So I love a silicone full seat, I have several pairs but currently don’t wear them with my dressage saddle because I had heard somewhere in my online travels that silicone can damage calfskin. The seat of my dressage saddle is calfskin, and I ADORE this saddle and don’t want to damage it. Does anyone have experience with silicone + calf skin?
Picture from when I trialed it, just because 
Thank you!
It can definitely trash calfskin. Maybe try a seat cover if you want to school in them.
In my experience, it depends a lot on the specific silicone full seats.
I have some full seat Fouganza breeches with tiny not-very-sticky, very flat/thin silicone diamonds, and I don’t notice any rubbing on my saddle in them. My Free Ride breeches have a little more of a bump where the silicone is, but the pattern is so fine that it doesn’t cause much rubbing. I have a pair of Fager full seats, and the silicone is firm and sticks out quite a bit, which just wrecks my saddles seat, despite how fine the pattern is. Which is a shame because the fabric on those is really nice.
So yes, YMMV. But the stiffer and more protruding the silicone, the harsher it will be on your saddle.
Edit to add: Links are for illustration of the actual silicone on the different examples.
My silicone breeches were leaving marks on my saddle. I like my Free Rides but my saddle actually fits my horse and I don’t want to go back to saddle hell… so back to non-silicone breeches.
I’ve never had a problem with my Free Rides on my calfskin saddle. They did leave a pattern of R’s (the silicone pattern) on my trainer’s saddle but they were just superficial and buffed out when I cleaned it. I don’t know if that saddle was calf or not. Second @Moonboots that it depends on the breeches, and apparently on the specific saddle too.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
