How To Protect Your Leather Saddle This Winter!
When you have a good leather saddle, you’d obviously want to look after it and protect it. And winter can be particularly harsh on leather.
So how do you look after your leather saddle in winter?
You follow the three C’s of course (and yes, we did just make that up – but hey, it’s true and it works)!
1. Clean
It is important to clean your leather saddle regularly, particularly if you end up riding in rainy weather. If leather gets damp, or even muddy – you need to do something about it or it can damage your saddle – and encourage the growth of mould.
So grab some leather cleaner or saddle soap, and clean that muck off!
Our favourite product: Donnybrook Leather Cleaner >
2. Condition
After a thorough clean, you need to condition and preserve your leather. The type of leather, and you own preferences, will determine what product you use for this.
Some people prefer oil – and if you have particularly dry, thirsty leather – this can be the best option.
Others prefer cream based conditioners – which is our personal preference for higher quality leather.
Sarah’s current personal favourite, is the Donnybrook Leather Conditioner. It seriously does amazing things to even the most delicate or scruffy looking leather saddles. And it’s quite cheap!
3. Cover
Lastly, you need to put a saddle cover on your saddle, and store your saddle correctly.
Where possible, use a proper saddle stand to place your saddle on. Saw horses can be used, but because of the width of the timber top, they can sometimes cut into the underside of your saddle. So saddle stands, designed for the purpose, are always best.
If your leather saddle is somewhat delicate(!) it can also be very worthwhile investing in a saddle cover. No matter how hard you try, mice seem to be able to get in everywhere, and you do not want those pesky critters to make a mess of your leather(!).
A saddle cover also stops the dust, and in the case of shared sheds or tack rooms – it also stops those pesky husbands (or partners, kids, family members) from brushing other gear against them!
Be careful though, as not all saddle covers are made equally. Some of the tougher, PVC ones, can actually be fairly abrasive underneath. So it’s wise to check that the saddle cover (or saddle bag) you use is soft, and non-scratchy on the underside, where it makes contact with your leather.
For a basic, soft option, polar fleece works well. Like this one >
So there you have it. It might seem a little annoying and time intensive, but if you follow the three C’s to leather saddle care this winter, it could well save your beloved saddle.
From,
Your (ultra-helpful) One Stop Horse Shop Team
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