Butet saddles are made from the finest quality leather. It is important to know how to care for your Butet saddle.  The dressage, doublée and cross-country saddles are made using doubled calfskin. The jumping saddles are made from a combination of leathers, the main body of the saddle being cowhide, and the kneepads and seat are doubled calfskin. The leather has been soaked in liquid tree bark for 18 months, which means that it is both supple and hardwearing. This tanning process encourages the saddle to be soft and comfortable to ride in straight away and will also prolong its life. Whilst this will help to keep your saddle looking in good condition for years to come, it does still need looking after. The last stage of the manufacturing process is oiling. As your saddle will have already been oiled, we generally recommend using the Akene soap and cream initially, but the Akene oil is also a useful tool in keeping your saddle in top notch condition.

How to care for your Butet saddle

To keep your saddle in the best possible condition, clean it daily with Akene glycerine soap and weekly with Akene cream. Firstly wipe any mud, sweat or grease off of the saddle with a damp sponge and then use the glycerine soap. Then Akene cream should be applied sparingly with a sponge using a circular motion. If the saddle becomes wet, allow it to dry naturally and completely before applying any Akene soap or Akene cream. As with all leatherwork, your saddle should not be left in the damp or cold and it is best stored in its saddle cover for protection. We also recommend keeping the Butet leather cantle cover on the saddle when not in use, this will protect the delicate cantle from marks and damage. This area is particularly vulnerable when the saddle is being put into and out of tack lockers. Using Butet stirrup leathers will minimise marking of the saddles as they are made of the same calfskin leather. Should your saddle stain or look dry, we would recommend the Akene oil. Oiling the saddle will darken the leather and whilst it won’t remove stains, it will darken the leather around the stain, blending it and making the stain appear less obvious.