Favorite Leather on Saddles

[spurofthemoment]

Looking for opinions and experiences re: saddle leather. What brands use good leather (does not have to be calfskin or buffalo) that wears beautifully? I’m talking gets darker with age, use, and oiling. Bonus points for saddles that are wool flocked and have tree points long enough to fit an average wither. Looking specifically at brown, close contact saddles but usually brands are consistent with leather in all their products (so if you have a dressage saddle from a brand that makes jumping saddles, I still would like to hear).

My current saddle’s leather does not impress me at all. It has only gotten lighter/faded with use despite oiling and conditioning with the manufacturer’s products. To me, that’s not real leather. I dislike it so much that I’m almost ready to move on from it.

[GreyDes]

I have a Black Country with vintage leather and am happy with it. They have calf and other options as well.

Patty Merli recommended the vintage leather as being both grippy and hard wearing and so far it’s living up to its billing!

I’ve heard good things about County, Loxley, Frank Baines and Adam Ellis as well. These are all UK brands.

[Scribbler]

@spurofthemoment

Looking for opinions and experiences re: saddle leather. What brands use good leather (does not have to be calfskin or buffalo) that wears beautifully? I’m talking gets darker with age, use, and oiling. Bonus points for saddles that are wool flocked and have tree points long enough to fit an average wither. Looking specifically at brown, close contact saddles but usually brands are consistent with leather in all their products (so if you have a dressage saddle from a brand that makes jumping saddles, I still would like to hear).

My current saddle’s leather does not impress me at all. It has only gotten lighter/faded with use despite oiling and conditioning with the manufacturer’s products. To me, that’s not real leather. I dislike it so much that I’m almost ready to move on from it.

Leather has deteriorated in quality over the past several decades. The fad for soft grippy calfskin seats produces saddles that will be much less durable.

You need to educate yourself on the various qualities and tanning processes of leather which you can find out both via saddle fitting information and also via shoe information (have a look at Roseanvil shoes videos on YT).

There will be a difference between vegetable tanned and chromium tanned.

Me personally I would stay away from all coated leathers, and artificially stamped leathers like “Buffalo” pattern.

Full grain is the most resilient.

But there’s a tradeoff between comfort and durability

I’m old enough to own horse gear, fashion shoes, handbags, belts and even jackets from the past 50 years, and I"m a bit of a snob about quality.

But a vegetable tanned full hide Stubben from 1965 is not going to feel like a 2024 CWD. And a pair of leather lined leather sole Frye Boots from 1975 don’t feel like modern New Balance sneakers.

I have a 2001 Passier Optimum dressage saddle and like the quality of the leather though black dye does eventually fade into brown on wear spots. However I have not seen a new Passier so not sure how the quality compares. New Stubbens are much flimsier

[Jackie_Cochran]

One thing I have noticed with my current calf-leather covered saddle is that I slip around in it much more than say in my 45 year old Crosby Prix de Nations saddle.

I had to get myself silicone full seat breeches/tights to have a chance of keeping my position good enough so my riding teacher does not yell at me for my seat being so pathetically weak.

I prefer full grain leather because with it I have a chance of staying in the saddle (I have MS, I’m weak, and I have poor balance.) However full grain leather saddles seem to be rare nowadays.

[Demerara_Stables]

I have a 2017 full buffalo county solution monoflap that is to DIE for. I spent the first year putting Belvoir on it after every ride then my saddle fitter was like “no one conditions like you do! But also be careful it’ll fall apart.”

So now it gets a damp sponge and Belvoir just when it’s dry. It’s tacky but not gummy, soft, and has held up to 4x/week rides for 7 years.

[trakehners]

I have a doubled bull leather Erreplus monoflap jump saddle and it has held up beautifully. It’s been rained on (soaked) more than once, lived in a very humid tack room for three years without molding, fallen on the ground when my horse shook it off his body before I could do up the girth, and he’s also rolled on it when he got his legs tangled up while spooking (I was ejected before he rolled on me and we both popped back up immediately). I’m notoriously bad about cleaning it (it usually only gets cleaned/conditioned before a show or if rain is forcing me to) and it still looks brand new every time I condition it even after all of this. They aren’t cheap but you absolutely get what you pay for with their saddles.

[spurofthemoment]

I’ve wondered about the leather on the Counties. I remember riding in a teammate’s way back when I rode IHSA. She had the model with the flatter seat and elephant print. I didn’t care too much for the elephant print but I remember it being way more comfy and grippy than I assumed when I saw it!

[spurofthemoment]

Any idea if they use the same leather techniques as Prestige? I know they’re a “progeny company” as the son of the founder of Prestige started Erreplus. It’s the Prestige leather I’m griping about. My saddle is noticeably lighter since I bought it brand new less than a year ago and I have cared for it with only their products + stored it in my house.

[trakehners]

I don’t know for sure but from looking at the Prestige website I don’t think so? Their offerings seem to be largely cow/calf leather, both of which are softer and thinner/less durable than bull leather is, which is what Erreplus uses for every model they produce. You get no leather choice with them other than color.

I get some lightening where my stirrups rub and also on the front thigh block on the left since I wear on it when I dismount but it goes away with conditioning and takes a while to come back afterward. If my saddle saw care products more than once every four months on average I don’t think I’d notice it at all, lol.

[sheltona01]

One of the reasons leather has evolved over the years is due to stricter environmental regulations. The traditional tanning methods were pretty harmful to the planet.

These days, you’ll find that many companies in the UK offer a fantastic selection of leathers, including bull leather. There are only so many tanneries.

The most durable leather can feel a bit stiff at first, but once you condition it a few times and give it some use, it transforms into something really lovely! That initial feel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, though.

I’m a big fan of Ryder Saddlery and The Ideal Saddle Company! I really think they do a great job balancing quality and price.

[TheJenners]

Hastilow Very happy with all of my saddles and how they have or are breaking in. Despite not being “trendy” in look for jumping saddles (dressage is dressage to my eye), the leather is tops. My jump saddle is their standard leather, can’t remember what it’s called, probably grain or calfskin. My dressage saddle is buffalo flap with calf rolls and seat. Both are terrific and I am NOT good about cleaning my tack