How To Clean And Condition Leather Horse Saddle

Cleaning tack. It'due south probably i of the first skills you learned equally a passenger or driver, and chances are, it'southward as much a part of your regular routine as grooming, picking feet, and doing horse laundry (will there ever be an end to the equus caballus laundry?).

Over time, nosotros've all developed our own tack cleaning programs, and even shortcuts. Simply at that place's nothing like a refresher course in proper technique from someone with experience—and when information technology comes to leather intendance feel, few companies tin can hold a candle to Freedman's.

Since 1802, six generations of Freedman'due south chief craftsmen accept been didactics their patrons how to improve care for their saddles, bridles, and harness, also as bags, belts, and leather goods. And now, they're sharing their tricks of the trade with yous.

1. Yes, you lot should regularly clean all parts of your saddle (not just the top).

Even if it's non existence seen by nigh people, it's the underside of the saddle (the gullet, cantle, and flaps) that comes into the most straight contact with your potentially sweaty, dirty horse. It's also the identify most likely to suffer wear and tear down the route. For regular saddle cleaning, Freedman'due south recommends creating a gentle lather using saddle lather (run across below), lukewarm water (leather is pare, subsequently all), and a tack sponge. Use the sponge in a round motility across all surfaces of the saddle. Finish by wiping off any excess foam using a soft, clean fabric.

ii. Use one-time school saddle soap—not generic leather cleaner—on your saddle.

Leather impairment on your saddle is oftentimes a result of chemistry; an unbalanced pH level, to exist verbal. When regularly cleaned with the proper saddle soap (Freedman'south recommends Fiebing's) the fat acids in the soap combine with the table salt contained in horse sweat to keep your saddle leather's pH levels balanced properly.

3. When conditioning your saddle, your hands are your best tools.

Use Your Hands

Like Mom making meatballs, saddle maintenance is best washed with a good quality saddle conditioner (Freedman's prefers Oakwood) and your hands. First, utilize conditioner using a tack sponge (brand sure it's not your regular cleaning sponge). In one case the saddle is covered, use your hands to massage and work the conditioner into the leather across all surfaces of the saddle. Buff away any excess using a soft cloth.

iv. View every tack cleaning session equally an opportunity to conduct a safety check.

sdflickr.com/Pete Birkinshaw)

(flickr.com/Pete Birkinshaw)

Tack cleaning naturally gets you up close and personal with parts of your saddle, determent, and harness that y'all might non normally encounter. While you're cleaning, accept a moment to check for places where your leather might be weakening (think thinning barracks straps, torn keepers, or fraying stirrup leathers). If your leather is starting to look like it could use some maintenance, the time to human activity is at present.

5. Don't stress near taking your bridle or harness apart for cleaning.

©Horse Network)

(©Equus caballus Network)

If you lot're worried about forgetting how to properly re-adjust your headstall, you can tie a small piece of string or thread through the hole you want, jot down a quick note on a piece of paper, or simply snap a photograph with your smartphone to assist jog your memory when you're ready to reassemble. And, if y'all're worried about losing bridle parts during the cleaning process…

half-dozen. Get crafty! Build your ain holding containers.

IMG_3166 copy

The lesser portion of a halved plastic water bottle is the perfect size to hold cheek pieces, keepers, rein stops, and other small bridle or harness pieces that are easily misplaced during the cleaning process. (Plus, gratuitous bonus points for recycling!)

seven. Use metal polish to give buckles that extra sparkle.

Cleaning Brass

Looking to set up apart your new evidence bridle or harness? Use a modest dollop of brass or other metal cleaner (Freedman'southward suggests Peek) and piece of work it into your tack buckles using the corner of a soft fabric. Be sure to select a non-toxic metallic polish then you aren't dyeing the surrounding leather, and let the polish to sit down for a few minutes before buffing it abroad.

8. Got mold? Double-check your cleaning products—and your tack room.

(flickr.com/Erik Charlton)

Brand certain that your tack is always clean and dry before putting information technology away in a closed tack room or box. A leather cleaning product that contains a mold inhibitor (Oakwood or Leather Therapy Restorer & Conditioner are two) can as well assist to forbid the growth of mold and mildew betwixt cleanings, particularly in humid climates. Finally, it's never a bad thought to store your saddle, harness, or bridle in a soft, breathable bag betwixt uses.

9. The hugger-mugger to making leather belts and purses look brand new? Buff 'em upward!

To clean your vegetable-tanned or pebbled-grained belts and purses, you can follow the same cleaning protocol you'd utilise on other kinds of tack, allowing your pocketbook or belt to dry before applying metallic cleaner and leather conditioner. But if you actually want your favorite pieces to sparkle, go a good soft textile and ready to add the magic ingredient: elbow grease. Creating a little friction in your rag while buffing tin actually lend luster to your leather accessories, meaning they'll look practiced as new for years to come!