KEN'S COLUMN
Surely worth its weight in Gold !
Can you imagine how different the equestrian world would be if, thousands of years ago, our forbears had not discovered how to make leather? True, there are now some really good synthetic materials available – but so far, none parallel the properties of leather.
Long before those early scientists – for that is surely what they were - invented the processes that enabled them to convert animal skins into a remarkably tough, resilient – and cosmetically appealing – material, they were using the skins to keep warm. They simply removed the flesh and scraped off the fat – and adorned themselves with the skin. The smell must have been quite appalling! Untreated, the skins would have been attacked by different forms of bacteria and other life-forms - which would have hastened their disintegration – and increased the odour!
Leather is so much part of our everyday life that we take it for granted. We shoud not! The processes involved in making it require very considerable expertise - and are very lengthy and demanding. Simplifying what’s involved: first the skins are ‘fleshed’ and the excess fat removed. Then they go through a number of complicated – and very smelly – processes. When the hides finally emerge they are split into different thicknesses depending on the uses for which they’re destined. Re-tanning will then produce firm, medium or soft leather. Dyeing follows - after which the leather is oiled in order to make it soft and flexible. After that the surface is buffed to produce the smooth finish and cosmetically attractive appearance we all admire.
The properties of leather make it especially suitable for use in the equestrian industry. It is tough, strong and resilient. It stands up to hard usage. It is cosmetically very appealing. It is versatile. No wonder, despite the introduction of some excellent synthetics, it remains the single most important material in the manufacture of saddles and bridles.
In recent years, saddle-designers have added a variety of ‘fancy’ leathers to the use of ox and cow hides, the staple leathers traditionally used in saddle and bridle-making. No matter what the type, leather needs TLC – not intermittently when we feel like it, but regularly. Saddles and bridles that are well looked after retain excellent resale value. On the other hand, poorly maintained, they are well nigh worthless.
Leather is a quite fussy material – it doesn’t like excessive heat, water, cold - or conditions that are very dry, humid or damp. If exposed to strong sunlight or artificial heat, it will dry out and may crack – and in the former case, the colour may fade patchily. Kept in very cold conditions, it will become hard and rigid. Airless, humid conditions will encourage a mould-type organism to grow on its surface (sometimes at an amazingly fast rate!). It will withstand getting pretty wet – providing it is allowed to dry out naturally.
Problem here is that the majority of tack rooms don’t afford the conditions favoured by leather! Most are cold and damp and heating - if there is any at all - is usually intermittent, irregular and extreme. Too many bridle hooks and saddle racks are located close to bare windows through which the sun pours in the summer – and which, at other times of the year, often become covered in condensation.
In effect, a lot of leather-care really boils down to a damage limitation exercise. A leather saddle exposed to strong sun or excessive artificial heat will need ‘feeding’. One that is soaked in the rain – or dunked in water in an inept attempt to clean it – will need to be dried out – and fed!
The deficiencies of the average tackroom aside, probably the biggest problem associated with caring for saddles and bridles relates to human failure! It seems horse owners just don’t like following the instructions manufacturers supply with their products. Go to any stable yard - the belief seems to exist that more is better. Horses’ rations are often topped up way beyond the feed formulator’s guidelines. Horses are frequently turned out on far too much rich grass. Numerous supplements are added to their feeds – many totally unnecessarily. And so it is with leather-care: the manufacturer’s ‘sparingly’ is interpreted as ‘liberally’ – ‘sufficiently’ becomes ‘copiously’. ‘Too much’ of virtually any proprietary care product - and the leather will fail to absorb it. The residue remaining on the surface will pick up dust and, in the case of the saddle, the ‘stickiness’ is likely to come off on the rider’s clothing.
Pick up any newspaper and stories about ‘the crunch’ predominate. How about saving money by feeding – horses and tack – the amounts advised? And talking of money: leather is surely worth its weight in GOLD!
KEN LYNDON DYKES is a Society of Master Saddlers’ qualified saddle fitter who specialises in fitting competition horses. He is also available to give talks and demonstrations for any type of equestrian group. KEN can be contacted on 07973 501873 (mobile) or at SADDLEWORLD’S head office – 01622 844440.
