Damp rag to get the dirt off and then condition. I like a balsam, or something like Tack Butter if I need a little more cleaning power. I don’t know many people that still use polish and probably wouldn’t try unless the brand recommends it. When in doubt, check with the manufacturer for their recommendations. Most modern leather is softer and needs to be babied a bit more than the older stuff, I rarely use saddle soap on anything these days.
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I’m gonna go against the grain and say don’t condition your tall boots and do use boot polish. If you use true polish and do it properly (buffing, brush, etc), it will protect the boot, repel dirty/dust, and keep them from drying out. Make sure you apply it to clean boots, though. No saddle soap, I recommend a damp rag. My boots last for 5+ years with daily use like this. I polish every few weeks or so but brush off any debris after every use.
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Ended up at the tack shop today. I have DeNiros and they recommended Castile soap and boot conditioner with limited polishing. They were saying over-polishing leaves a lot of buildup on the leather. I’m from the era of saddle soap and Kiwi polish so going to listen to the above and the tack shop while I figure it all out!
Also…six weeks in and signed up to show 
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I really like Meg too, partially because I also struggle with a forward stride and want to pull and wind up killing the canter. I also like Simon Grieve - he’s a 5* Eventer who has often featured on Meg’s channel but has started his own recently. Not a lot of content yet, but he’s just such lovely rider and kind instructor and trainer. In one of his vlogs he took several horses to a schooling show and was allowed to keep the mic on as he competed (had to take it off for later classes), but it was delightful and educational to hear him talk to the horses and himself as he want through the rounds. He also tends to be very open about his mistakes and the things he does to work on himself and his own riding, which is nice to hear from a rider at that level.
Lol. It took me at least 6 months back in the saddle before I signed up for a show! I hope you have a great time - just remember to breathe.
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Funny you say that, breathing has been the hardest part of getting back into it! I swear my lung capacity has gone way down!
So I gotta say, the “nourishing cream” gave my boots a really nice shine! Curious to see how they wear and if shine holds up!
Planking, planking and also planking. Something really wholesome and empowering when you measure your progress in seconds. Love it.
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I have been told that real Saddle Soap is for thick saddle leather, cowboy boots, etc. ONLY and not for tall boots or other soft leathers. The Saddle Soap is allegedly too harsh for the baby’s butt leather texture that most of us have grown fond of. For my soft leathers, I usually just use water or water with Murphy’s Oil Soap (diluted, of course). And then follow-up with Blackrock.
