New saddle ... need care tips?

Question

Ok so I have a new saddle and it's light...everyone is telling me to oil or use glycerin soap others tell me that that will change the color of the saddle...What can I use to soften the leather that will not permanetly change the color of the saddle?

Answer 1

Well I know that with care it will change the color of your saddle which is good! it means that its conditioned and supple. not to mention it will help it look better longer. Glycerin saddle soap is the best way to go, and remeber to oil it or atleast condition it.

Answer 2

Unfortunate fact is, light leather will darken with care.  (If it does not, its a certain grade of leather that has its pores sealed and oiling will not help it).  

For minimal darkening, I would choose Lexol Leather Conditioner.  You can spray or dab and wipe the excess immediately. Work on one small area at a time, and test a small patch first.   It will darken your leather when applying but when dry it will lighten again, although not  as light as it was when brand new but this is what I would do if I wanted to keep my saddle light in color.

Answer 3

look at soaps and conditioners that specifically don't change the color (says on the label), leather cpr, works well go to your local tack shop and look at labels that say they don't change leather colors. some will temporarily darken the leather but it wears out after the first few rides. eventually your saddle will darken in areas like the flaps because of use.

Answer 4

Sorry, but all saddles will darken at least a little bit when they're out in the sun. I use Leather Life as a conditioner/cleaner on my saddle and it works very well and my saddle hasn't darken much. Mine's dark brown though.

Maybe you can get something that specifically says that it won't darken leather.

Answer 5

Wow a new saddle, how exciting, here is how to look after your investment.

All new leather needs dressing (this is oiling), if you don't the leather will crack. Then to hold the moisture in the leather you use glycerin soap.

The important thing about oiling new leather, is not to apply so much that you drench the leather and rot the stitching. Here's how to do it.

1. Get a soft old rag, about the size of a face cloth. Poor a good tablespoon of oil onto the rag and rub this over the top of the leather, then repeat. Now turn the saddle upside down and repeat. The underside of the leather is going to soak up considerably more oil. I'd expect you'd use around one cup of oil for a first oiling. (this depends on quality of leather etc).

2. Wet another rag or sponge (sponge is easiest) then squeeze almost all of the water out. Rub this backwards and forwards overs the glycerin soap till you get some soap scum on your cloth. Rub this in a circular motion all over the top and bottom of the leather. So you rub the bar then rub the saddle and repeat many times till the entire saddle and leathers etc are done.

*important tip - when the soap is correctly wet enough you get little pin head bubbles forming on the bar as you rub it. If it is too wet and sloppy on your rag, it will dry out the leather.  

3. Then a week later, assess you leather, does it appear to be a little dry again, if so, re oil and clycerin again. You can often tell on the underside of the leather, by bending it a little if it appears dry. New leather will often require 3 lots of dressing and clycerin. *each time you'd use considerably less oil.

4. So several weeks down the track you'll then need to simply clean your new saddle. Get a damp cloth, rub all over to clean the leather. Then get a clean cloth, wet the clycerin soap again and rub to get soap on the cloth - just as above and rub over the saddle.

5. Each time you clean your saddle, assess if it then needs dressing or simply cleaning. Most saddles need dressing twice a year.

6. Have you seen some saddles and the leather looks baggy where the riders legs have been. This is caused by over dressing with oil. And I've got a cheap bridle in our tack room where the underside of the leather has opened up a little, almost like it could flake a little, that was because it was used and not dressed enough. *don't be tempted to dip any leather into oil (ie reins etc) I did this when I was young and my new bridle snapped! Lesson learned!

Best of luck with the riding - I'm sure you'll look a million dollars with the new saddle, lucky you and lucky horsey :)

Answer 6

olive oil, it really helps i used it on my saddle and it really works , what i do is use olive oil let that dry then use saddle soap!!! trust me it will clean  it and it wont be as stiff!

Answer 7

oil it well.  oil it. ride in it. then oil it again. that's what i did with my saddle. now its really nice

Answer 8

ALL light leathers will darken with age, use, exposure to uv (sunlight), humidity, etc.   It's an AGE thing.  The only way to prevent it would be to put it into a case (so you can look at it) and remove all the air, leaving it in a vacuum.  You'll need another, older saddle for riding.

A 50 - 50 mix of water and original Lexol, applied from the FLESH side, NOT the top GRAIN side, will put moisture and essential oils into the leather.  It will, ever so slightly, darken the leather.   Over time, you won't even notice.

Answer 9

use special soaps and conditioners and get a dust cover for your saddle