Equine Leathercraft · Blanket Repair · Horse Amour® Bit Wipes
Specializing in handmade, custom-fitted leather tack: bridles, reins, and stirrup leathers and quick-change reins and headstalls for training in all riding disciplines.
Tack Repairs: Points to Consider*
Skilled tack repairers can repair almost any horse gear you have, providing the tack is in reasonable condition and reasonably well made. Neglected, abused, or poor-quality equipment cannot be "repaired". So, consider these points before seeking a repair for your tack.
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English tack is largely hand sewn because of its construction techniques. For both English and Western tack, A QUALITY REPAIR SHOULD ALWAYS BE HAND SEWN. The stitching should be through the old holes with traditional waxed linen thread to prolong the life of the leather. Machine stitching with nylon thread can ruin and weaken quality tack because the machine does not know where the old stitch holes are and will tend to add holes to already compromised leather, making the piece of tack potentially dangerous from over-perforation. And, nylon machine thread tends to cut leather. Pay a skilled tack repairer for the time to do it right. Insist on BY HAND ONLY. -
Quality repairs should look nearly invisible, if at all possible. New leather and thread should match existing tack as closely as possible. This provides a seamless look.
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DO IT SOONER THAN LATER. It is still true that a stitch in time saves nine. If your safety – or someone else’s – depends on the repair, DO IT IMMEDIATELY. This is true for hardware as well as leather.
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If the repair will cost more than 50% of the replacement value for a similar quality item, it probably is not economically worthwhile to have it repaired. Otherwise (i.e., the cost is less than half of a new item), repair is more useful and economical.
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NEVER ACCEPT A SPLICE! A splice will never have the strength of a solid piece of leather. This is especially important for straps that are critical to your safety: girth billets, stirrup leathers, reins, and bridle crown straps. REPLACE the entire broken or damaged piece with the correct type of leather. DO NOT accept just any old piece of leather. Leather is tanned differently for different tack uses (e.g., stirrup leather is different from bridle leather). Insist on the correct tannage for the tack piece. Your safety rides on this. -
If your horse's comfort and well being depend upon the repair, do it as soon as possible.
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In general, poor quality tack will not benefit from money spent on repairs. Usually, it is better and cheaper to replace it with better quality tack.
*Adapted from materials developed by Verlane Desgrange
