Caring for your horse saddle

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Thursday 9 Feb 2006

A horse rider should do as much as they can to keep their horse's saddle in good condition so that it will both last as long as possible and be comfortable for the horse. Here are some tips for good leather saddle maintenance:

Daily saddle maintenance

Every time you come back from a ride, thoroughly wipe down the saddle with lukewarm water using a sponge or cloth to remove surface dirt that has accumulated.

Use a dry cloth and some slightly wetted saddle soap to rub over both the grain (top side) and flesh (bottom side) of the leather. It is important to not rub the soap into a lather, which can result in blocked up stitching and buckles.

Clean your stirrups with water and a cloth.

Leave the saddle to dry naturally with no artificial heat.

Weekly to fortnightly saddle maintenance

Take your saddle apart and clean all of the parts separately, as well as checking them for wear and tear. If you spot any weaknesses, get the parts replaced as soon as possible.

To protect your saddle from weather damage, apply a saddle cream to the saddle every 1 to 2 weeks. Saddle cream moisturises, cleans, and waterproofs leather to keep it supple, and is absolutely crucial to keeping a saddle in good condition.

If a saddle has got very wet, it may well benefit from a saddle cream treatment or two over the following week, but be careful not to let the wax build up.

Use saddle cream only when the leather is dry.

Monthly saddle maintenance

Neatsfoot oil should be applied sparingly to the saddle on a monthly basis. It should be used in areas of particular wear, such as the saddle flaps.

Polish your stirrups and other metalwork.

These guidelines apply only to leather saddles. If you have a saddle made of synthetic material, it should be cleaned thoroughly with a cloth and warm water.

Equipment for every equestrian activity

As well as an extensive selection of high-quality riding clothing and tack, we have a range of oils and creams that will help you keep your leather shiny, waterproofed and pliable.

Our website provides a quick and easy method of ordering equestrian supplies, and the quality of our merchandise is something to which our many customers can attest. However, if you would like to return a product, our guarantee means that you can send it back, and we will refund your money to you.