One owner saddle, me, it’s about 5 years old.
Cleaned with Belvoir cleaner, or Murphy’s Oil soap and water over the years. Conditioned with Lederbalsam sometimes, olive oil sometimes. probably initially did it with plain Neatsfoot.
This 'bubbling is isolated to that one stirrup leather and those spots on the saddle strings.
Ideas?
What’s happening with this leather?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203112093751884&l=ca31f69ad1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203112094111893&l=e39c81538c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203112093351874&l=b1b2813d65
One owner saddle, me, it’s about 5 years old.
Cleaned with Belvoir cleaner, or Murphy’s Oil soap and water over the years. Conditioned with Lederbalsam sometimes, olive oil sometimes. probably initially did it with plain Neatsfoot.
This 'bubbling is isolated to that one stirrup leather and those spots on the saddle strings.
Ideas?
Kind of looks like it got wet.
hmmm… I don’t think that’s it. This saddle’s been ridden in the rain a time or two…but that stirrup leather wasn’t soaked independent of the rest of it.
If you look at the cracked and crazed look of the fender in the non bubbled areas, it looks like the outer finish is being attacked.
Different saddlemakers use different top coating products. Some use lacquer-based products like Neatlac, which your cleaners might be attacking.
Even Tan-Kote (a more usual, water based product) can have issues.
I’ve never thought of Murphy’s as a tack cleaning product, though I know lots use it.
Can you ask the maker what surface product was used?
Looks like leather got wiped or splashed with something that caused the bubbling in that third photo. I am saying this because the strap under fender edge is also showing a little bubbling, but not so much.
Have you tried washing that area with water or water and soap to remove the bubbling? That should help with getting out any “stuff” that might be on leather that is causing the problem. I would use a LOT of water and soap, then rinse very well, let the leather air dry before conditioning it again.
Looks like leather got wiped or splashed with something that caused the bubbling in that third photo. I am saying this because the strap under fender edge is also showing a little bubbling, but not so much.
Have you tried washing that area with water or water and soap to remove the bubbling? That should help with getting out any “stuff” that might be on leather that is causing the problem. I would use a LOT of water and soap, then rinse very well, let the leather air dry before conditioning it again.
I’ll shoot them some pics- the seat on my other hardseat showed some of this, too. Good suggestion.
Hmmm. The first pic looks like an area of mold except it’s not green. I think Goodhors has a plausible theory.
On both my English and western saddles- I clean just with warm water and elbow grease to the extent possible, Castille soap for the tough stuff. My fussy western saddlemaker swears by neatsfoot and only neatsfood for conditioning the leather he uses. I do use the combi and Lederbalsam on my English saddles, but for the western saddles I quite like Skidmore’s leather cream.
I’ve emailed the makers to ask.
it’s ‘in’ the leather, not on it- it’s like it is blistered. it doesn’t go very far, and it hasn’t changed in a year, I think? Obviously it’s not bothering me that much 
but it is weird to me.
I will let you know what I learn from the maker. I, too, think something got on it (did some tom cat spray it?? but it doesn’t stink, thank God)…
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