My relatively new (2017/18) french calf xc saddle seems to have gotten a water stain. I’m almost too embarrassed to type this but it might be a mark from a say sweaty derriere as I don’t think I’ve been in the rain with this saddle recently. Can I do anything to fix it? Should I just think of it as patina?
I’m not sure there is much you can do about the stain, I have seen similar stains on lots of saddles so I think its a common problem. Some people just sweat a lot in that area. I had a friend whose back seam of her breeches was always soaking wet after a ride. It started just below the waistband and widened as it got closer to her butt. I’m not even sure if she realized it.
Are you sure it is a stain, versus residual conditioner/oil in the saddle being lifted off? For saddles that have darkened over time, a bit of water/moisture can temporarily “lift” the residue out of the leather, and it will look like a stain until you condition/oil it again.
Where I live, it rains often in the spring and fall. Because I don’t have an indoor, I do get caught in the rain. On my older saddles it can look horrifying when I am done. Wiping them down until they are dry and following with several layers of conditioner always does the trick. I use Passier if my tack has endured any sort of rain, but really any sort of conditioner ought to do the trick.
Wait…there are people who do not sweat thru their breeches when it is hot out?
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I don’t sweat very much in general. A strenuous lesson on a hot, humid day will usually cause my upper body, mostly in the bra area to get damp and sweaty, that’s about it.
