To protect your investment in your saddles, periodic cleaning and conditioning is necessary. Your saddle has been solidly constructed and with proper care will give you long and satisfactory service.
In areas where rain is unavoidable the saddle should be given a protective coating of leather dressing as often as necessary. This also applies to extremely dry conditions. Saddle pads, both Western and English, fit under the saddle to protect the horse's back from saddle rubbing and the concussion of rider movement. They also assist keep expensive leather saddles from getting soaked in horse sweat and grease. If not kept clean, dirty pads can rub your horse's back, causing saddle sores and skin infections cleaning your leather horse saddle is probably the last thing on your to-do list, but it has to be done and done well. The first step is to put your saddle on a saddle rack in a garage or outside. One clear time is when a saddle has been out in the rain. Water will wash out the natural oils in the leather and make it dry and brittle. Also, our winter climate will cause dry rot to set in. Cleaning and applying dressing to your saddle should be done regularly. As a minimum, saddles should be cleaned and conditioned at least twice a year. Before oiling your saddle, clean all dirt and dust off, with a soft brush or a sponge and saddle soap if necessary, being sure to give the parts which come in contact with the horse and sweat, such as rear cinch, fenders and stirrup leathers, special attention. When the saddle is dry, oil lightly, being sure that you do not miss the rigging and stirrup leathers which will have to be slid out from under the side jockey part way in order to reach all surfaces. Do not oil excessively. Saturating leather with oils opens the pores, making the leather flabby, thus causing it to collect dust which has an abrasive effect on the leather. A quality leather dressing is best used for regular treatment; it will give the leather the flexibility that it needs as well as some waterproofing ability.





