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Caribu Horseware - Leather Care
| Leather Care |
Leather Care
With the right care, your leather reins, saddles and saddle bags will almost out last you! . I think all of us are guilty of treating our tack to a quick "lick-and-a-promise", with one-step products that make leather look good initially, but may not be beneficial in the long term.
Cleaning Tack
A wipe over with a damp sponge to remove dirt and sweat after every ride, and periodic (every 5-6 rides) application of glycerine saddle soap or a conditioning cream to the wiped tack is all leather equipment normally needs as regular maintenance.
To give dirty tack a really thorough cleaning we recommend a 3-part operation - first; take it apart and give it a 'pre-wash', using a mild cleaner. Lather well to remove dirt and sweat. . Rinse well with warm water and let dry at room temperature. Never ‘force-dry’ wet leather of any kind - this includes gloves, boots, or jackets.
The next step is an application of saddle soap. Use a plain Glycerin Bar, applied with a dry-damp sponge - wetting the glycerin bar, not the sponge. Rub the glycerin in well - the leather will gleam and be protected. Finally, if required, rub in a cream or ointment conditioner where necessary to keep leather pliable.
Conditioning
Tack should be taken apart and conditioned thoroughly at least at the beginning of each season. This is an important part of safety maintenance, allowing you to check carefully for the following:
Stitch Rot: This can happen when you’re not looking, stitching can look sound - but take a closer look.
Cracked Leather: This is leather that is weakened and showing stress; an accident waiting to happen. Check your stirrup leathers, including the holes, billet straps, reins, and girths.
Conditioning can be done with one of two types of products - an oil or a cream.
Leather Oils
Oil used to be the product of choice on new or damaged tack. Most modern tack undergoes different tanning and preparation, making conditioning creams or ointments preferable. Nowadays, oil is most useful on tack that is extremely dried out, or subject to abuse (such as leather turn-out halters or horse boots) for restoring old saddles and bridlework, and occasionally on new saddles. Remove the dirt using saddle soap, and once the leather has dried (out of the sun or a direct heat source), apply the oil generously, especially to the 'rough' underside of the leather, using a cloth (a J-cloth works well), small sponge, or a 1" paint brush. Gently roll and bend the leather, working the oil in with your hands, paying particular attention to where the leather bends around hardware or where buckles go.
Once the oil has soaked in, it is ready for use. Knee rolls shouldn't be oiled because the oil breaks down the glue and foam underneath. Be careful that when you apply oil to rubber reins it is only to the leather ends, as oil will ruin the glue under the rubber. Oil can make leather stretch, so avoid over oiling reins, billet straps, stirrup leathers and flash nose band straps. A little bit of oil can go a long way, so use sparingly - you can always add more.
Conditioners
Conditioner creams or balsams usually contain lanolin, beeswax, and so on, and may be used on a fairly regular basis. Conditioners are simply rubbed into clean, dry leather using your fingers or a soft cloth.
The majority of new leather tack nowadays will do better with a conditioning cream rather than an oil to break it in. Cream or ointment conditioners are less likely to strip the colour of the leather, add a little 'tackiness' to the leather, (giving the rider better grip), and are cleaner to apply. They may be applied everywhere on the saddle or bridle, but pay particular attention to the 'rough', or underside, of all leather - on bridles, the rough is against the horse's head; on saddles, the underside of the outer saddle flap, underneath the stirrup bar flap, and the inside of the sweat flaps (the sweat flap is closest to the horse - the rough is the side not touching the horse).
A conditioner should also be applied, as a rule, a few times a year; before storing tack; and after tack has been dried out, i.e., after being rained on.
Never "strip" tack. Ammonia, harsh detergents, bleach and wax strippers will ruin leather. Murphy's Oil Soap and Baby Oil are not recommended by saddle manufacturers. Most saddle makers today supply recommendations when selling their products. Following their instructions will give you the most satisfaction .
Good quality, well cared for leather should last for years. The recipe is easy - Keep it clean, feed it well, and enjoy!
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