Packing Down The Shearling

[Rod and Denise Nikkel]

This topic has been discussed a bit before, but specifics haven't been given. When a saddle is new, the shearling will make the saddle ride a bit higher till it gets packed down a bit. How many hours riding time do you experienced saddle makers think it takes to get the saddle to sit down on the back the way it will be long term?

[bruce johnson]

Denise, You have seen the pics from the first ride in my new saddle. It sat up about 3-1/2 fingers at the lowest pint of the gullet. Maybe 10 hours and it is down to 2-1/2.

[Billy H]

I have found that with new saddles and a broken in pad or blanket will take about ten rides or so. Those rides need to have moist heat to penetrate to the shearling and skirt .

[Blake]

A spray bottle of very warm water with a few drops of dawn detergent works well to cut down on the break in period. Spray the fleece liberally just before the first saddling. This will break the surface tension of the lanolin and allow the fleece to settle in at a faster rate. Depending on the duration of the first ride it might need to be repeated. This has always worked well for me and my clients agree.

My $.02 worth.

Blake

[Denise]

Blake,

Why does it need to be Dawn? I have heard about Dawn being used in a number of places but have yet to hear why it is different than any other detergent.

Thanks,

Denise

[Blake]

Blake,

Why does it need to be Dawn? I have heard about Dawn being used in a number of places but have yet to hear why it is different than any other detergent.

Thanks,

Denise

It doesn't have to be Dawn. I just prefer the original Dawn that is unscented to avoid attracting any critters to the fleece when it is in the tack room. Its also what I keep on hand to use in my casing water to break surface tension and make the water a little wetter. I used original Ivory for years but Dawn is easier to find in the unscented version. Dawn and Ivory both have a leather friendly Ph and doesn't seem to remove any tanning oils and dry out the leather.

Blake

[Denise]

Thanks Blake. I've wondered that for a long time!

[kseidel]

The amount of time and degree of compression depends heavily on the length and density of the sheepskin. A 3/4" shearling that is sparsely haired, will matte down in a couple of hours. A 1" shearling, densely haired, will take weeks of hard riding to compress and will always retain some degree of cushion. For my saddles, it takes about 100 hours of riding to achieve normal compression that will then maintain for many years.

Keith

[Steve]

The amount of time and degree of compression depends heavily on the length and density of the sheepskin. A 3/4" shearling that is sparsely haired, will matte down in a couple of hours. A 1" shearling, densely haired, will take weeks of hard riding to compress and will always retain some degree of cushion. For my saddles, it takes about 100 hours of riding to achieve normal compression that will then maintain for many years.

Keith

Keith, if you don't mind me asking, where are you getting your shearlings? I've been less than satisfied with what I've been getting.

Thanks; Steve

[kseidel]

Keith, if you don't mind me asking, where are you getting your shearlings? I've been less than satisfied with what I've been getting.

Thanks; Steve

Steve, I have been using Lazy M woolskins, a division of Nugget Company, for several years now. They really are superior! Every once in a while I will get one or two that are not up to standard (no better than the Nugget Brand), and I send them back for replacement. They are good about sending me what I expect from them. They are quite expensive. I think they are worth the extra. Keith