[colorfan]

I am wondering if it makes any difference to the life of my saddle if I keep it in room temp or at least above freezing or if keeping it in my tack room where the temperature fluctuates.
thx

[trafalgar]

I wonder the same...I see in adds that people sometimes say that the saddle was kept in a house which leads one to believe that temp. might make a difference.

[mzm farm]

I have 20+ yr old saddles that have been kept in a non-heated tack room (at least part of their lives), not overly babied, nor abused. They are in good working order, can be shown in type.
A good quality saddle to begin with = a saddle that will last and work.

[Appsolute]

I would think very cold temps would mean very low humidity, therefore you would want to keep the leather conditioned.

[merrygoround]

How have "english" saddles ever survived in England all these years?

Warm and damp does in more leather than cold and dry. Leather cells are dead. So save the Intensive Care for you.

[Appsolute]

Yes, but leather will get dry and brittle! Surely you have seen tack that was neglected and became hard / cracked / weak.

Or I guess leather never needs oiled or conditioned, being as it is "dead"?

I have a saddle that is in storage - I have to pull it out and oil it about once a year, because it drys out considerably in its non use.

[Velvet]

It's not an issue because the super dry and cold temps just do not last. I suppose if you stored your saddle in a subzero freezer all year round you might have issues. Temps fluctuate, as does humidity. Hot dry climates have more issues due to the constant low humidity. Cold places tend to have snow and rain or sleet--which means they have higher humidity at times.

Places with super high humidity through most of the year (thinking Pacfic NW here) can cause the opposite problem with saddles because even though they get cold, it's a damp cold. And they rarely get super dry and hot.

So, once again, storing a saddle at a stable in the cold temps of winter in places that have fluctuating humidity and year round temps is just not a big deal and does not call for more oiling, etc., than another time of year.

[alto]

Leather is just leather - consider what is happening with the tree - wood warps, plastic gets brittle ... ask your saddle manufacturer how long they've warrantied the tree & how they arrived at such a time period

[alibi_18]

I would think very cold temps would mean very low humidity, therefore you would want to keep the leather conditioned.

Cold temp AND humidity are prevalent here! Really not good for saddles.

I prefer my saddles/bridles to be in a more 'controlled' environment like my appartment during winter time.

[Kitt]

Cold doesn't do much to leather, especially if it's well-maintained. High humidity is a far bigger issue. Cold will, if the saddle is left to sit for a period of time, bring out the natural fats in the leather (called "saddler's bloom" and often mistaken for mildew/mold) and create a white haze on the leather. This is usually rubbed back in during use, but if the saddle sits in cool temps, the bloom will solidify on the surface. Bringing it into warm temps and rubbing the bloom with a soft cloth will allow it to re-absorb. If the bloom is stubborn, low heat from a hair dryer can help melt it so it can be rubbed in.

[Dramapony_misty]

Purely personal observation, but my saddles seem to fair much better in my non-heated barn during the winter than they do during the summer.

[colorfan]

Kit I have never heard of saddle bloom before but I think I have observed it. I had also never considered the tree..... good thought.
Well I feel better about keeping my saddles in the unheated tack room. Thanks

[LEL]

I have nothing to add about how climate affects leather, but rather my justification for keeping my saddle in my home (room temperature living.) Tack tends to "walk away" at my boarding barn. At this point in my life, if my saddle were stolen, I would be up a creek with no way to replace it. Hence, room temp saddle!

[Gestalt]

I keep mine in my house. Stays cleaner and when it's cold out the saddle isn't as stiff when I put it on my horse in the winter. (plus I clean it more regularly because it's near) I also think it helps the stitching last.

[Sunfish]

Thats what I have on my saddle. Saddle Bloom!! I had no idea...I thought it was reoccurring mold.

[Guilherme]

Controlling temperature is not really a big deal. Controlling humidity can be.

A dehumidifier is a fine addition to most tack rooms. By keeping humidity low I doubt you're measurably "drying out" the leather. You are preventing the growth of a lot of bacteria, fungus, mold, etc. IMO these are much more damaging to leather the a mere lack of moisture.

In a dry climate I'd probably be a bit more liberal with a good quality leather dressing.

G.