Rescue and restore a wet saddle and bridle!
So you got caught in a storm, some drizzles, or somewhere in between. Your tack is now somewhere between spotted and soaked. In some cases, even the space under your bum is totally wet, too, which is just my least favorite scenario.
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Care for wet leather before it dries
- Here’s why. Leather is made up of fibers, which are held together with protein bonds. If these protein bonds are allowed to get wet and then dry out, they shrink, break, and create “holes” in your leather fibers. You can replace the oils, but you have lost leather strength in the meantime.
- When leather gets wet, truly and deeply wet, the water will strip the protein bonds of their oils as the water evaporates, creating a weaker leather that can dry and crack. This reduces the life and resale value of your leather goods!
Everybody panic!! (Or not…)
Save your horse’s wet saddle and bridle
- Wipe off excess water with towels.
- Use a lightly dampened rag to remove surface oils and dirt. You might be able to use the same towel that you used to wipe off the excess water.
- Condition your saddle with balsam or other oil. I prefer the balsams, as they are creamy and easy to massage into the leather.
- Dry your saddle out of heat and sun. Don’t use a hairdryer, just time.
Important things to remember – do your conditioning when the saddle is DAMP!! Waiting for your saddle and bridle to dry will weaken the leather and lead to cracks.
I use a sea sponge to lather on the conditioner.
- If your saddle is flocked with wool (as many are), it’s time for a phone call to your saddle fitter just in case the flocking is damaged, packed too hard, smooshed around, or otherwise messed up due to excessive water. Other instances to call your saddle fitter are outlined here in this superb article!
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Clean anything and store anything with this versatile hook. Easy to bring to horse shows, too!
This is castile soap-based, so it won't leave that gooey stickiness that glycerine-based soaps can leave in humid environments.
There no time like the present to clean your tack after every ride!
Keep your horse's leather from snapping with some deep conditioning.
Set them free upon thine enemy (JK, not really, but you can move them to a safer spot for everyone).
Thank you!
