Looking after your leatherwork this winter
Bridles and saddles can cost a lot of money and, if not cared for correctly, can quickly deteriorate and become dangerous. It’s important to maintain your leather all year round, but the winter months do make it a little more challenging with the rain, mud and cold conditions it’ll be exposed to. Here are our top tips to help you keep your bridles and saddles looking beautiful this winter…
- Little and often – a quick wipe with a warm cloth after riding to remove the dirt and grease at the time is much easier than waiting until it has dried on…and it will keep your tack looking its best with minimal effort! Using a product like Leather Spray Soap can work really well here too as it can be sprayed on and wiped around quickly, to help maintain condition.
- Water, water everywhere – don’t use too much water at any stage of cleaning as your tack won’t thank you! A warm, wrung out cloth or sponge should do the job.
- Rain, rain, go away! – if your tack has been rained on, it’s important to dry it carefully. Wipe away excess water with a sponge or towel, clean as normal (with something like Leather Tub Soap), and then leave in a warm room, away from direct heat, to dry out. When the tack is dry, consider using a conditioning product like Leather Conditioning Cream. Don’t be tempted to accelerate the drying process as this can cause cracking.
- Tack room – having background heat in the area you store your tack is important to help prevent mould, but don’t ever put your tack over direct heat as this can cause it to dry out and crack.
- Cover – putting your tack in a bag, or putting a cover over your saddle can help to keep it dust free and can also help prevent mould growth.
- Check – make sure you check your tack regularly for signs of wear that could compromise your safety.
To see our full range of leather care products, see the website.