How to store a saddle

Your storage checklist

• Read the care instructions for your saddle's maker and material.
• Choose a dedicated rack or stand, away from the route through the room.
• Give wet accessories their own drying place.
• Make the saddle easy to lift down without stretching or twisting.
• Record its condition before putting it away for a long break.

Albion recommends a dry, ventilated storage area, a proper stand and a breathable cover. Village Saddlery advises positioning racks where a saddle cannot be knocked off and avoiding very high lifting positions. Those principles are a better starting point than trying to pack every spare piece of wall.

Set up an everyday routine

Put a labelled place for the saddle near its bridle and a separate place for cleaning supplies. Leave enough working room to remove the cover, lift the saddle and turn towards the door. Before fixing anything permanently, rehearse that route with the room empty. Our tack room planner helps compare widths; it cannot check your lifting posture or the wall's strength.

Keep the maker's care instructions beside your cleaning kit. A simple dated note can record unusual marks, a loose fitting or a concern for your saddler. Put any item awaiting inspection in a clearly separate place so another rider does not accidentally use it.

Before a longer break

Photograph the saddle, note its identifying details and decide who will check it while it is stored. A recurring calendar reminder is useful; choose an interval that suits how often someone visits the storage space. A closed spare room and a busy livery tack room need different arrangements. Read our cover guide before choosing a bag for long-term storage.

Storage won't fix a saddle that doesn't fit. Have your saddle checked by a qualified saddle fitter (Society of Master Saddlers register), especially after it's been stored for a long time.

Ask your saddler to check the saddle before it returns to regular use if you have concerns about its condition or fit.

Damaged, mouldy or stiff tack can rub or break. Check stitching and leather before every ride, and ask your saddler or vet if your horse shows soreness.