Sheepskin Care FAQ

Felix Bühler Sheepskin beel boots

1. How do you wash sheepskin?

2. What can I use to brush sheepskin?

3. How is sheepskin made?

4. How can sheepskin be dried?

5. When and why is sheepskin used under the saddle?

6. How can I recognise sheepskin?

7. How does sheepskin become soft again?

8. How often can I wash sheepskin?

1. How to wash sheepskin?

Sheepskin can be washed either by a cold hand wash or in the washing machine, taking into account the following instructions:

  • Wash sheepskin horse accessories separately: Sheepskin items can absorb very large amounts of moisture which can make them very heavy when washed. For this reason, sheepskin products should preferably be washed separately.

  • Use special detergents: Special detergents for sheepskin products such as SHOWMASTER sheepskin detergent are moisturising, which is very important for the wool fibres. Conventional detergents must not be used under any circumstances. This can cause the coat to become matted and leather inserts to become hard.

  • DO NOT use fabric softeners, or bleach: Again, fabric softeners or bleach must not be used to wash sheepskin under any circumstances. The natural properties of the material are lost in this way.

  • Choosing the right washing programme: Sheepskin does not tolerate hot temperatures, and for this reason should be washed on a maximum of 30°C and a normal spin cycle.

2. What can be used to brush sheepskin?

The sheepskin can be brushed with a special sheepskin brush or alternatively with a soft fur brush.

3. How is sheepskin made?

All sheepskin articles from Kramer Equestrian are made from genuine Australian Merino sheepskin. The tanning can then be done in three different ways, using vegetable, synthetic or mineral tanning agents. Following tanning, the skins are dried, combed and clipped.

4. How can sheepskin be dried?

Sheepskin does not like heat! If the sheepskin product is to be dried in the dryer, it should be set to a maximum of 30°C. When air drying, make sure not to place the drying stand in direct sunlight. The warm radiator is also a taboo zone for the sensitive material, it could shrink due to the heat.

Sheepskin contracts a little after washing. While it is drying, you should always carefully pull the lambskin back into its original shape.

5. When and why is sheepskin used under the saddle?

On the one hand, sheepskin has a temperature-balancing effect, which means that the material can absorb the horse’s sweat in summer and keep it warm in winter. On the other hand, sheepskin products protect the horse from unpleasant pressure and chafing points.

6. How can I recognise sheepskin?

You can recognise real sheepskin by the fact that leather and wool are joined together. The two materials cannot be pulled apart.

7. How does the sheepskin become soft again?

If the sheepskin is hard, it can be brushed with a suitable soft brush. In this way, matted hairs are loosened and the fur regains its fluffy softness. The sheepskin should only be washed with a suitable special shampoo, otherwise the structure of the fur can be irreversibly destroyed.

8. How often can sheepskin be washed?

Sheepskin should only be washed in exceptional cases when dirt has already soaked into the fur and can no longer be removed from the surface. The high-quality sheepskin is naturally self-cleaning in combination with oxygen. Shaking out and occasional brushing is normally sufficient. Especially bell boots made of sheepskin or other horse accessories made of sheepskin tend to get dirty through use. Accordingly, the care of the accessories after use is essential in order to forego frequent washing.