Sopping wet saddle, what would you suggest doing?

[miss_c]

Well we almost drowned at a show on Sunday, so needless to say my saddle got rather wet... It rained to the point that my jacket soaked through within minutes and I could feel rain RUNNING down my back.

Since Sunday I have soaped and soaped and soaped it, and it's just about resembling a saddle now! However should this happen again is there anything anybody can suggest doing to make it easier? Ester has recommended kao-co-line which I am going to be buying! What does everybody else do when their saddle gets soaked?

(On the plus side, we got a GREAT result in the Ridden M&M on Sunday, 2nd and placed above a pony that's been winning all season and is easily county level)

 

[LauraWheeler]

I used to use Koa-co-line when i worked with hunters it was good stuff. I normaly leave my tack to dry out at room temp then clean, soap and oil.

 

[Louby]

I was always told to let it dry natually before doing anything which is hard when you need it the next day. I use stubben Hamanol (sp) which seems to do the trick but my saddle is very soft and doesnt seem to go hard when its been wet???

 

[milliepops]

I also use Hamanol on the top side of the leather - seems to restore it well. I sometimes put Effax Leather Balsam on the rough side - don't like it on the top as it makes the leather squeak against my boots, but it is quite waterproofing so good if you know you're in for a soaking in advance

 

[junglediva]

let it dry then rub coachaline in it.

 

[joy]

Wash in warm water allow to dry naturally then apply whatever is the best leather food for your type of saddle finish.

 

[LeatherTherapy]

Best thing to do is give it a quick wipe over to remove any crusted dirt e.g. if you had been out hunting, then let it dry out slowly away from direct heat. This may take a couple of days if your saddle is really drenched.

Once your saddle is dry you need to replenish the oils that have been stripped from your leather. Saddle soap really isn't the best for this, you need a conditioner & apply small amounts at at time.

You could also think about applying a water repellant to prevent your saddle getting such a drenching in future. There are 3 main types of water repellant on the market for leather.

1) Wax
2) Silicone
3) Acrylic polymers

Wax & silcone act by sealing the leather & whilst it will be more waterproof, the pores are blocked & the leather can't breathe. Also silicone isn't the best thing to use on leather, just like it's use in mane & tail sprays, it makes the fibres brittle over time. Acrylic polymers work by creating a fine mesh grid over the leather at microscopic level, so the leather can breathe but water droplets can't get through & is the best product IMO.

If you think of leather care as you would think of your own skin care, you won't go too far wrong!

Just as you wouldn't use a soap on your face & not rinse it off or use moisturiser, don't do it to your saddle! It's the same prinicple with one-step cleaning products too, IMO you can't clean & condition in one step especially just by rubbing a product in rather than rinsing.