How do I care for my Western saddle?
Western saddles are often designed with great detail. Leather stippling, a mix of different types of leather, shiny studs and conchos – this requires a care routine that satisfies all the saddle components. Here you will learn step by step what to look out for when caring for a Western saddle.
Under certain conditions, leather is one of the most durable materials used in equestrian sports. The prerequisite for this is careful storage as well as regular care appropriate to the material – also for Western saddles.
What can be done to protect the Western saddle?
- Store your saddle in a sufficiently ventilated and dry place. Sources of heat, such as direct sunlight through a window or even radiators should not be located near the storage place.
- Use a saddle cover for storage to protect your saddle from the effects of light. A Western saddle holder is perfect for storage.
- After each use, the Western saddle should be cleaned of coarse dirt. A dry or at most slightly damp cloth is usually sufficient for this purpose.
- If the saddle has become a little wet after use, it should be dried gently. Again, avoid direct sunlight or radiators, as a too fast drying process will make the material porous and cracked.
- Use only special care products for maintenance.
- A thorough cleaning should take place 3 to 4 times a year. The components close to the ground, such as fenders or stirrups, should be maintained even more frequently.
How do I care for my Western saddle?
Preparations:
Have all the care utensils ready:
- Soft brushes
- Leather care sponge
- Cloths (e.g. cotton)
- Bucket of lukewarm water
- Saddle soap
- Leather grease or oil
- Metal polish
Divide the saddle into its individual parts, fender and girth as well as the tie straps and the off billet should be cared for separately.
Leather care is essential for safety
Fenders and stirrups, as well as the girth, the tie strap and the off billet are exposed to very strong forces. The stress on the leather at these points is therefore particularly high. Since unkempt leather can crack and even break in the long run, special care is required in these areas!
Step 1: Remove the coarse dirt
Use a soft brush to remove coarse dirt from the saddle. Small sand particles can have an emery-like effect during further cleaning, causing damage to the leather. Therefore, wipe the surfaces with a clean and dry cloth.
Step 2: Wet cleaning
Gently clean the smooth leather components of the saddle with a clean sponge, a little saddle soap and lukewarm water. Work the saddle soap in a little so that it foams slightly and leave it to work in for a while. The seat surfaces are always left out. Then wipe the saddle clean with a soft, dry cloth. Do not forget the undersides of the saddle!
Leather darkens
Please note that the saddle darkens slightly with each cleaning cycle!
Suede does not like water
The seat of a Western saddle is often made of suede, which does not tolerate too much water or products for smooth leather care. To clean the suede, you should have a separate dry and soft brush to hand. There are also special suede brushes that gently preserve the structure of the leather.
Step 3: Rest phase
After cleaning, allow the leather time to dry in a shady and dry place. Please do not accelerate the drying process by placing the saddle in the sun or on the radiator. This makes the leather brittle and too much sunlight changes the colour of the leather.
Step 4: The finishing touch
The care product can now be applied with a dry and clean cloth. Be sure to use leather oil sparingly. Leather grease or leather balm cannot be overdosed so quickly. Here, too, the seat surface is left out. If your saddle is frequently exposed to strong weather conditions, e.g. through trail rides, you should choose a care product that contains beeswax. The wax cares for and seals the leather.
To give the metal parts of the saddle a shiny finish, a little metal polish applied carefully with a cloth is sufficient.
Pore cleaning
Care products containing oil and grease open the pores of the leather so that the active ingredients penetrate into the leather. Therefore, you should always clean the leather with saddle soap before oiling or greasing it so that no dirt particles can penetrate the leather. Some riders swear by treating the saddle again with a little saddle soap after care, as this closes the pores again and thus seals the saddle and protects it from dirt.