YOUNG CATTLE R A I S E R S
“Leather is one of the most diffi cult materials to
conserve because every issue old leather has relates to its history; from the day it was tanned to the day it was retired,” Smith says. “When you stop and think about it, leather is essentially meat that we’ve treated with chemicals to stop it from decomposing. It is a very volatile organic and chemical stew.” Factors like use or lack thereof, humidity, salt
concentrations, temperature fl uctuations, presence of metal trim and fasteners and the introduction of conditioning products like neatsfoot oil all affect the chemical reactions taking place within the leather. “As long as leather is being used, it remains supple
and the chemicals keep moving throughout,” Smith says. “When leather stops being used, it all changes— the chemicals stop migrating, turn rancid and become acidic.” Because each saddle was created from distinct leather
that was processed with a recipe unique to its tanner, designed for different purposes, and used and stored in different environments, there is not a one-size-fi ts- all solution for saddle conservation. Each saddle must be evaluated individually and
treated to address the problems specifi c to that piece. For instance, a show saddle that was only used for per- formances has a completely different set of issues than a working saddle from the Texas Gulf Coast. Common problems include spewing, the white
build-up resulting from waxes and oil migrating to the surface; red rot, a chemical reaction that creates acid causing the leather to crumble; salt bloom, a col- lection of salt from both the horse and the cowboy; insect damage caused by moths and beetles attacking the saddle’s wool lining; warping from heat and hu- midity; and sun damage that makes the surface fragile and highly susceptible to staining. Leather conservation can’t stop or reverse the dam-
age, it can only slow it down, Smith says. “Leather is a dense sponge that sucks up a little bit
of everything around it,” he says. “A saddle isn’t like an antique crystal goblet that holds wine without being changed by it. Leather is what its history is.” He continues, “Frankly, it’s amazing that we have
any leather objects that are older than 75 years.” In a first-ever collaboration between the Cattle
Raisers Museum and the National Ranching Heritage Center, an exhibit showcasing 11 of our saddles is be- ing planned for early next year in Lubbock. Scott is still fi nalizing details. “Each museum has its own audience and its own
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November 2014 The Cattleman 29
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