Restoring and Reviving old saddles

Starbuxchic · Yearling

Restoring and Reviving old saddles

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I use lard. Be VERY careful to keep the lard away from metal on the saddle (causes corrosive green crud) and away from all rubber (the lard MELTS rubber.) The lard also tends to lift the black dye out of the leather leaving it a very dark brown. It also darkens brown leather.

One time my MS was so bad that I did not have the energy to soap my saddles for 5 years. I got a weird book that recommended just using animal fat on the leather. I searched, beef tallow was only available in 55 gallon drums, lanolin was super, super expensive and usually perfumed, so I settled on regular lard that I can sometimes find in the grocery stores. It saved my leather saddles, 20 years later I can still ride in them. Then later I found an old dressage saddle that had obviously neglected for years, the leather was all dry. However the saddle was German made and only cost $95 so I took a chance, got it and larded it. The saddle is useable still.

I told a lady who has a big stable about this when she said she had lots of saddles and other tack that had been put aside and forgotten. She later thanked me, they saved most of the saddles. The only thing she had against it is that it is a messy process.

First I clean the saddle with a good old fashioned type saddle soap (Fieblings (sp)) that comes in a tin. You can use the other type saddle soaps, just get the surfaces of the leather clean, both the smooth and flesh sides. I do a first larding, rubbing the lard into the leather (both sides where applicable), let the saddle sit for several hours and do the next larding. The next day I do another larding, repeating if necessary. GOOD English leather will drink up an amazing amount of lard! Good German leather can soak up a good bit of lard too, just not as much. I would give the saddle another week or two to soak the lard in before I rode in it much. During that time if the leather starts feeling dry again give it another treatment with the lard. If for any reason you overlard your saddle the leather on the saddle flaps will start getting limp, but if you let the saddle sit for several weeks it will start drying out some, especially if it is stored near a heat source.

Be VERY SURE that you check the billet straps for the girth AND where the billet straps are sewn into the webbing at the top. If the billet straps have any cracks get them replaced!!!!!! Also check that the little thing on the end of the stirrup bars is down and keep it down so the leathers can slide off of it if you fall and get hung up in the stirrup.

Yakkittyyak · Yearling

Funny Jackie should mention the lard! It prompted me to remember my father using that when I was a little kid.

I use a product called "Leather New", which in my experience, if you are willing to put in on over and over (maybe a day apart) it will bring leather back. I used it on a saddle that was over 50 years old that I wanted to restore for my daughter. I apply it with a small piece of sheepskin (you casn usually buy a junk little piece of real sheepskin from a saddle maker). Just spray it on, and rub rub rub. You can use a piece of cloth, but I find the cloth soaks up the product faster than the leather, so you end up going thru more product. I have also applied it with my hands, while I was wearing rubber gloves. That way, all of the Leather New goes into the saddle, and you don't waste any. Good Luck! PS: If the saddle starts to look 'hazy' just wait till it is dry, and buff it off with a dry towel.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

I love WD-40 and cooking oil for keeping my leather primed. Sounds yucky and slightly darkens leather so beware on light leathers, but it's cheap and easy! (Toothpaste to clean silver works wonders, too!)