Dyeing A Saddle

[gentlemanfarmer]

My girlfriend has an english saddle that is dark brown and has some lighter colored areas from wear. Is it possible to dye this saddle black and it look anything like good? will the dye rub/wear off easy?

[AndyKnight]

My girlfriend has an english saddle that is dark brown and has some lighter colored areas from wear. Is it possible to dye this saddle black and it look anything like good? will the dye rub/wear off easy?

Not a good plan in my experience

[Traveller]

So long as she only rides in black pants and never washes them with anything other than the black pants she wore the last time she rode in that saddle, she might be alright.

At least until she wears the black down to the brown. Her pants will still look black but the saddle will be a little too colourful.

[gentlemanfarmer]

Thank ya'll for the responces. So since dyeing the whole saddle is not a good plan, What about touching up the worn spots with dye either straight, dilluted with alcohol or mixed with neetsfoot? I tried just plain neetsfoot oil but no luck. Or any other thoughts on touching up the worn areas which are alon the back of the cantle the front of the pommel and on the skirts where the stirrup leathers rub.

[cowgirlrae]

I have ridden English saddles lots, usually the cheaper leather rubbs off and gets lighter.

I have had good luck with dark brown paste wax like for shoes, kiwi is one brand, rub it in good with a tooth brush and let it sit a little while, then rub out and buff.

The problem with dye is that the previous oils and waxes on the leather will not allow it to evenly penetrate leaving it splotchy. there is probably no harm in trying a diluted dye like with alcohol, providing it is alcohol based to start with, then waxing and conditioning the entire saddle. Its not going to hurt the leather, and may camoflauge the faded areas to make the whole thing look fresher.

I wouldnt try black unless you were willing to live with the likelihood of it always looking like a brown saddle someone tried to dye black. Not pretty.

Lower end english saddles are notorious for thick, stiff and poorly finished leather making it hard to maintain and keep looking nice. Quality english saddle leather is beautiful, supple and soft, it only improves with soaping, conditioning and waxing. I had a Stubben high end saddle I bought it used and 15 years later sold it for more than I paid for it, the leather was fantastic, broke in and had a life and comfort to it that you couldnt believe.

[gentlemanfarmer]

The saddle is a collegiate. It seems to be a pretty nice saddle (I'm not an english rider) but it has been ridden in SO much and carried in the back of the truck. It's not dry or cracked or anything but does have some wear from use. She has always used saddle soap and leather new on it and has taken pretty good care of it but it has been treated like any of our old western saddles.

[Saddlebag]

I just finished adding oil dye to an english saddle. It wasn't worth a full blown dye job. This saddle had a marked cantle edge as well and the oil dye is good for this as the first application may not make much of a difference but you can reapply. The spirit dyes - when you apply it, it's there whether you want the color or not. English saddles have a pretty tough finish on the seats and you may be able to darken the seat a little with oil dye, same with the flaps. Once it's dry I'll go over it with glycerine soap altho it doesn't weep like spirit dye. What I like about glycerin soap is it will buff to a nice shine with a soft cloth and a little work. BTW Traditionally black denotes Dressage while browns are traditional with all the other disciplines.