Bringing saddles back to their former glory

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Star_Chaser

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I have three old english saddles that belonged to my horses from years back that have been in storage although not the best of conditions and given I have a bit of time on my hands I thought I would give them a clean. They are though on close inspection in need of a little repair but also incredibly dry so would appreciate tips and products that will help to bring them back to their former glory.

I doubt these will ever sit on another horses back as they are sentimental but still it would be nice to think maybe one day and keep them accordingly
 
I always use hydrophane leather oil on the undersides of rough leather - as much as it will drink up, then loads of saddle soap on top. Repeat as many times as nec over time. They will come back. Often older saddles are great leather.
 
I use Kocholine Leather Dressing whne putting tack away for storage for a long time and use it when bringing stuff out that not been used for awhile. Need to leave it on 24 hours before using the tack though.

Brilliant stuff and added advantage that it doesn't rot stitching

http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Ko_Cho_Line_Leather_Dressing-(297).aspx

However, I am sure that you will have some oil so that would be a start in the right direction.
 
It is unadvisable to oil tack, especially with that awful neatsfoots oil.
Any substance/product (leather conditioner/food) with tallow, beeswax or lanolin or all 3 if possible is by far the best thing for leather. If oil is used it tends to make the fibres of the leather go soggy, it can rot out certain types of thread used in stitching too. Oil will not conditioner leather either, fat/grease as used in leather conditioners (tallow & lanolin)does.
Oil tends to darken leather too, another reason you shouldn't use it if you have a lighter coloured leather.
 
As a saddle fitter too I'm totally with cremedemonthe - no oil, glycerine soap is pointless and actually not that good for leather. Conditioner, light applications often, until it softens. Don't overload it in one go. Avoid conditioners with petroleum distillates or other harsh chemicals in them.
 
Would you use Carr Day and Martin leather balsam? I've been using that on some old English leather bridles I got in a bargain bin and it's suppled them up no end, like new again.
 
any particular products that are a favorite? One of these saddles I want to take a little extra care with as it was the horse we all learnt to ride on and my dads old cob. Dad still can't talk about him without a tear in his eye even after all these years and I thought it might be nice to give it a good sort and then give it back to him as a present. He's always been very supportive of us with our mad ideas on horses only ever refused me one that with hindsight would have done me a serious injury (was stunning though) eventually. Think originally the saddle belonged to my grandmother so its a good 40+ years old has such a comfy seat.
 
I use Kochaline (dubbin) on the undersides of the leather - put a layer on each day for about a week, allowing it to work it's way in before applying the next layer. This should make it all supple and 'fed' and then I put boot polish (applied with a cloth) on the smooth side of the leather to bring it up all nice and sparkley. For a really great shine, learn how to 'bull'.

I've used this method on my old military tack and it works really well but you will not get a good shine if you apply a conditioner to the smooth side as well as the rough side.
 
Other products may be solvent free and good, but these are ones I know are good:

Effax Lederbalsam
Stubben Hamanol
Oakwood Conditioner
Most of the Leather Therapy range.

If you need a cleanser (regular cleaning with a woven dishcloth and elbow grease should usually do it) then Effax Ledecombi and Leather Therapy Cleanser are both good ones but must be rinsed off.

The colour of Kocholine worries me! I don't know the ingredients so can't comment on it.
 
Herpesas said:
I use Kochaline (dubbin) on the undersides of the leather - put a layer on each day for about a week, allowing it to work it's way in before applying the next layer. This should make it all supple and 'fed' and then I put boot polish (applied with a cloth) on the smooth side of the leather to bring it up all nice and sparkley. For a really great shine, learn how to 'bull'.

I've used this method on my old military tack and it works really well but you will not get a good shine if you apply a conditioner to the smooth side as well as the rough side.
Click to expand...

One thing they taught us in Saddlery college 25 years ago was never to use boot polish on veg tanned leather, some of the military bridles have cherry blossom polish applied to it which effectively seals the leather from the elemenents. It tends to dry the leather out as the conditioner you then apply further down the line can't penetrate the inner fibres of the hide as well as it should do. Polish is best used on chromed leather or semi chrome as is mainly used in the shoe trade
 
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