Breaking in a new saddle

[StarPattern]

So I took the plunge - I finally ordered myself a custom saddle and am now waiting for it to be built and sent to me. Exciting!

I’ve never had a brand new saddle and have always purchased used saddles that have already been ridden many miles. My saddle is a half breed Wade - roughout seat, jockey and fenders with tooled leather everywhere else. Traditionally, I’ve heard of cowboys dumping their saddle in a pond or water trough and riding it dry - I did this with my boots and it worked well - but would it be safe for my saddle?

I don’t mind if the rough out darkens or I have to bring up the nap again. The saddle itself will be a medium oil, so water spots won’t be as apparent as they would be on a lighter oil.

Is dumping it in water something I could do to help it form to my body, or should I just stick some bandages on my knees, tough it out and wrap the fenders so they turn? How do YOU break in your new western saddles?

[aktill]

Please don’t. That’s a legacy of back before skirts were blocked to the tree, and getting them wet allowed some shape to get into them. You’ll do absolutely no good dunking a new saddle. Not likely to hurt anything if it’s built right, but unless you’re really good at drying it out you’re just encouraging mold and such.

There’s nothing to break in on a modern saddle, unless the stirrups come unturned.

[rememberthenight]

I bought a new crates saddle in 2012. Conditioned it(though I wouldn’t condition rough-out) and piled the fenders liberally and rode that sucker. I did keep a broom through the stirrups for about 4 weeks to help encourage the turn. I didn’t turn the stirrups by tying them. It has darkened slightly, but not as much as I expected. But rough out patinas much differently!!!

[Aspen1]

You may find this link helpful. Good advice in the comments too: http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/saddle-fit-and-your-new-saddle-from-a-tree-maker-s-view/

And no, don’t dunk your saddle. Some people think that even the stories from way back are old wive’s tales.

[StarPattern]

Thanks, all! I wasn’t sure if it was safe to soak a saddle, which is why I asked. I feel like the only thing I’ll really need to break in are the fenders… I don’t think they’ll come pre-turned, but that’s a pretty minor thing. I hear rough out isn’t the kindest to the inside of knees, so that should be a fun experience.

I’m really hoping the roughout on my saddle takes on the color of my jeans. Some people hate that look, but I LOVE the look of a well used and ridden saddle.

[SuckerForHorses]

I hear rough out isn’t the kindest to the inside of knees, so that should be a fun experience.

That’s an understatement! :lol:

My new Martin is roughout like yours - from the jockeys all the way down the fenders. The first few rides were short, casual, trail rides, just walking. I was okay. The first time I used it to school in the arena, I made note that my leg felt a little irritated at the knee…looked down, and my leg had rubbed raw, and bled through my jeans and all over the fender of my saddle. Ooops! haha! But, now that it’s broken in (I wrapped my knees with vet wrap a few times, under the jeans until the fender was more broken in) it’s fine with jeans with a smooth seam. Still if I wear jeans with a bulky seam, and try to school (posting), it will rub.

I’m really hoping the roughout on my saddle takes on the color of my jeans. Some people hate that look, but I LOVE the look of a well used and ridden saddle.

Me too!

[beau159]

[QUOTE=StarPattern;8158846]
I don’t think they’ll come pre-turned, but that’s a pretty minor thing. I hear rough out isn’t the kindest to the inside of knees, so that should be a fun experience.[/QUOTE]

Curious, but who is doing your saddle?

You can absolutely request to have the stirrup pre-turned (I would). That’ll save a lot of torsion on your knees and ankles.

I also agree: Do not dunk your saddle in water.

What I do when I get a new saddle is to condition the heck out of the leather and then put a broom (or similar) through the stirrups to help them STAY turned. Then ride, ride, ride!

The roughout can really chew up your skin in the beginning. If you are a lady, little trick is to wear panty hose underneath your jeans while you are breaking in your saddle and it will save your skin. (I guess you could wear them if you are a man too; but you just might feel akward!)

[StarPattern]

I’m using a very small custom saddler that doesn’t even have a website. I came across him through word of mouth and seeing the quality of work. He doesn’t even build saddles as a business, it’s more of a one off thing when he gets asked… but the quality I’ve seen is out of this world. It’s entirely possible that he’ll pre-turn the stirrups for me if I ask; I just didn’t know that was an option to ask for and it never came up in our discussions. I always just assumed I’d need a broom to do it for me. I’m going to email right now and add that to my list of saddle specs.

Pantyhose is a good idea! I considered just wrapping my legs in vet wrap, but panty hose seems like less hassle. Thanks for the tip.

[Aces_N_Eights]

Ask for a Nevada twist for your stirrup leathers that will eliminate that breaking in and having to run a broom handle through your stirrups.

I haven’t had a problem breaking in new rough out but perhaps I’ve been lucky with a short nap roughout or have tough skin?

Good luck, getting a new custom saddle is better than Christmas morning

[Bombproof]

Re: the roughout tearing up your legs. Some military officers used to order their saddle’s seat and flaps covered with pigskin for grip. I’ve done that on two saddles I recently rebuilt and I am impressed with the pigskin. It isn’t rough at all but it gives excellent grip, especially when it’s damp. Is pigskin ever used on Western saddles? I’ve never seen it, but I’ve been out of the Western riding community for a long time.

[StarPattern]

Fenders will be pre-turned for me!

I’ve never heard of pigskin on a western saddle… that’s an interesting concept. I’m not quite sure how the roughout will affect my skin, but I’m guessing it’ll be awful. I have really sensitive skin, but have been surprised sometimes. Maybe the skin on the inside of my legs will be tougher, lol. I’m just working to get my mare back in shape, so the rides will be relatively short anyway and my legs hopefully won’t get ripped up too horribly in the process. Fingers crossed. haha.

[craz4crtrs]

Just ask for a good oiling of the entire saddle. I have had 3 custom saddles and two of them came well oiled including the the roughout. My last Courts came feeling almost broke in and really comfy to ride in. I had two saddles with the Hamley twist but my last one I just did the SA Walls Twister stirrup. Love them.

http://www.sawalls.net/pages/browse.php?cat=42

I have one set without rubber pads and one with. Great stirrups. He will even put your initials on them for you.

Also soft merino knee high socks are great for lower leg protection along with good boots. I wear chinks alot, so even chaps will protect your legs. Even english breeches with half length patches.

[GallopingGrape]

You can always just put stirrup turners on. They are $12

[StarPattern]

Thanks, all! I have a pair of stirrups similar to the SA Walls stirrups, which will be going on the saddle as soon as I get it. It will come to me oiled and conditioned.

I ride in a pair of Ariat cowboy boots with a taller shaft. They extend to about mid calf, so should protect my leg decently, now that I think about it. I’m mostly worried about my upper leg and the inside of my thighs - I’m pretty sure rough out burn woudn’t feel so nice there. Heh.

I should have my saddle soon. At this point in time, it’s looking like I should have it toward the end of June, give or take a week or so. Yay!