Saddle ruined !

[Smurphy101]

hi I bought my Frank baines saddle In summer, I’m a very clean person and love to have my tack shining so I always give it a quick clean and condition after evey ride which is 4/5 times a week but I’ve noticed the leather is soft and u can see all little marks and it won’t get shiny at all I’m wondering if I’ve over conditined or or something as I’m really confused if anyone has had this problem or know what the problem is and what I can do it fix it please let me know I use the caar day step 1 and 2 on my saddle it’s kept in a tack room with a cover over and always clean so I’m really confused

 

[Spotherisk]

There are care instructions on the Frank Baines website, does that help? Couldn’t post the link but I only Googled it.

 

[conniegirl]

If you have used step 2, 4 or 5 times a week then you have over conditioned the leather and it is now over soaked in oil.
Just clean it for a while with step 1 and it may get better.

 

[Smurphy101]

If you have used step 2, 4 or 5 times a week then you have over conditioned the leather and it is now over soaked in oil.
Just clean it for a while with step 1 and it may get better.

Thanks so much I was thinking that as I used to only clean it before shows I’m gonna bring it home this weekend and give it a good wash and let the leather dry

 

[Smurphy101]

If you have used step 2, 4 or 5 times a week then you have over conditioned the leather and it is now over soaked in oil.
Just clean it for a while with step 1 and it may get better.

Do u clean ur tack with the same things ?

 

[Spotherisk]

The upper parts of my Ideal saddles see nothing but a wipe with a soft damp cloth unless they’re very muddy or dirty.

 

[Smurphy101]

The upper parts of my Ideal saddles see nothing but a wipe with a soft damp cloth unless they’re very muddy or dirty.

My saddle and bridle get very dirty we ride in a outdoor which is usually very wet this type of year so if I don’t clean after ride it cakes on (the sand)

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think step 2 involves Glycerin, or they both do? I don't use Glycerin based stuff on my saddles.

A damp cloth usually suffices and a bi-weekly condition depending on how the leather feels. You don't want to over condition or seal in too much moisture.

 

[Smurphy101]

I think step 2 involves Glycerin, or they both do? I don't use Glycerin based stuff on my saddles.

A damp cloth usually suffices and a bi-weekly condition depending on how the leather feels. You don't want to over condition or seal in too much moisture.

Do u have any product recommendations? I’ve only used that brand on my saddle so I really don’t know

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My saddle and bridle get very dirty we ride in a outdoor which is usually very wet this type of year so if I don’t clean after ride it cakes on (the sand)

You can still wipe it down with water and a cloth. I have to wipe my bridle with a damp sponge and dry cloth after each use. I do use Step 1 on the bridle and it works well enough.

 

[Smurphy101]

You can still wipe it down with water and a cloth. I have to wipe my bridle with a damp sponge and dry cloth after each use. I do use Step 1 on the bridle and it works well enough.

Okay thank you as I see the way forward is to wipe down with damp cloth after use and oil when it needs it

 

[conniegirl]

Do u clean ur tack with the same things ?

It is very very rare that I condition my saddle.
Mine gets mostly wiped over with a dampish cloth and the occassional bit of stubben saddle soap but thats it. Only when it starts getting a bit stiff does conditioner go anywhere near it.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Do u have any product recommendations? I’ve only used that brand on my saddle so I really don’t know

I've just been using the Rapide gel. Not my favorite but it is what Fairfax recommended and I have a Fairfax saddle. On my Albion I use the Belvoir leather conditioner when it needs it. The Fairfax has only ever seen water and Rapide. It's in really great condition with nearly daily use at 4 years old now. So I suppose if works well enough.

@cremedemonthe may have some good leather care tips and has a recipe of sorts I think.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Cremedemonthe is your man!

 

[Smurphy101]

I've just been using the Rapide gel. Not my favorite but it is what Fairfax recommended and I have a Fairfax saddle. On my Albion I use the Belvoir leather conditioner when it needs it. The Fairfax has only ever seen water and Rapide. It's in really great condition with nearly daily use at 4 years old now. So I suppose if works well enough.

@cremedemonthe may have some good leather care tips and has a recipe of sorts I think.

One last thing hope I’m not annoying u would u recommend giving it a wash with any sort of soap to get the thick layer of oil that’s just sitting on the saddle it salmoat sticky in a way or just damp cloth it and leave it without oil for a while? Thanks so much I really appreciate this all

 

[CanteringCarrot]

One last thing hope I’m not annoying u would u recommend giving it a wash with any sort of soap to get the thick layer of oil that’s just sitting on the saddle it salmoat sticky in a way or just damp cloth it and leave it without oil for a while? Thanks so much I really appreciate this all

Hm. Not sure. Maybe someone else can guide you. I've not had the problem. If your stable or tack room is damp, you could bring it home to dry it out a bit. I wouldn't apply anything for awhile.

 

[Smurphy101]

Hm. Not sure. Maybe someone else can guide you. I've not had the problem. If your stable or tack room is damp, you could bring it home to dry it out a bit. I wouldn't apply anything for awhile.

Yes I’ve contacted the person you recommended above I’m gonna bring home the saddle as my parents agree with it might dry out at home

 

[Polos Mum]

Not sure if this link will work but this is a master saddler explaining why you should NOT clean your saddle that much.

If you google don't clean your tack - Poppy Webber - it will come up

 

[Smurphy101]

Not sure if this link will work but this is a master saddler explaining why you should NOT clean your saddle that much.

If you google don't clean your tack - Poppy Webber - it will come up

That’s actually spot in with what my saddle looks like rn I didn’t know you could over do it but that’s helped gonna give it a good wash let it dry and just oil when stiff thank you that’s really appreciated

 

[honetpot]

If you use a wrung out microfibre cloth, with hot water, it will pull off the grease, without soaking in water. You should never get leather wet as it stretches the leather, and if it does not dry out it rots the stitching.
You should treat leather like your hands, you do not want to keep it damp, but put moisturise in it when it's too dry.

 

[jnb]

I confess to only cleaning my tack for shows and the saddle, only usually a wipe over on the first show of the season, in fact I’ve just bought 2 new saddles (don’t ask! Expanding cob) and neither have been cleaned yet - oops.
Bridles I’d clean before each show if dirty but saddles - no.
I use Absorbine Horseman’s One Step, very sparingly, using a dry sponge after wiping over with a slightly damp (using hot water) sponge

 

[pansymouse]

Do u have any product recommendations? I’ve only used that brand on my saddle so I really don’t know

Wilf Whites saddle soap is an excellent product and does not contain glycerine. I repair and restore vintage tack and it's the only thing I use routinely. I rarely condition leather that is already in good condition. One more thing to add - never use oil on modern tack - it will ruin it - I know, I patch together tack that has ripped due to being weakened by over oiling all the time.

 

[Annagain]

I'm a bit lax on the tack cleaning front but when I do I use Cremedemonthe's conditioner. Every time my saddler comes out he mentions how good my saddle still is (he sold it to me 15 years ago) and what good care I've taken with it. I will admit it's freshly cleaned and conditioned whenever he sees it but that's probably the only time it's been done since his last visit!

 

[sbloom]

Don't use oil, don't use saddle soap....a roughish textured cloth (in the UK it's a cotton almost crocheted washable dishcloth) and hand hot water to clean, a drop of dish detergent if really needed (not normally needed for a saddle, maybe for bridle and girth) and condition once a week or so at most usually, though you may need to condition while still slightly damp after a real soaking.

Oz (cremedemonthe) may be able to help with getting oil out, it will need time, with regular cleaning and nothing else, more than anything.

In the UK most products that you can buy in tack shops really are more marketing than real quality products, I pretty much only use and recommend the conditioner made by one of our leather manufacturers, Sedgwick, which can also be found on ebay, and that made by Oz, unicornleather.co.uk. They are both solid at room temperature except in warm summer weather, and may need slightly softening for easy use. Most very soft products contain too much oil, or solvents.

 

[sbloom]

If you use a wrung out microfibre cloth, with hot water, it will pull off the grease, without soaking in water. You should never get leather wet as it stretches the leather, and if it does not dry out it rots the stitching.
You should treat leather like your hands, you do not want to keep it damp, but put moisturise in it when it's too dry.

Water doesn't rot stitching, not like oil can, and ultimately it's needed to clean tack but yes, I'd agree with not soaking it, however if I had a very over oiled bridle I would consider using hot water and Fairy, drying slowly and a teeny coating of a wax based conditioner afterwards. Getting really wet is seldom a problem, it's what happens to it while it's wet, when the leather IS compromised.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm very old fashioned but I clean tack with warm water with a tiny bit of Washing up liquid in it. I use a dishcloth.
Then it dries in the kitchen and I apply saddle soap with a very slightly damp sponge.
Maybe once a year I use leather balsam on high wear bits like bridles and girth straps.

 

[Frano]

I was always taught not to clean the seat to often as it makes it slippery. Clean saddle once a week. Wipe over if muddy.