Saddle care: How to correctly care for your horse’s saddle
Saddle care may not be a favourite activity for all riders when it comes to their favourite sport. However, saddle care is a necessity, as the safety of both rider and horse depends on it. At the same time, a well-maintained and shiny saddle contributes to aesthetics, especially at competitions. In this guide, you can read why you should make saddle care a fixed date in your diary and what tricks you can use to turn faded saddles back into high-shine.
Why saddle care is so important
If you were to ask riders whether they prefer a saddle that is worn and discoloured or one that is as good as new and polished to a high gloss, many riders would certainly choose the polished saddle. The fact is that a well-maintained saddle looks nicer and also ensures a tidy appearance at competitions. But there are even more points in favour of regular and intensive saddle care. The correct care products keeps the saddle leather supple, which is comfortable for horse and rider to wear and sit on. Supple leather is also more resistant and robust than brittle and dry leather. This is an important factor when it comes to safety. When riding, the equipment is exposed to weather and environmental influences such as dirt, moisture and horse sweat. If it is not cleaned and subsequently cared for, the material can be damaged and lose its resistance. In the worst case, it can even tear! To prevent dangerous riding accidents caused by the material giving way, you should regularly give your saddle a thorough treatment.
Saddles with a smooth finish are also coated with a protective layer that repels dirt and water. This protects the saddle even more.
In addition to the safety aspect, value retention also plays a role. A saddle is usually an expensive investment that you want to use not just for a few years, but possibly even decades. Even if the saddle is to be sold again after a few years, it has a higher value if it is properly maintained. Proper saddle care helps to maintain the value of the saddle.
Caring for your saddle is therefore about much more than aesthetics, which is why you should consider the correct approach.
5 steps to a well-maintained saddle
The saddle itself is cleaned relatively quickly, so it doesn’t take much time. However, you should allow sufficient drying time so that excess care products do not stick to the breeches and the products have time to penetrate deep into the leather and do their work.
1. Preparation
The first step towards a well-maintained saddle is to place it on a saddle stand or, if not available, on a non-slip surface and dismantle it. Remove the stirrups, stirrup leathers and girth. It’s easier to get into all the corners if you clean the parts individually. In the next preparation step, prepare the items you need for leather care. You will need
- Saddle soap
- Damp sponge
- Soft, dry towel and a microfibre cloth
- Leather oil or leather balm
- If you are feeling lazy: All-in-one leather care
- Possibly leather blacking agent
2. Deep cleaning with saddle soap
Firstly, the saddle must be cleaned of all types of dirt. Depending on how dirty the saddle is, this step may be more or less intensive. Leather is a natural product that „breathes“, i.e. expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. Therefore, horse sweat and dust can seep deep into the pores of a heavily soiled saddle, which ultimately damages the leather and leads to discolouration.
Saddle soap is used to open the pores. Use a moistened sponge to pick up some of the leather soap and rub it into the leather with gentle pressure. Do not press too hard so as not to roughen the leather. It is better to go over the dirty saddle gently in several rounds than once with heavy pressure.
Don’t forget to clean and care for the underside of the saddle flaps too. Horse sweat and dirt can also get into the pores of the leather here.
Mouldy leather?
If the surface of your saddle is mouldy, use vinegar before the saddle soap to kill the mould spores. Only then can you use the saddle soap.
3. Drying
Before continuing with care, the saddle should be thoroughly dry. Even if waiting can be annoying, the saddle should not be left in the sun or on a radiator! Heat dries out the leather and makes it brittle.
4. Treatment
Now comes the actual care. Depending on the type of leather, there are various care products available. Most saddles are made of smooth leather, for which a leather balm or leather oil is suitable. They nourish the leather deep into the pores and keep it supple. Take care not to apply leather balm and leather oil too thickly. Use them sparingly, otherwise the material will swell and expand. Give the leather care product a short time to soak in after the first application. You can then rub it in thoroughly with a soft cloth.
5. Polishing
To avoid getting into the saddle and ending up with oily or greasy breeches, it is best to leave the saddle to dry overnight. The next day, you can polish your saddle to a high shine with a microfibre cloth. Caution: When polishing, do not polish the seat. Excessive polishing of the seat will make the surface slippery, which means you will no longer have any grip and will slide back and forth when riding. It is best to leave your saddle to dry for a day or overnight before using it again.
Further information on leather care
Not all leather is the same. When it comes to saddle care, it particularly depends on whether you have a saddle made of smooth leather, suede or synthetic leather. So if you would like to find out more about leather care for saddles, bridles and riding boots: We have written two complete guides on leather care and footwear care.
How often a saddle should be maintained depends on the intensity and frequency of use, the type of leather and external influences. As a rough guide, the saddle should be treated twice a year, i.e. approximately every six months. It should be cleaned of coarse dirt and moisture after every ride regardless. The saddle should also be polished to a high shine a few days before a competition. Make sure that all care products and any leather blacking agent used are well absorbed so that your white competition breeches do not discolour.
10 hacks for saddle care
5 hacks for storing your saddle:
- Stirrup covers and saddle covers. The ground is muddy and sticks to your riding boots. Small stones and lumps of dirt can damage the leather of your saddle. So before you pull up and fasten the stirrups, clean them and wrap them in a soft stirrup cover. A saddle cover can also protect the saddle from dust, dirt and scratches and thus preserve the leather.
Felix Bühler Fleece Saddle Pad Equestrian Sports
£12.90
Felix Bühler Fleece Saddle Cover Essential
£9.99
SHOWMASTER Fleece Saddle Cover with Girth Loop
£14.90
Felix Bühler Fleece Saddle Cover Knitted
£15.90
SHOWMASTER Water-repellent Saddle Cover
£36.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Swiss Design
£54.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Classy
from £34.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Equestrian Sports
£34.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Essential Standard
from £38.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Essential
from £37.90
SHOWMASTER Saddle Pad Basic
from £21.90
Felix Bühler Saddle Pad Coin
£29.90
£16.90
£19.90
1
1
£19.90
2
£49.90
2
£44.90
10
£54.90
10
4
£31.90
4
3
£42.90
3
5 hacks for easier saddle care
Important: Leave the dye to soak in for a day so that there is no residue on the breeches. You should not dye the areas directly on the horse or the saddle girth, as otherwise the horse will also be dyed.