What to do with tack when you're horseless

[runNjump86]

I have been putting this off since January. It still hurts just to type the words.

After a very complicated fall and winter, my big guy lost the battle with on-again, off-again lameness. The deciding factor was finding a piece of his coffin bone had actually fractured sometime between October (images done to confirm abscess) and January (images re-done to check abscess).

I am finally to the point where I think I can sort through my trailer. I have several items I plan to keep, but I am truly debating on what to do with my saddles. I was originally planning on horse shopping again later this summer but spoiler alert…I’m pregnant. While I’m starting to get excited for this next chapter of life, I find myself mourning not just the loss of my horse, but the loss of my horse-related identity. This is the first time in over 20 years I haven’t owned a horse. I haven’t even been near one since the day we buried Sky. So reality is, I won’t be shopping until next year, and I have two VERY nice saddles just sitting in my trailer, probably covered with mildew at this point. One is a unique monoflap jump saddle and the other is a County dressage saddle that I adore, but it is a N/MN tree and I’m pretty sure the chances of me getting another horse that it fits are not very good.

Blankets, bridles, boots…I’m keeping the majority of them as they’re easily stored and kept cleaned, but the thought of two expensive, lovely saddle just rotting away in my trailer makes me cringe. WWYD?

[ClassyJumper]

If you love one (or both) of the saddles I would keep them. I was horseless for over 5 years and I thought to myself thousands of times how happy I was I didn’t sell it. Granted mine was a wide so I could make it work on most anything in the short term. Free rides and lessons are much more enjoyable when in your own saddle. And when I went to buy again I used it on every horse I tried because they were either started western or racehorses whose owners didn’t ride, etc. I would store them inside and clean/condition every few months.

[2DogsFarm]

What @ClassyJumper said :yes:

I kept my A/P Stubben for years after it showed it Did.Not.Fit. the WB I had.
Purchased in 1988, retired 2010 & will be up for sale at the next tack swap in my area.
In the many years I had it, this saddle did fit a variety of horses.
So, IIWM, I’d keep the saddles.

Can you bring them indoors?
I currently have my newer (2011) Stubben in my house because I discovered minor mouse damage to my harness - both were stored in my barn.
Currently living in my open plan kitchen/DR upended on a chair

Also have DH’s vintage close contact displayed in my LR.
Along with bridles worn by my TB Hunter & his TWH.
The above are currently decorative, but still usable.

Congrats on your baby-to-be :applause:

[SonnysMom]

I would see about moving them inside and keep them or at least keep the unique jump saddle. I could see selling the dressage saddle since that is a tough size and put the money in a savings account that is hard to get to or a CD so you have the money available for a new saddle when you get a new horse. On the other hand now may not be a good time to sell a saddle. Some states still are restricting riding and my guess is that people will be selling unused tack as they need the extra money. I think we will see a price drop on used saddles since there will be more available and less people wanting them especially if they aren’t taking lessons and showing.

If you really don’t have room inside for the saddles I would clean them really well, get rid of any current mold/mildew. I have had good luck with vinegar to kill mold spores. Then I would cover them with a really good breathable saddle cover and put a bunch of the desiccant bags in the trailer with them. You may need to clean them ever couple of months.

https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Silica-Desiccant-Prevent-Corrosion/dp/B004N6JQFW

[Mango20]

If they’re not already mildewed in your trailer, they will be soon with increased heat and humidity. Bring both saddles home and clean them up. I’m sure you can find space for them, even if it’s tucked back in a closet. Once home and cleaned up, then you have plenty of time to decide if you want or need to sell the dressage saddle.

Sorry about your horse, and congrats on the pregnancy!

[BayBondGirl]

I feel you on the identity thing… I am halfway through my first pregnancy and don’t know who I am without horses. Hugs.

Honestly if you have the space at home and it doesn’t wrench you too much, I would keep both of your saddles for a while, as you never know what shape horse you might end up with down the road! It feels like a long time to hang onto something you’re not using, but saddle shopping is such a pain that I’d be inclined to keep them around until you’re sure that the new horse really doesn’t fit either of them.

It took me way too long to find my current dressage saddle which FINALLY fits me, and once my senior mare is retired or passes, I don’t plan to sell it unless I end up with a new horse and there’s no chance in hell the fitter can make it work. Even then I may hang onto it for the long term lol. I told hubs he can expect it to live in the closet forever, regularly cleaned and definitely no children allowed near it.

[Annie_Burton]

@runNjump86

I have been putting this off since January. It still hurts just to type the words.

After a very complicated fall and winter, my big guy lost the battle with on-again, off-again lameness. The deciding factor was finding a piece of his coffin bone had actually fractured sometime between October (images done to confirm abscess) and January (images re-done to check abscess).

I am finally to the point where I think I can sort through my trailer. I have several items I plan to keep, but I am truly debating on what to do with my saddles. I was originally planning on horse shopping again later this summer but spoiler alert…I’m pregnant. While I’m starting to get excited for this next chapter of life, I find myself mourning not just the loss of my horse, but the loss of my horse-related identity. This is the first time in over 20 years I haven’t owned a horse. I haven’t even been near one since the day we buried Sky. So reality is, I won’t be shopping until next year, and I have two VERY nice saddles just sitting in my trailer, probably covered with mildew at this point. One is a unique monoflap jump saddle and the other is a County dressage saddle that I adore, but it is a N/MN tree and I’m pretty sure the chances of me getting another horse that it fits are not very good.

Blankets, bridles, boots…I’m keeping the majority of them as they’re easily stored and kept cleaned, but the thought of two expensive, lovely saddle just rotting away in my trailer makes me cringe. WWYD?

so sorry for your loss and congrats on being pregnant! Nothing better than having babies, and yes, your life will change and riding will be on the back burner for a little while. I took a four year break after having my two girls. Saddles? I have kept every single saddle I ever owned except the one I now regret selling. I adore saddles (favorite tack item) and am devoted to them once they enter my tack room.

if you can, keep yours! Clean them thoroughly with genuine glycerine soap, then oil them (with Leovet), let them dry overnight at room temp., wipe down again, then put them away under a good, non-plastic saddle cover and in dry place. They will only gather mildew if there is excessive moisture in the leather or in the air. Otherwise they will be just fine and ready for when you need them again.

[Equkelly]

I took a long break from riding shortly after college while I was getting my life together. I seriously considered selling all my stuff but I just couldn’t do it because I wasn’t ready to let that part of my life go. (totally feel you on the identity thing!) But one day I was ready to get back into it and bought myself a horse. I was so glad I didn’t get rid of my tack. I kept the stuff that worked for my new horse and got rid of the stuff that didn’t.

[Redlei44]

I also vote to keep them, if you don’t need the money and you can bring them into a climate-controlled space. I kept mine for years between riding gigs, safely stored in spare bedrooms, closets, storage rooms, wherever. The chance that you’ll use them again in the near or not so near future is well worth it compared to the hassle of saddle shopping or borrowing others.

[TB2trk]

Losing a horse is never easy. It takes time. Sorry about your loss. But how exciting that you are expecting a baby! Woo hoo!! I say take this “nesting” time and decorate one of your rooms using your saddles. I have special saddles displayed throughout my house and love how they make me feel when I look at them or touch one of them as I am walking by. Who knows, you might find that the fond memories associated with your tack, might be healing! Good luck to you!!

[Annie_Burton]

@TB2trk

Losing a horse is never easy. It takes time. Sorry about your loss. But how exciting that you are expecting a baby! Woo hoo!! I say take this “nesting” time and decorate one of your rooms using your saddles. I have special saddles displayed throughout my house and love how they make me feel when I look at them or touch one of them as I am walking by. Who knows, you might find that the fond memories associated with your tack, might be healing! Good luck to you!!

= This is a maximum degree of saddle love, and it speaks to me, lol. They are, indeed, incredible artisan objects that exude a certain energy even without a horse underneath and a rider on top. Maybe because an entire cow goes into them…? Keeping your own saddles and giving them a long loooooooong life is maybe also a way of honoring your past mounts.

[TB2trk]

Well said, Annie! It is a way to honor our mounts and the riders! I love saddles! Heck, I ride TB’s that are built like Warmbloods but can’t part with two Barnsbys from my Arabian show days… 😀 If you love em, keep em.

[FitzE]

My uncle displays his old hunter’s saddle and bridle right in the entry as you come into the house. It lends a nice country air to the home and keeps the memories alive.

[Blugal]

Different opinion, which I may or may not follow!

I have been a tack hoarder since I first saw my Mum’s collection. And it does have value, it’s nice to go through a bucket of bits when you want to try something different. Or have that one saddle that just seems to fit everything (usually an 30+ year old German all purpose saddle). But at this time of my life I have one horse, a full time job, and I hate having all this STUFF to deal with. I have tack that was from horses 20 years ago that doesn’t fit my current horse and is out of fashion, the buckles have rusted, or I am not sure I trust the leather any more… what is the point. I wish I had gotten rid of it for 50% of its price the first time I realized I didn’t need it.

Regarding saddles, I’ve owned several old German ones that worked well when I kept buying the same type of horse - TBs. But now my old butt is tired of those hard-ass saddles, I like the new cushier ones. With only one horse to fit…

[beowulf]

So sorry for your loss… If you need to get rid of it, by all means do so… but if you don’t need to, don’t… Since you own the trailer, it sounds like you have some storage space…

I’ve kept most of my tack over the years, despite the loss of several horses. It’s a sentimental thing to pull a bridle out of storage that belonged to a very special horse, and seeing it fit my current filly or project… And it’s also so nice to have things on hand when you need them.

[runNjump86]

Thank you all for the kind words. It’s been…difficult, to say the least.

Unfortunately I don’t really have the room indoors at the moment, especially with turning one of the spare bedrooms into the baby’s room. I’m sure DH would just LOOOOVE me using them as decor:lol: Everything in that trailer is long overdue for a good cleaning. We are located in NC so humidity will definitely be a never-ending battle. I do worry about storing them on metal racks long-term, and having that damage the foam in my jump saddle. I’ve always stored half-pads under them, but do you think over time it won’t help?

I really do not wish to sell them. I am hard to fit AND picky, so finding these saddles was a huge PITA, especially the dressage saddle. I do have a horse “type”…big TB with shark fin withers and big shoulders, so fingers crossed that’s what I end up with down the road.

[Grey623]

Another idea is to lend them to someone who will use them while you’re not. I realize this won’t appeal to many folks, for perfectly valid reasons, but I’ve found that tack keeps best when it gets used and cleaned regularly. Certainly there will be a degree of wear and risk, but if you can find someone you trust, it will solve the maintenance and storage issues until you need them again.

I’m sorry about your horse, lost mine a couple years ago and still haven’t quite gotten past it. Good luck with the pregnancy, what a nice thing to look forward to.

Grey

[TB2trk]

Can you store them in a garage? A saddle rack with lots of blankets/padding will keep them from curling in the humidity and allow you to clean them more regularly. You know, between diaper changes or when the baby is napping… If your trailer is parked in the shade and your saddles are clean and well oiled, they might be just fine waiting for you there. Good luck to you! Lots of positive changes on the way and your next big TB will show up when the timing is just right.

[anon40672407]

I actually bought two old saddles as scent decor for my house when I was horseless. I’d clean them occasionally, and the aroma was heavenly. Couple nice racks, couple empty corners, the saddles lived inside.

One of them was a real old french saddle I couldn’t even imagine riding in because of the balloony knee rolls. But it still smelled like leather!

[FlamingoRider]

If the trailer will be parked where there’s electricity available, consider putting a dehumidifier in the tack room. It can be fitted with a drain hose and a connection placed into an exterior wall so you don’t have to worry about dumping the container. This way all your stuff is protected from (most of) the risk of mold and mildew. Make sure your door and windows seal up tight–would be well worth replacing all the weather stripping if the trailer is more than a few years old.