How to Repair a Leather Saddle Fender

A fender on a Western saddle is the equivalent to the stirrup leather on an English saddle. The fender has two parts; the wide part lays directly beneath the rider's leg, while the narrow part loops beneath the wide part and through the top of stirrup. It doubles back and buckles to itself, forming the stirrup leather. When horsemen refer to the fender, they are usually referring to the widest part of the leather. This part takes less stress than the narrow part of the leather, and can be repaired if torn.

Things You'll Need

  • Wheel punch
  • Rawhide laces
  • Pine cleaner or bleach
  • Knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Punch holes with the wheel punch along either side of the tear far enough from the tear to keep the holes from pulling through when stitched. If the leather is poor quality, or very old and weak, allow more distance from the edge of the tear than for stronger leather.

    • 2

      Soak the rawhide laces in water until they are supple enough to manipulate. According to Absoroka, use lukewarm water and soak as long as necessary. This could take a few hours or even overnight. Absoroka also advises to add some pine cleaner or bleach to the water if soaking more than a couple of hours, to keep it from smelling.

    • 3

      Cut the lace to the desired length for the tear in your fender. Allow enough lace to go from one end of the tear to the other twice, plus a little for knots. You can always trim away extra, so be generous.

    • 4

      Knot one end of the lace, and cut the other end at an angle to form a point. This acts as your needle.

    • 5

      Push the rawhide through the first hole you punched next to the tear.

    • 6

      Cross over the tear, and push the rawhide down through the second hole. There should now be an empty hole behind the hole you just came through. Use the same procedure you would to lace up your tennis shoe.

    • 7

      Pull the rawhide tight enough to draw together the edges of the tear without causing them to overlap or buckle.

    • 8

      Double back at the end of the tear and put the rawhide through all the skipped holes. Done properly, you will have a series of X's over the tear.

    • 9

      Knot the rawhide at the end, being sure to push the knot you form firmly down onto the fender to take out slack in your lacing.

    • 10

      Trim away any excess lacing.