Restoring faded colour to black dressage saddle?

[GemG]

Hi there -

I have a beautiful WOW dressage saddle and I do love it to bits. It was second hand and the only fault it has is the black leather is a bit faded and 'greenish' around the pommel area mostly. I am happy enough to leave it (didnt put me off buying - and spending quite a lot of £ - as it is perfect apart from that)...

But anyone else had same problem and did they manage to fix it (how?)

First time Ive ever ever had some black tack (I do prefer brown personally).

Thanks!

 

[Fat_Pony]

Massage some veg oil in to the affected areas. Leave it until it is totally absorbed and then reapeat. Keep doing it until the colour returns. Then use effax to clean it as it will maintain the colour.

Wow told me to so that when I bought some faded panels from ebay

 

[Cortez]

If you want to permanently restore the colour you will need to re-dye the affected area. DO NOT use shoe dye! A "working" saddler should be able to do this, or you can buy dye, Fiebings is the best. Don't oil the saddle beforehand, though, or it will not take the colour, and you might not want to do it just before you go somewhere wearing white or cream jodhs - it can stain clothing for a while.

 

[Auslander]

You can make your own vineragoon, which if I remember rightly, is white vinegar poured over steel wool and left to rot in a corner for a while. Worked a treat on my old boots, and a saddle with wear under the stirrup leathers.

 

[Goldenstar]

Olive oil works a treat you have to repeat now and again .

 

[cremedemonthe]

I'm going to send you details (an article)about dyeing your own tack, Oz

 

[GemG]

Thank you all for your tips!

Thanks for the link in the PM oz.

Will have a look!