Category Archives: Tips

How to get the best from your saddle and keep it in optimum condition

A saddle for painful hips?

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Wow Deep SeatMany saddles are too wide through the twist if you have a problem in your hips – especially if you have a wide horse. The design of the WOW saddle allows the riders thighs to be spread less wide. If you want pain free riding experience, listen to what this rider had to say:

“I got a WOW saddle from you just after Xmas for my grey. I just wanted to say that you have changed my life – seriously! I don’t know what exactly has made the difference using that saddle, but I am now so much more comfortable.

Now I can ride for and hour or more and not be desperate to get off. I have
even had the odd lesson and managed to last the whole 45 minutes and not
just the 10 minutes or so that I could do previously.

Honestly, I was very close to giving up riding, which was a huge sadness to
me. But I was just in so much pain that it had stopped being a pleasure. Now I
can ride again. So very many thanks for suggesting the WOW saddle. Hopefully
that will give me a few more years of riding, which I didn’t think I would have.” – M.C. Surrey

Looking After Your Saddle

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Leather CreamIf you own a leather saddle, taking good care of it will increase its useful life and help it retain value. Leather is an organic material and, as such, is prone to the vagaries of the weather and the environment it’s kept in.

Tip 1: Wiping your saddle clean
Naturally, sweat and dirt build up on your saddle and, if left on it can lead to leather cracking and breaking. Just wipe your saddle with a slightly damp sponge soaked in warm water after each time you ride, follwowed by a good saddle soap. Spray soap is not particularly recommended as it’s not pure soap.

Tip 2: Applying leather conditioner
Once the saddle is dry, it’s a good idea to use a high quality leather conditioner. On soft leather, such as on Wow saddles, don’t be afraid to condition very regularly as it will keep it supple.

Tip 3: Keep it covered
Most new saddles come with an elasticated cover. If not, they are inexpensive to buy. When you aren’t using it, it helps prevent the leather getting scratched, especially when transporting it in the boot of a car.

Tip 4: Use a padded saddle rack.
Padding on a saddle rack protects the leather from abrasion and indents that saddle racks can cause. It also prolongs the life of your panel material, as panels with wool, foam, or air will compress quicker on a hard surface.

Tip 5: Don’t leave your saddle in your car on a hot day
Heat dries out leather and extreme heat can even warp the tree.

Tip 6: Avoid leaving it in humid environments
Bacteria are all around us and love warmth and damp. A saddle left in a  humid place will grow unsightly mold within 48 hours, which will ruin the leather.