Buffalo leather care

[Artemis]

If everything goes as planned, next week I should have a used '11 Voltaire Palm Beach. From the pictures, it looks very lightly used, may have only been a demo but I bought it from someone. Not a tack shop or a rep. Anyway, I did some searching on care of buffalo leather. There seems to be quite a bit of different information floating around. Some say don’t oil, some say oiling is fine.
Some say just wiping it off with a rag and then using a balsam only.
I just want to know what those who own a buffalo leather saddle do as far as cleaning it.

I love my Higher Standards soap & balm which I do have other uses for, but I want to make sure it would be okay to use on this saddle. This is definitely the nicest saddle I’ve bought. Should I just go ahead and buy the Voltaire Soap & Balsam? I’m buy their stirrup leathers because I don’t want to mess up the leather with my non calfskin leathers.

I plan on calling Voltaire one day this week to ask what they suggest, but its too late tonight. I’d like some answers sooner haha

Thanks!

[jlphilli]

I have a calfskin Voltaire, but my friend has a buffalo one. They told her to just not use a cleaner that needs a lot of water (the Voltaire soap does not need water–it calls for a “humid” sponge–aka barely damp lol). Water will dry it out. The Voltaire Balsam is like a thick grease, so I imagine something similar would be fine. I could live without the Voltaire soap, but I really really like their balsam.

[supershorty628]

I use the Higher Standards soap and balm on my saddles. I also use regular glycerin soap. No issues

[foursocks]

My County is buffalo, and I clean it with all sorts of things. Effax lederbalsam, glycerin, a quick swipe with Horseman’s Onestep, etc. I’ve never found anything I use on my other tack to be problematic for it.

[JenEM]

I’ve seen a variety of recommendations, too, from a variety of manufacturers, a result, I’d guess, of all leather being processed slightly differently. My Dabbs is buffalo, and I specifically asked them about their recommended care and treatment of their buffalo leather; I was told my usual routine of cleaning with Belvoir and conditioning with Lederbalsam was perfectly fine, but Do Not Oil! So I’d assume your normal saddle soap is fine, but perhaps shoot Voltaire an email and ask what their recommendations are for their buffalo.

[Artemis]

Glad to see a bit less variation on this. The Higher Standards sounds like it will be fine since it only requires a damp sponge.
I’m going to send them an email just to see what they say. Thanks!!!

[FatCatFarm]

I was told not to oil my buffalo leather dressage saddle and to only use Effax rather than oil as oil would just leave a film on it. Not true. I have wiped it down with Lexol and then given it a light oiling with olive oil without problem and it looks fantastic.

[BITSA]

I have the Voltaire Palm Beach full Buffalo (which I love). Voltaire recomends the Hercules cleaner and leather balsm. You can purchase them from Voltaire’s website.

http://en.voltaire-design.com/accessories.html

and it smells really good…

[akhunterrider]

I use castile soap, Voltaire saddle soap and their leather balsam. My Palm Beach is full buffalo and these products seem to work very well on it. The Voltaire balsam is my favorite out of all the ones that I’ve used.

[hequestrian]

I just ordered a new cwd that is grain buffalo (buffalo knee and seat) and they told me the saddle would be oiled prior to shipping and never to oil again. My CWD rep approved of the HSLC soap (score that might have been a deal breaker!) and I don’t use their conditioner much so I’ll stick with the cwd conditioner I think. I had left over Devoucoux belharra grease/ conditioner which I’ve been told is also okay

Enjoy your new to you saddle!

[AdrenalineJunky]

I have a CWD buffalo leather saddle and I used the CWD conditioner until I ran out, and then I used the passier leather conditioner, and now I use oakwood leather conditioner but they all work fine. If it really needs a clean due to dust or whatever, I use the amerigo soft clean. I really like the buffalo leather! You might find that you need a bit more conditioner in the summer if you live in a hot area.

[Artemis]

Thanks everyone! I emailed Voltaire, and they only sent me their leather care sheet which says to use their Hercules soap & balm.
Then I saw Higher Standards 20% off today and ordered more soap and balm from them. I love the product so much and the Voltaire stuff is $35 each sooo yeah… I think Higher Standards will be fine.

[Bensmom]

Artemis – I’m just seeing your question now, but I can second what hequestrian said, at least with respect to CWD’s buffalo. I sent the CWD rep home with soap after Red Hills and he and his wife were in Tallahassee last week, and I got a report from them directly. They are very happy with it, so that made me happy!

Glad you got in on the birthday sale and enjoy your new saddle!! I’m anxiously awaiting my new dressage saddle myself and I am starting to get Very Impatient!!

Libby