Since I get asked this a lot, I thought I should make a post containing all the basic information on saddle care in one place.
Products I Use
- Effax Leder balsam (any brand is fine, look for beeswax/lanolin)
- Effax Leder combi
- VeruGreen Naturals Leather Cleaner, or any other pH balanced soap specifically designed for English tack (Lexol also makes one)
- Hydrophane oil
Products to Avoid
- Any oil except Hydrophane
- Other oils will weaken/wreck vegetable tanned leather
- Neatsfoot and other tack oils are for Western tack
- Only hydrophane oil will preserve English tack
- In a pinch, you can use corn oil!
- Glycerine based soaps
- Again, they are for Western tack
- They may strip the dyes from you tack
- They may leave a nasty residue on your tack
- They will shorten the lifespan of vegetable tanned leather
Brand New Saddle (or Bridle, Girth, etc):
- Wipe with a barely damp cloth
- Using your fingertips, coat the entire thing with leder balsam to condition and protect it
After Every Ride
- Wipe off all the sweat, dust, and moisture with either a barely damp cloth or leder combi
- Do not store your girth on top of your saddle; the sweat left on the girth with erode the seat
- Hang your bridle nicely to prolong its useful life
- Wipe gunk off the bit to prevent it from building up
Once a Week
- Clean thoroughly with a barely damp sponge and your pH balanced soap, wiping away all soap residue
- Clean the billets weekly, but only oil or balsam them monthly or they will stretch
- Using your fingertips, apply a very thin layer of leder balsam
- If the leather is very dry, use your finger tips to apply a small amount of hydrophane oil instead of leder balsam
Please let me know if you have questions or want more information by leaving a comment. I intend to keep working on the video series as I have time, including tips for oiling, for show boots, etc.