How to Clean Your Saddle

Cleaning your tack properly every couple of months will keep it looking good and in good working condition for years.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brushes For Cleaning
• Cloth
• Garden Hoses
• Sponges
• Cloth
• Water
• Saddles
• Water
• Sponges

1. Place your saddle on a saddle rack, preferably a moveable one that you can put in your garage or outside where you can work on it.

2. Keep a new saddle in good condition and prevent it from darkening by lightly wetting and wringing out a soft dust-free cloth and wiping the entire saddle. Wipe off any excess water and allow the saddle to dry naturally.

3. Use a little extra elbow grease for older saddles. With a sponge, apply glycerin saddle soap to the entire saddle. Work soap in circular motions on smooth surfaces.

4. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean basketweave and intricate scrollwork on the saddle.

5. Wipe soap from the saddle using a damp towel. Lightly dry saddle with a clean, soft, dust-free cloth.

6. Twist both fenders of a Western saddle to the outside and place a broomstick through both stirrups to help keep the proper form; let the saddle dry naturally.

7. Use the same materials for the rest of your tack.

Tips & Warnings

• To get rid of squeaks in new Western saddles, turn the saddle upside down and sprinkle baby powder between the fenders (the long part where your leg rests) and the skirts.
• Contrary to popular belief, water will not hurt a saddle. It may make it a little stiff initially, but as soon as you ride, it will soften up.
• Hang headstalls from a hook or upside down half-circle holder (headstall holder) to keep proper form.
• For two reins (Western), loop reins once over hook or holder.
• Never place a saddle on the floor as you would on a horse. If you don't have a rack, lay your Western saddle on its front so it rests evenly on the horn and front of the skirt or turn it upside down. For an English saddle, turn the saddle upside down.
• Always check all tack for broken, worn or missing items before riding.
• Make sure cinch (Western) or girth (English) and breast collar are properly attached before riding.

[CinntiSurf]

on 6/15/2008 When ever it says "Keep a new saddle in good condition and prevent it from darkening" I don't know what it means by that! When you clean it with oil is does get darker? Wow...

[nikkimsu]

on 4/9/2008 Linda's Miracle Soap is AMAZING for cleaning and conditioning saddles. I will never go back to my old stuff. Check it out. lindasmiraclesoap.com.

[angelahill]

on 11/21/2007 I strongly disagree with "hosing" down the saddle with water and I wouldn't recommend it, in spite of the statement that water will not hurt the saddle. In fact, in the ehow article (linked below) on cleaning leather, it says NOT to rinse leather in water.

on 8/20/2006 For old saddles, or newer ones that have faced some neglect, Never Dull works very well for cleaning the silvers and steel on the saddle. It will remove years of built up grime and oxidation in just a few minutes.

on 8/8/2006 Try also using Twinkle silver polish on the silver on your tack. I use a damp Q-tip to apply. Then I let it dry, then I rub it of with a clean cloth.