<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 2) Saddle cleaner or detergent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Next you want to spray some of the saddle cleaner on the saddle. Scrub small areas at a time, just like with a leather. You’ll also have to scrub less depending on how often you clean your saddle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like to start at the back top and work my way down one side and then all the way down the other. It’s just logical to me to work from the top down but you don’t have to do it this way. As long as you’re doing it one area at a time and you aren’t trying to scrub the whole saddle at once, you’re good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure that you take all removable parts off your saddle and clean them as well. Also, you want to get beneath all of the flaps and into the little nooks and crannies – even if it’s annoying. This can be especially difficult with a sponge and sometimes it’s just ineffective, so…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3) The toothbrush clean<\/h4>\n\n\n\n In those little, hard-to-get areas of your saddles that’s where a little brush comes in handy. A toothbrush works very well for this. Especially around the little loops, up under the saddle flaps, etc. For a synthetic saddle, however, I would use an especially soft-bristled brush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You want to work the toothbrush in small circular motions. This will work the cleaner deep into the material and help all of the dirt stuck in there come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The toothbrush is also just useful for areas on the top of the saddle that are very dirty and have stubborn spots. Sometimes no matter how hard you scrub with a sponge, you just won’t be able to get the dirt out with that if it’s too deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4) Wipe it down<\/h4>\n\n\n\n After your saddle is all soaped up, you want to take your cloth and wipe the whole thing down. I don’t like using a hose here although some people do that. It just makes me nervous soaking the the material to that extent – it seems like its too much moisture, even if it’s not leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I prefer just taking a damp cloth that I’ve wrung out and wipe from top to bottom. But you can do whatever works for you to get all of the soap off. Just make sure all the soap is off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, once you’ve done this, you’ll realize that there’s still some spots here and there that you missed. Just repeat Step 3 if this happens with a little bit of soap on your brush and scrub the spots. Then wipe down again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5) Don’t forget the non-leather bits!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Depending on your saddle design, you’ll have more or less non-leather components to your saddle. Most of these will be metal, such as the stirrups. For these, you can use the damp cloth to simply wipe them down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re prepping for a show or something, then you may want to also polish them off using another fleece cloth. Usually polishes will come with their own specialty cloths as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, don’t spray any metal polish, because it may get on the saddle’s material. Spray it on the cloth and then use the cloth to polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cleaning horse saddles is quick & easy if you do it regularly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt can be a pain to scrub and scrub and scrub but this is just what’s going to happen if you keep procrastinating cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You just need to suck it up and do it at least once a month for leather and every two months for synthetic.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis way, it’s a much quicker and easier process. You’re just doing your regularly scheduled tack maintenance rather than trying to reverse damage done. And that really makes all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give me a shout in the comments below if you have any questions or concerns when it comes to saddle cleaning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Happy riding \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n