I am biting the bullet and getting a new saddle that will fit me AND the horse. I love all things patent leather but am curious on how well it holds up over time? Looking at black patent piping, welting and stirrup keepers. Easy to clean, etc?
Easy to clean but a bit delicate, so I would avoid putting it anywhere that gets a lot of wear. I have patent stirrup keepers, welting and cantle. So far so good.
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Agree with Big Mama1. I have on cantle of current saddle. Also had it in my driving past on the dash of my vehicle and some harness parts. The less exposure to weather the better, (tack rooms fine, carriage outside under a tarp in the north, trickier, lol) A rubbing with petroleum jelly, thin coat good to clean/shine.
My theory: If it wont show up when you are in the saddle, dont put it there…
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I have a Stubben 1894 with patent cantle and stirrup keepers- I haven’t noticed any wear on those areas, other than it shows grease/fingerprints really clearly. I’ll swipe over it with rubbing alcohol right before a show or something like that, other than that I leave it alone.
Patent on harness did not last well. Started cracking after a few years. Perhaps the patent on expensive saddles is a better quality of patent and does not get the flexing the sides of harness saddle does.
I have been told by harness makers, that no one make the original style of “patent” leather these days. Probably that original (late 1800s origin) formula is too hard on the workers or creates toxic waste.The shiny stuff used now is made various ways, some are plastics coated on fabric.
We no longer have any patent on our harness and the plain leather you can polish to a glow, costs a bunch more than patent did!
I have a young horse saddle with a patent cantle. I bought it used in 2014, and used it on a mare who had a penchant for backward rolls when getting saddled due to heat cycle pain making her slightly crazy. It has been lent out to others and stored alternately since, and the patent still looks new.
The finish on the seat welt (or piping, same thing) under your thigh will rub off. You will be left with dull and discolored welt in that area. I got it anyway on my saddle because it will still look pretty in front of and behind my thigh. Stirrup keepers should be fine as they don’t see much trauma, though many people are going without stirrup keepers because they are using T-bar leathers or dressage leathers with buckles at the bottom.
You didn’t ask, but rear facing is also a good, safe place to add patent. Front facing I recommend against getting patent because if you ever set it on the floor, or if you put it on a rack in such a was that the pommel is against the wall, it can be damaged.
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