Leather care for saddles, bridles and snaffle bits: How to keep your riding equipment beautiful for longer!

Leather is a natural material. It is breathable, hard-wearing and robust and, with the right treatment, extremely durable. It is precisely these properties that qualify the material as a material for riding saddles, bridles, etc. In order for natural leather to retain its unique characteristics, it needs regular care. Without enough care, the leather can become hard, porous and, after a certain time, even cracked. The consequence: riding accidents that can end badly for the rider and the horse. But moisture can also damage the natural material, causing it to start to mold. This is precisely why it is important that you treat your riding equipment to intensive care at least every two months. You can find out what this should look like and why it is so important in the following article.

Why is leather so popular in equestrian sports?

Natural leather is one of the classics as a raw material for saddles, bridles and snaffles. This natural material has various positive properties that are particularly important in equestrian sports. These include the suppleness of the skin-friendly material. It is also hard-wearing and easy to shape. This not only makes the riding accessories particularly comfortable to wear. Saddlers love it because its flexibility means it can be wonderfully adapted to the horse's body shape. The natural property of adhesion, which is particularly characteristic of double-layered leather, which consists of a soft and a stable leather layer, makes it the perfect material for equestrian sports.

The accessories are mainly made of cowhide. To ensure that the natural material can withstand the high demands of this sport, it is tanned using vegetable tanning or a chromium compound (tanning with chromium salts). Both methods make the material durable and supple. Chrome tanning is the most commonly used method for tanning leather riding accessories worldwide due to its low cost and quick procedure. As long as the process is clean and the tanner works professionally, consumers do not have to worry about whether chrome-tanned leather is toxic. They are not.

Another characteristic of leather that makes it ideal for equestrian sports is its breathability. Because it has air and moisture permeable properties and the animals' sweat does not accumulate under the saddle, dangerous heat build-up on the horses' backs can be prevented.

Caring for double-stitched leather: What you should pay attention to when cleaning your saddle!

To ensure that double-layered leather stays beautiful for a long time, it needs to be looked after properly. In general, the cleaning and care of a riding saddle should be tailored to the individual and adapted to the climatic conditions, the season and the level of wear and tear.

The storage location also determines the durability of the material. The best conditions would be temperatures between fifteen and eighteen degrees Celsius in a dry place away from too much UV light and heat sources. Unfortunately, these optimal conditions are rarely found in a riding stable. That's why you should make sure to look after your equipment properly. In hot temperatures and strong sunlight, your saddle and your other leather riding equipment need a lot of attention. After a sweaty gallop over hill and dale or after a strenuous tournament, you should follow these steps:

1. Clean the saddle

Sweat attacks leather and affects the durability of the natural material. Therefore, when the training or ride is over and your horse returns to the pasture or stable, you should clean the saddle with a damp cloth. It is important that you avoid products that contain solvents. They attack the leather irreversibly and change the natural feel and appearance of the material. Instead, we recommend asustainable saddle soap, which you use to remove heavy dirt. Make sure that you use the wet element sparingly when cleaning the material. Water and leather do not mix particularly well!

2. Care for the saddle

Once the natural material is completely dry, it is crying out for moisture and needs to be given the right care. Care products such as rich leather oil, leather balm, leather lotion or natural leather wax are suitable for this. The type of care you prefer depends on your personal preferences. Regardless of which product you ultimately choose, make sure that you always apply it sparingly and evenly. Because the fact is: more is not better!

Saddle care with oil & wax:There are also a few things to consider when applying the product. For example, leather oil should be applied using a soft sponge or cloth and should be allowed to penetrate deeply into the leather. If you want to treat your saddle with anatural waxIf you want to pamper your leather, you should gently work the product into the leather and allow it to absorb completely overnight. Any excess care that the material has not absorbed can be removed the next morning with a soft cotton cloth.

Saddle care with leather lotion or balm:A balm or aLeather lotiontakes less time to moisturize your riding equipment. Products like these are not as rich and are suitable for leather that is not subject to as much wear and tear. So-called combination products are sufficient for cleaning and care in between. They clean and care for your saddle and all leather riding equipment to perfection. We recommend a sustainable care product that is free of environmentally harmful ingredients and instead does its job based on environmentally friendly household products such as sugar surfactants. However, you should still not do without intensive care three to four times a year, for which you have to dismantle your saddle.

Important: The girth straps and stirrup leathers should be treated less frequently with leather care. Excessive suppleness and stretching of the leather would be counterproductive at this point. Remember that your saddle also has an underside. To ensure that the panels remain soft and supple and offer your horse a comfortable wearing experience, they also need to be cleaned and cared for at regular intervals. A sustainable saddle soap is ideal for this.