridle with a pelham bit. I imagine the bit would still be fine at least.

I know you folks are very knowledgeable, thanks in advance for any advice you can give - even if the suggestion is to throw it away!

 

[paddi22]

easiest thing would be to take it to a tackshop and get them to have a look at it. With all stuff there's always a risk of stitching etc rotting a bit. Chances are it could be fine with a bit of tlc!

 

[Gift Horse]

Regarding the bridle, I would give it a clean and check it carefully - especially the stitching. I've got bits of leather tack that are 30 years old. Good English leather made by a local saddler (now retired) and still in use. I don't know how well synthetic tack lasts because I haven't got any.

 

[Shay]

With the best will in the world - a tack shop will not know if old tack is usable. At least not in the UK.

The saddle is probably fine - assuming the tree is intact. Synthetic saddles survive anything. They are still fairly rough which is why second hand synthetics fetch next to nothing. But as long as the tree is OK then the saddle is. You still have to fit it to your new beast though!

The bit - yes probably fine. Bits haven't been made with things that rust through for over a decade so as long as it was a new bit before it went into storage you might be ok. Clean it up and bash it about a bit. If it doesn't break - worth a go. Bridle - again clean it up and have a good check of the stitching. I have to say 10+ years is going to be straining even the best possible storage conditions. But have a go and really check what is left. A new bridle really isn't that expensive.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I wouldn't risk the bridle or any leatherwork that old, leather loses moisture every day whether new, old , used or unused, same as your own skin. It might look ok to you but the fact that it has been stored and I am assuming with no conditioning of any kind means the structure of the leather could be in a poor condition, it is not worth the risk, especially on bridlework.
On the information you have given here no tack shop or professional saddler worth their salt would be willing to advise you that it is safe to use.
Oz (saddler)

 

[Gift Horse]

I wouldn't risk the bridle or any leatherwork that old, leather loses moisture every day whether new, old , used or unused, same as your own skin.

Can I ask at what age you advise leather work is replaced? The OP says the bridle has been stored 9 years - my saddle is 10yrs old and I have other leatherwork that I use which is much older :-/

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Can I ask at what age you advise leather work is replaced? The OP says the bridle has been stored 9 years - my saddle is 10yrs old and I have other leatherwork that I use which is much older :-/

I'm not a saddler, just wanted to say you're not the only one with old tack. I still ride in stuff that is ancient, it's fine. I don't do anything exciting though, I guess I probably wouldn't attempt to ride round Badminton in a 50yr old saddle. Not 100% sure but I suspect I don't have any saddles younger than 10yrs old.

OP, wintec changed the style of their saddles a while ago, the old 500's don't look like the new ones. The only time I've ever had a bridle break on me is when the horse stood on the reins, old bridles and cheap nasty leather snaps easily under those conditions, whereas new English leather holds up well. I've never had a bridle snap whilst being ridden, but if you're worried about this you could use the pelham with 2 reins and make one of them a new pair.

IMO athough a lot of new tack is relatively cheap, the quality of the leather is very far from the best. It depends on opinion though. I wouldn't find a saddle less than 5 yrs old showing serious marks from the stirrup leathers to be acceptable but I know people with 1yr old £800 English leather saddles like this, whereas I've got some much much older saddles with barely any marks on them. I bought a Shires Avignon bridle based on a thread I saw on here about how wonderful they were - it's true that it's not the worst I've seen, it's adequate and it's very pretty, but IMO it's basically cheap tat.

 

[Gift Horse]

Sugar and Spice - I'm glad it's not just me. I ride for pleasure not professionally or competitively and I check my tack regularly. I will have to replace my saddle at some point in the near future and should hurry up as the saddle fitter I like to use has been threatening to retire for a few years now.

 

[wingedhorse]

I wouldn't risk the bridle or any leatherwork that old, leather loses moisture every day whether new, old , used or unused, same as your own skin. It might look ok to you but the fact that it has been stored and I am assuming with no conditioning of any kind means the structure of the leather could be in a poor condition, it is not worth the risk, especially on bridlework.
On the information you have given here no tack shop or professional saddler worth their salt would be willing to advise you that it is safe to use.
Oz (saddler)

Assume this advice doesnt apply to leather in regular use that is over ten years old, that is cleaned and checked regularly? Thanks

 

[cremedemonthe]

Assume this advice doesnt apply to leather in regular use that is over ten years old, that is cleaned and checked regularly? Thanks

No it doesn't apply to in use leather, it is aimed at leather not being cleaned and conditioned on a regular basis.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Can I ask at what age you advise leather work is replaced? The OP says the bridle has been stored 9 years - my saddle is 10 yrs old and I have other leatherwork that I use which is much older :-/

It is hard to say in answer to that as it all depends on usage, quality, maintenance for starters. You could have the best leather and quality going as well as excellent craftsmanship in making the bridle but if the leather is not looked after very well then it won't last as long as leather that is cared for and that includes looking at the stitching for deterioration.
If your leather that you have in use has been cleaned and conditioned it should be fine, it's leather that's stored with no conditioning that's the problem, the fibres eventually dry out weakening their structure and the leather can and does fail.
For what it's worth, I have seen leather that's 70-80 years old and still in use and fine, it's been regularly cleaned and conditioned and I have seen fairly new leather that's snapped in half with the first use, it's all about storage and maintenance. The snapped leather was on a new bridle that had been stored in a wholesalers warehouse and then a retailers shop for months with no conditioner applied to it, then sold to a customer, it had dried out and snapped.
If you left your car for 9 years without using it, you wouldn't expect it to be able to start and run without servicing and replacing parts would you, apply the same idea to leather.
Oz