For The Horse Community

[The Cowboy]

First off I know nothing about horses and have never ridden on one. I am however a big western fan.
On Friday I was given a western saddle. The saddle is a bit grubby and needs a wee clean up. I have been told to use saddle soap. Can someone please tell me where to get it and how to use it. All help / advice is appreciated.

TIA.

Cowboy

[Chaffinch]

You can get saddle soap from any Tack Shop, just damp a cloth rub it on the soap and clean your saddle, don't get it too wet. Saddle soap is great for all other leather too.

[chrissa1]

http://www.robinsonse...result/?q=saddle+soap

[boxtops]

There are several listings of saddle soap on eBay at the moment, prices vary but worth a look.

[woofgang]

have you got a shoe repair shop near you? They usually sell saddle soap. Lucky you being given a saddle!

[chrissa1]

I know but has he got a horse to go with it?

[Clanad]

I don't know, of course, if a product we swear by here in the western U.S., is available in the U.K., but check to see if Lexol can be purchased. Best by far of any product I've tried. Get yourself a couple of cheap toothbrushes to clean the crevasses and the rough underrside of the various parts of the saddle such as where the jockey covers the skirts... You can undo the thongs that hold the conchos that hold the rear jockey to the skirt and that'll make the job easier. If your saddle happens to have one of the "padded" seats, don't be to liberal with the saddle cleaner/conditioner. That kind of seat tends to soak up any oil and immediately deposit same on your backside.
We have saddles here on a ranch that have been in service for 50 years or more and are still going strong as long as they're well looked after...

Additionally, it's very easy to take the stirrup straps off and clean and oil them. You might find that some of the strapping used to hold the stirrup strap rings on the saddle may need replacing.... as well as the rings for the cinches (if it's a standard double rig there'll be two of them... the rear one being leather only).