This weather! People with leather saddles!

T

Troyseph

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 October 2011
Messages
309
Visit site
How do you cope? Do u always just ride in a waterproof cover ?
I've ended up selling my leather bates because I was riding bareback more than anything as so paranoid not to wreck it, can you get decent waterproofing products that really work even in torrential rain so I could ride without panicking? (looking at t8 saddles and they have part leather) thanks c
 
One of my liveries has been hunted a minimum of once a week, but usually twice a week, all season, every season for the past twelve years. He has had the same saddle that whole time, and yep, it generally comes back wet and covered in mud.
It gets cleaned and looked after properly and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
I had an accident where my horse was killed falling in a water jump. His saddle was in the water for a good hour, and after cleaning it up and taking proper care of it, the tree was checked and I sold it. As far as I know it's still being used now with no problems.
Generally, if you look after leather properly, it'll be absolutely fine. I'm anal about my tack and that of my liveries. It cost me a lot of money, and the same is true of theirs. It's wiped down after every ride and is cleaned properly at least once a week. However, I have no problem at all with any of it getting rained on - I know that I'll clean it later so it won't dry out or go mouldy.
 
It is better for leather not to get wet, but equally not the end of the world. When I'm out doing saddle fits in the rain I use saddle covers from Helen's Hooves and Paws' shop on ebay. If your saddle has a wide seat I'd recommend you size up, but they are very good. Please don't sell a saddle that fits just because caring for it is hard work, unless you know you can find one that fits equally that is less work, the fit is EVERYTHING.
 
Mine gets cleaned at the end of every ride with Belvoir tack spray, once a week it gets a coating of ko-cho-line as well.
 
Just send them to me for tack cleaning! I do hunting tack regularily , it comes to me with day old caked mud, and goes home beautiful, leather is lovely and tolerates a beating if you look after it properly! X
 
Troyseph said:
How do you cope? Do u always just ride in a waterproof cover ?
I've ended up selling my leather bates because I was riding bareback more than anything as so paranoid not to wreck it, can you get decent waterproofing products that really work even in torrential rain so I could ride without panicking? (looking at t8 saddles and they have part leather) thanks c
Click to expand...

This isn't a really a valid reason to get rid of your leather saddle, when it gets wet just let it dry naturally in the air & clean it as normal & it'll be as good as new. Our tack has got wet regularly, specially over the last few months & it's been dried & cleaned & it's perfect.
 
Troyseph said:
How do you cope? Do u always just ride in a waterproof cover ?
I've ended up selling my leather bates because I was riding bareback more than anything as so paranoid not to wreck it, can you get decent waterproofing products that really work even in torrential rain so I could ride without panicking? (looking at t8 saddles and they have part leather) thanks c
Click to expand...

We use [ R.M. Williams Saddle Dressing (CC149) ] just search Google for this title, we paid £11.95 for a tin 3 months ago and have used it nearly every day. It looks after the saddle even when it has got wet.:)
 
Ditto above, just give it a good clean once dry. I did use some stuff once (not mine, a friends) think it was albion brand, and it made the tack waterproof if used once a week, but I wouldn't use it on a saddle- far too slippery!
My leather saddle has survived various downpours, and a trip to the beach, and plenty of snowy rides :)
 
pmands said:
We use [ R.M. Williams Saddle Dressing (CC149) ] just search Google for this title, we paid £11.95 for a tin 3 months ago and have used it nearly every day. It looks after the saddle even when it has got wet.:)
Click to expand...

You seem to be doing a bit of advertising in your posts - .......the last post was for jackets...
Tip: if not advertising, post direct links to the page of the item not to the main website as in your last post asking about 'jackets' ;)
Apologies if I have got things wrong tho
 
Last edited:
As others have said, just let it dry naturally and clean it! I must admit I tend to avoid riding in constant very heavy rain but thats more because I dont like either of us getting too wet before bed rather than my tack getting wet :)

My saddle is over 6 years old and still looks like new so it cant be that bad for it.
 
my one & only saddle is suede so worse than leather!
it gets used for everything and it does get wet, I let it dry naturally, saddlesoap the underneath and on the top I use a suede care spray from the shoeshop once every few weeks.
Its not in new condition as it is a few years old but the comfiest loveliest saddle I have ever had.
As with bridles, again I have one, a Jeffries, it cleans beautifully and has been well looked after in the 10 years Ive had it. Im not a fanatical tack cleaner but leather can withstand the wet if cared for properly.
 
I treated my saddle as soon as I bought it with a leather dressing, that was 4 years ago. Since then, it's had minimal care and still looks fine even if caught out in the rain. It doesn't occur to me to NOT use my leather saddle just because it's raining.
 
Um, sorry if being pedantic here (Fuzzy Fairy), but am not sure "pmands" was "advertising" as such??? The way I saw it was that someone had used a product they were happy with and were recommending??? Surely that's not advertising per se? Coz if so then I'm extremely sure I'm guilty of it here on HHO too!!! Woops! ;) Bring on the wet lettuce & get lashing.

I always use a waterproof saddle cover: mine's a vile shade of hi-viz yellow. I never slip around on it - and after say five minutes of hacking in it you just forget its there. If I wanted a bit more grip I'd probably wear sticky-bum jods, just as I would for normal hacking. You can get them in black/navy as well as bright colours. (Got mine from same place on e-bay as "sbloom" above - woops; advertising!!! ;) )

I have had a synthetic saddle in the past; not for the horse I've got now, and yes it was absolute BLISS in the wet weather as you didn't have to worry, BUT in the summer when it was hot, it was the most horrible hot sticky thing I've ever ridden in - and probably was for the horse too. So there's two sides to going synthetic and as "sbloom" has said if something fits your horse then why change it (i.e. its not broke so don't fix it).

Personally I'd have a look on-line and get a decent waterproof ride-on saddle cover, bung it on, and be done.
 
My (then) 13 year old daughter decided to take her pony with a brand new saddle for a swim in the sea. :mad: We're talking actual water over the back.
God knows what possessed her to do this. :confused:
I didn't find out for a day or 2 and naturally went beserk! :mad:
I made her clean and condition it throughly every night for the next 2 weeks. Happy to say that said saddle hasn't shown any side effects from this (Yet?).
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Um, sorry if being pedantic here (Fuzzy Fairy), but am not sure "pmands" was "advertising" as such??? The way I saw it was that someone had used a product they were happy with and were recommending???
Click to expand...

I did mention 'sorry if' - it was just the previous post too - asking about jackets in a size with website link.
Prob just me being Tuesday-ish :D

And 'fairy' to you too m'dear! :p
 
Thanks everyone well I've only had it around 3 months and cleaned it after every time and it's got rain marks all over like droplet marks which won't shift :-( its my first leather saddle so I thought this happened to all...seems not by your replies x
 
Have you applied leather oil as well as cleaning it as most leather needs this to save water damage. I say this because many years ago I rode in a new bridle in the rain without applying oil first and it did it no favours. It still recovered and lasted a good 20 years before I gave it away.
 
Troyseph said:
Thanks everyone well I've only had it around 3 months and cleaned it after every time and it's got rain marks all over like droplet marks which won't shift :-( its my first leather saddle so I thought this happened to all...seems not by your replies x
Click to expand...

What brand is your saddle?

There is a company currently experiencing problems with new saddles. The leather is bubbling and then peeling. Nothing to do with getting wet.

If anyone wants to know the brand, please pm me
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top