How to make my saddle tacky?

[Ready_To_Riot]

Like “sticky” so to speak. My boots also I guess. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrible at taking care of my things (I know! I should be better!), but trainer says that well oiled tack will solve 98% of my position issues. So I oiled the heck out of the thing, and I assume I’ve got to do it more than once, but any other advice… I feel that by the middle of my ride it’s all dried and slippery again. I’ve got an older saddle. A courbette. In great shape. I clean it with cwd leather soap and then oil with feibings 100% beats foot oil. Somewhere I have cwd leather conditioner…

Also, my boots… I feel those should be tacky as well? They are cheapys. Dublin ascot (or something like that).

Basically, how do I need to properly clean my stuff?!?

[Horsechick200]

This stuff will probably help you a ton. It will make your leather tacky and keeps it very supple and soft as well.

http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=STO9497&stricSKU=STO9497

[TC3200]

There is a spray product, not a conditioner, that is just for grip. Sit Tite or maybe it’s now Tack Up grip spray.

http://horse-journal.com/article/products-stick-tack-26134

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?413412-Tack-Up-Grip-Spray-Won-t-come-off-saddle!

[supershorty628]

Give it a good cleaning with glycerine soap (the orange stuff you can buy at any tack store). I wouldn’t oil it on such a regular basis that you saturate it.

Glycerine soap makes it sticky without attracting dirt and getting it all gunky.

[starsandsun]

I use Lederbalsam.

[Synthesis]

Glitter and rainbow stickers?
Oh right, you meant sticky tacky, not ‘dear god what IS that thing’ tacky :lol:

Regular use of glycerin saddle soap, Sit-Tite spray or wax, beeswax cream all help add varying degrees of stickiness

[honeypeanutbutter]

**

[meupatdoes]

Clean it with glycerin soap using a barely wet sponge. If the soap is sudsing it is way too wet and will have the opposite effect.

If you just flick a few drops of water on the bar of soap, however, rub the sponge across the moistened soap and wipe that onto the saddle, the saddle will come out tacky and shiny, but not sticky.

[Ready_To_Riot]

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;8610437]
Clean it with glycerin soap using a barely wet sponge. If the soap is sudsing it is way too wet and will have the opposite effect.

If you just flick a few drops of water on the bar of soap, however, rub the sponge across the moistened soap and wipe that onto the saddle, the saddle will come out tacky and shiny, but not sticky.[/QUOTE]

This might have been my problem. When I cleaned it, I assumed it was supposed to get sudsy! So it was very sudsy. Now I know

All these years riding, you’d have thought I would have figured out how to clean a dang saddle!

[Rocky092]

Lederbalsam to condition 1x a month and damp sponge with glycerine soap after each ride. The quality of the leather will determine how “sticky” the leather is, nicer saddles generally have more grip. That being said, taking care of any type of leather properly will ensure you get the most “grip” out of the leather. Saddle time rubbed on the insides of the boots can also help with the tackiness you are looking for.

[jetsmom]

How to make your saddle tacky…

How to make your saddle tacky…Bedazzle it and dye the seat pink.

[IPEsq]

Glycerine soap, lederbalsam conditioner (or the CWD conditioner, it’s nice stuff). For boots, get some Sadl-Tite.

[Dewey]

[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8610568]
This might have been my problem. When I cleaned it, I assumed it was supposed to get sudsy! So it was very sudsy. Now I know

All these years riding, you’d have thought I would have figured out how to clean a dang saddle![/QUOTE]

Saddle soap is not really a cleaner. It’s a conditioner, and it will provide a nice finish if you apply if just as meup described above.

[RugBug]

For what it’s worth…a slick saddle won’t do you any favors, but if you have a correct position, it won’t matter…it will just be an inconvenience. If I were you, I would focus more on position than trying to make my saddle or boots stickier.

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=jetsmom;8610643]
How to make your saddle tacky…Bedazzle it and dye the seat pink.[/QUOTE]

That’s where my mind went.

Feibings dye comes in a rainbow of colors.

[Ready_To_Riot]

[QUOTE=RugBug;8610914]
For what it’s worth…a slick saddle won’t do you any favors, but if you have a correct position, it won’t matter…it will just be an inconvenience. If I were you, I would focus more on position than trying to make my saddle or boots stickier.[/QUOTE]

I understand this, but I also don’t want something working against me as I try to get back into shape. Before I took a break from riding, it was a non issue, but now I’ve got to get my leg and confidence back… I don’t need anything working against me

[RxCate]

Best proven way to get your leg back - ride bareback or without stirrups.

[Trixie]

Lose the stirrups.

But other than that, make sure your tack is well oiled and conditioned. I like to clean mine with a basic cleaner like castile soap and then use something like Hydrophane leather oil - I’ve found that soaks in quite well. You can also use lederbalsam for a more tacky feel. But consistency is really key here. It’s not going to get tacky from one application, it’s going to stay broken in and soft if you consistently take care of it.

It also sort of depends on the leather. Some leathers are just smoother than others. The plastick-y saddles of 10 years are so rarely seem to break in properly - the leather was cheapish to begin with and even if you soak it in oil, it doesn’t seem to absorb. For instance, this and this are just never going to break in all that well. Whereas one that is made with softer leather is going to have a much easier time.

[Synthesis]

You sounds like a re-rider. The best way to get your leg back?

Ride more. If that means stirrups, Sit-Tite and leather full seats to get started, then go for it. Then start to reduce the ‘assistance’ as you feel more comfortable.

Just ride, as much as possible. If you can, go hacking at walk for hours. When your knees and ankles get sore, drop your stirrups to ease the pain. Take them back after, etc. Just ride I speak from experience

[Ready_To_Riot]

I’m sort of a re-rider. The real re-riders don’t like when I use that term. Lol. I took about 3 years off while my horse was recovering from an injury. I’m just out of shape now! We do about 20 mins of no stirrup work a couple times a week. I try for every ride, but sometimes rides are short. And 2 point at the walk. It helps, but I notice a big difference when my tack and boots have just been cleaned verse not. Thanks everyone!!!