Leather saddle care after riding in the rain

[Horseman15]

I know eventing doesn’t stop because of rain. After you ride in the rain what do you do to take care of your saddle? I didn’t get to ride this weekend and it’s rained all day yesterday and today. I want to ride tonight despite the rain, but I’m not sure what to do with my saddle once it gets wet. It’s a Stuben if that makes any difference but I don’t know which type of leather it is.

Thanks

[Didi]

After it gets wet just clean it very well with saddle soap and condition it. BEFORE you go out in the rain, use mink oil on it. Put it all over. It is a great rain repellant!

[beowulf]

while it is still damp, if you can, either hose it off or wipe it down with a damp rag and follow with a conditioner.

once it absorbs everything and dries out completely you can do the usual, but when it is wet it is important to follow with some sort of emollient or conditioning agent so that when it dries it doesn’t dessicate.

it isn’t water that damages leather per se, but what happens when the water dries out.

stubbens are incredibly hardy and you would have to do much more than ride in the rain to kill it.

[Willesdon]

Leather is a natural material and rain doesn’t harm it. Wipe off the excess water, make certain that you put it away to dry off without anything folded or bent out of shape as the leather may set in that position (so remove the girth, for example) and don’t dry it too fast (such as in a well heated room). Once it is dry enough, use your usual soap and oil. Bit like dealing with wet shoes, actually. I live in the UK: it rains a lot here.

[jawa]

Hopefully it has been properly maintained and it has been conditioned or oiled already.

If it has, conditioning while it is still wet (after a quick cleaning if it’s muddy) will help it to absorb the conditioner. Allow it to dry in a room that is at normal room temperature.

If your saddle hasn’t been properly conditioned before you ride it might need another round of conditioner once it has dried.

[Horseman15]

Thanks everyone! I ended up not riding. The saddle looked pretty dry (think dry skin) so I spent 2 1/2 hours cleaning and oiling the saddle and all of my tack. I just bought the Stubben Saturday. It looks like a completely different saddle now! I will definitely keep in mind all of the advice because I’m riding tomorrow no matter what! LOL I’ll definitely keep your advise in mind because it’s only a matter of time before it does get rained on. How often should you clean/condition a saddle? I ride 4+ times a week

Thanks again everyone!

[jaybird660]

Yes, let it dry naturally, out of direct sun or a heat source and not on a rack that will dent it. Then condition fully when dry, everywhere.

[Didi]

I clean my saddle with saddle soap after every ride (some days more thoroughly than others, but after every ride nonetheless). I condition about once a month. I never oil it after the initial oiling (although it sounds like you did the right thing - I always oil “new to me” saddles whether they are used or not then never again) - over-oiling compromises the stitching. Mink oil about once a month as well.

[eventer_mi]

Stubben, if I remember correctly, used to advise you to ride in the rain or swim in their saddles to “break them in”, so I doubt your riding in the rain will do anything to harm it.

Like the others said, while it’s damp (and especially if it’s rain-spotted), thoroughly wet it down with a sponge and then condition it. Keep it out of the heat and let it dry naturally. DON’T use a hair dryer on it or blow direct heat on it - that will dry out the leather beyond repair. I wouldn’t use oil - I would use a good leather conditioner, like Passier Lederbalsam.

[Didi]

Just for the record - mink oil isn’t “oil,” it is a soft solid like tinned saddle soap

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=Willesdon;8175578]
Leather is a natural material and rain doesn’t harm it. Wipe off the excess water, make certain that you put it away to dry off without anything folded or bent out of shape as the leather may set in that position (so remove the girth, for example) and don’t dry it too fast (such as in a well heated room). Once it is dry enough, use your usual soap and oil. Bit like dealing with wet shoes, actually. I live in the UK: it rains a lot here.[/QUOTE]

I trust anyone in the UK when it comes to advice on dealing with leather goods exposed to rain :lol:

[Horseman15]

After leaving the saddle and tack sit for 24 hours I pulled it out today and rode. I know I said I oiled all of it but actually I used Lexol Equine Leather Conditioner. It’s a cream conditioner. Everything was so soft and supple! The saddle had grip it didn’t have the 1st 2 times I rode in it. The reins even felt better and I wasn’t losing my place with slippage. Plus the saddle looks like a completely different saddle!