Old, dry saddle?

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Old, dry saddle?
Topic Started: Jul 16 2009, 06:49 PM (103 Views)
Trialbyfire	Jul 16 2009, 06:49 PM Post #1
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Posts: 2,186 Group: Members Member #250 Joined: January 8, 2007	I picked up a nice older 14" Crosby for my younger dd that is dry as dirt. It's in great shape but must have been stored in an attic, or somewhere else very dry. The surface of the saddle is so dry is is almost scaly; a few little cracks but mostly ok. I've oiled it about 6 times and it just sucks up the oil so fast it's amazing; before you get done with it once it's totally absorbed. Anything else I should do other than keep oiling it? I've cleaned it just to be sure it didn't have any other residue on it and now just keep oiling it....I figured I'd just keep going at this rate. Mostly it seems the surface is the dryest; the rest seems pretty typical for an older saddle but the seat & flaps are just parched! It will fit my 7 year old for only about 6 months so I'm not looking for any miracles and really don't need any; just wondered if there was another product I should try or whether it's possible to over-oil?



MayaTy02	Jul 16 2009, 07:52 PM Post #2
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,371 Group: Members Member #388 Joined: January 17, 2007	another saddle? spill.... I used Horseman's One Step for my saddle, and it came out ok....right



Trialbyfire	Jul 16 2009, 08:15 PM Post #3
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Posts: 2,186 Group: Members Member #250 Joined: January 8, 2007	Did I tell you that the Ian Miller we bought was actually a 16"? So much for assuming the tack store measured .....I WOULD have measured but thought I'd look stupid doing it IN the store!.....the first thing I did when I got the Pessoa was measure it! But we assumed the Ian Miller saddle was a 15" .....dd#1 had a lesson and brought both to try. Trainer loved the Pessoa and hated the Ian Miller because it was too big. So....grabbed the tape measure at the barn and measured....duh! 16". Lesson learned. Anyway, we're reselling; if all goes south it will fit kid #1 eventually but not yet. I will take pics and post here too but am doing a flyer for the lesson barn. One girl tried it twice already and liked it but not sure....I think we won't have any trouble selling it. So CJ (that's her barn name....she's so cool) did the riding camp last week and met a whole bunch of new girls and had a blast; somehow one of the moms told me she still had her own younger sister's old Crosby (14") [so they are old like us!] and we decided to try it for Natasha. She was going to ride in it tonight but rained out (again!) so after the rain stopped I popped it on Ms. W and tossed little kid on her and decided it's worth the $150 price. She's thrilled, of course, but especially that I let her trot on my big TB. (I led her, of course). But the driest leather I've ever seen. In great shape, but very dry. Guess we'll keep oiling. I thought about the Horseman's One Step but thought it might be better to oil a few more times and then use it? (Lock in the moisture?) Yes, your saddle was in great shape when I got it.....was it very dry before you tried the One Step?



MayaTy02	Jul 17 2009, 04:38 AM Post #4
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,371 Group: Members Member #388 Joined: January 17, 2007	I knew it! I thought that saddle looked huge oh well...that's a tough size to sell too. Good luck! My saddle was in very very very dry when I took it out and tried to give it some life. I used the horseman's one step like every day for a week especially when you said you might want it. I know there are alot of leather restore type things out there you can try. Eventually it'll get better!



Onelanerode	Jul 17 2009, 06:20 AM Post #5
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 633 Group: Members Member #130 Joined: January 7, 2007	I'm not a fan of Horseman's One Step. If it's really that dry, I'd get some Effax or Belvoir leather balm (conditioner) and give it a few coats of that. I like the Effax better, but the Belvoir isn't bad. Then clean it with Belvoir's spray cleaner (best stuff EVER), let it sit for a few days, and condition again. Don't try to work the leather at all until it's had a good "drink" of conditioner. Sitting it in the sun and using your hands to apply the conditioner will help it soak in faster and better. Bonus ... using your hands to apply the conditioner will leave them soft and moisturized for a while!



jn4jenny	Jul 17 2009, 06:43 AM Post #6
Magical Leopluridon Posts: 873 Group: Members Member #893 Joined: March 18, 2007	I agree with Onelanerode. Anything in that waxy, lanolin-oily family like Effax Lederbalsam or Passier Lederbalsam or Leder-whatever-the-heck-you-can-find-locally would be a better bet. Some people really adore Leather Therapy for this kind of thing, but I used it once on an old Crump Prix de Saute and was totally unimpressed.



MayaTy02	Jul 17 2009, 07:28 AM Post #7
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,371 Group: Members Member #388 Joined: January 17, 2007	jn4jenny Jul 17 2009, 06:43 AM I agree with Onelanerode. Anything in that waxy, lanolin-oily family like Effax Lederbalsam or Passier Lederbalsam or Leder-whatever-the-heck-you-can-find-locally would be a better bet. Some people really adore Leather Therapy for this kind of thing, but I used it once on an old Crump Prix de Saute and was totally unimpressed. yeah actually that Lederbalsam is what had been recommended for me....I remember the name but I don't think i used it. some great advice here though!



the mommy	Jul 18 2009, 06:46 PM Post #8
Crazy single mother, small business owner and full time college student Posts: 240 Group: Members Member #4,443 Joined: July 25, 2008	Neetsfoot oil and let it bake. Doing this with an a/p I found in my tack room.



War Admiral	Jul 19 2009, 06:54 AM Post #9
"Sure doesn't LOOK like an ASB." Posts: 218 Group: Members Member #79 Joined: January 6, 2007	For reconditioning old stiff leather, nothing beats Ray Holes Saddle Butter. Microwave it, then rub in well with your fingers. If possible, put it in the hot sun for a few hours; then rub the excess off with an old terry towel. Reapply as necessary.



Trialbyfire	Jul 19 2009, 07:16 AM Post #10
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Posts: 2,186 Group: Members Member #250 Joined: January 8, 2007	Thanks for all the tips! I think cleaning it was helpful; some of the "dry" look might have been some old, dried conditioner on top of the old, dry leather....it had sort of a scaly look to it. Anyway, since I have a tub of neatsfoot I've basically been just basting it repeatedly and it is much better already. Maybe I'll check the tackstore for some of these other products. As I said, it's mainly the surface that is super dry; again making me think that maybe it was a 20 year old conditioning product flaking off? It looks about 2 shades darker now (better!) and actually cleaned up really well so far. But I will make sure I keep giving the underside a good conditioning, too. Thanks again!!



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