What does seawater do to saddles?

[Sarah_Star]

As titled really, I should be heading off for a beach ride on Sunday and was wondering if seawater badly damages saddles? I'd really like to take mine in the sea but my saddle is rather precious to me

 

[Eira]

I thought it could rot the stitching but I was told this by my Mum and she may be wrong!!

 

[Abbeygale]

I think if you make sure you allow the saddle to dry afterwards, and give it a good clean it will be fine.

From my experience, if you leave seawater on leather and don't clean / oil it properly afterward it will dry it out.

A few years ago my sister had taken her rather daft TB down to the beach, and he was being a bit of a t1t in the sea, and he tripped over himself (as only daft TB's can do.... ) and managed to fall over in the sea! Both him and my sister went right under!

Saddle was fine after a bit of drying out and cleaning incidentally!!!

 

[Boysy]

Before you go, waterproof if with something like Carr Day Balsam or Hydrophane then if it gets wet, don't let it dry out before putting Balsam on again, that way it doesn't get a chance to sink into the leather

 

[teddyt]

Agree with boysy, waterproof the leather before you go. Balsam is best. Dry away from direct heat and balsam again.

However, i have to say ARE YOU BONKERS?! Riding in the sea in january when most of the country is minus temperatures????

 

[CorvusCorax]

Agree with the others, and dry-brush everything once it has dried off.
Inc girth, saddlecloth/numnah etc.

 

[Abbeygale]

Sea temp is still between 8 - 10 C at the moment - so not all that bad considering!!!

 

[teddyt]

[ QUOTE ]
Sea temp is still between 8 - 10 C at the moment - so not all that bad considering!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

If you say so

*muttering theres a bunch of nutters on here

*

 

[Sarah_Star]

[ QUOTE ]
Sea temp is still between 8 - 10 C at the moment - so not all that bad considering!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that warm enough for me to go for a swim too?

My horse doesn't really like water so I'm not sure how close to the sea we'll actually get!

 

[Abbeygale]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sea temp is still between 8 - 10 C at the moment - so not all that bad considering!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

If you say so

*muttering theres a bunch of nutters on here

*

[/ QUOTE ]

I am so glad someone on here has finally realised what I am!!

 

[Abbeygale]

yes of course - if you have a dry suit you can ride in!!

You wouldn't catch me going in without a dry suit on!! LOL!

 

[ester]

having ridden in the sea (on 12.2 swimming pony) in mid summer I really wouldnt right now!

or at least not deep enough to get your saddle wet.

That said the only thing that rescued the saddle that had been on said swimming pony was ko cho line. the salt water really dries out the leather.

good fun though

IN THE SUMMER

 

[Abbeygale]

ah but there is a lot of beaches you aren't allowed on in the summer any more - at least around here

silly councils....

 

[Donkeymad]

The sea in winter is a number of degrees warmer than the land or air, but sea water will ruin your saddle, leather or synthetic, if you are not careful.

 

[ester]

we are, just not at the tourist end. the other 5 miles you can take your pick just dodge the tourists/dogs and kite buggies

tend not to tbh as can park on beach for free in winter.

MM, I forget usernames but is poss you are heading my way

if not ignore me! in which case I hope they have checked the tide times and the sea will be miles away as if the sea is high enough to be safe to go in without hitting the mud then there is no parking left. I won't be there as F is asbo'd from large beach gatherings after last year!

 

[FRESHMAN]

There are many ways to protect the leather but the salt water will rot the stitching.

 

[ester]

my way, I suspect there are also many other things in the water that will rot it too

the salt content is only brackish so maybe not that bad, tis still doing a darn good job of freezing on the beach atm!

tbh dont think I would take either of my saddles in the sea, ancient pony saddles maybe!

 

[almorton]

well we have always ridden on the beach, its 3/4 mile away as the crow flies, was up there three times last week and never have a problem. i do stick my leather girth under the tap, and martingale if its really wet!
never had tack that has rotted and some of mine is 10years old plus!

 

[almorton]

oh and there was ice on the beach last week too! the sea was frozen!

 

[ester]

gg yes its been really hard here too, been a lot recently (have to box but all gritted) and very hard one way, bit better the other as they cleaned it recently and loosened up all the sand.

 

[camilla4]

As others have said, pre-treat it before going and then rinse it thoroughy afterwards with fresh water. Dry off as best you can and then treat again afterwards.

 

[Sarah_Star]

[ QUOTE ]


MM, I forget usernames but is poss you are heading my way

if not ignore me!

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha I'm not heading that far south west, we're off to West Sussex

Yes, we're getting there extra early. My yard does this beach ride every year so I think they know about the tides etc