How to take care of your leather saddle this winter!

For those of us who are brave enough to venture out to the paddocks, winter riding can involve lots of mud, rain, wind and quite possibly in recent weeks, snow! So your saddle can take a fair beating under such conditions. Considering it is probably one of the more expensive horse items you might own, it is worthwhile investing a bit of effort into looking after your saddle to keep it safe and looking great!

Cleaning

Cleaning all the mud, dirt and horse hair off you saddle is your first priority. Your second priority, is ensuring it is dry. Riding in the rain and mud can degrade your leather integrity if you don't clean and dry it thoroughly. Depending on how often you ride and your time commitments, this may be a simple wipe down with a sponge, and drying with a clean, soft cloth after each ride, and then a thorough saddle soaping at the end of each week. Whilst cleaning, it can be a good idea to check over the saddle points to ensure they are still strong and secure, and whilst you are at it, check and clean your girth and stirrup leathers also!

Conditioning

Once clean, you need to treat or condition the leather to ensure it does not dry out or become brittle and cracked. There are many different leather conditioner products out there, in the form of oils and creams. It often boils down to personal preference, and the recommendations that came with your saddle, however we tend to recommend using a cream based conditioner, rather than an oil. Our personal favourite is the Oakwood Leather Conditioner. Whichever you choose, always follow the instructions for use on the container, and if you are worried about using a new or different product, do a test patch on the underside of the saddle first.

Protection and storage

Obviously, leaving your saddle outside in the rain is not the best move! Ideally, you need an undercover area, protected from the elements, that is well ventilated, vermin proof and as dust free as possible. A saddle stand, either a wall mounted saddle rack or free standing is your best bet, but if you don't have access to one, the back of a sturdy chair might suffice. Storing saddles on the ground, or even in the back of your car isn't ideal, but if you have no other choice, always stand your saddle on its pommel, not the cantle or sides.

To protect your saddle further, you might like to consider investing in either a saddle cover, or a protective saddle bag. These come in a range of materials and styles, according to your needs and preferences. Some even allow you to ride in them, which can be great for wet weather.