Cleaning day for the saddles
Once a year, Betsy, my stable manager, does a very thorough cleaning of my horse saddles. It’s important to perform this duty in order to keep the leather attractive, supple, and water repellent. It also helps to prevent dry rot. While Betsy is scrubbing and oiling, she carefully inspects all the stitching and other parts of each saddle, looking for wear and tear. If anything needs to be restitched or repaired, she’ll call Dutchess Bridle & Saddle, LLC. A saddle is something you want to last for many years and I’m happy that Betsy pays such close attention to detail.
Hi, Martha,
I enjoyed seeing the process your stable manager Betsy goes through in cleaning your horse saddles. She does a good job. I was reminded of helping my cousin take care of his horse when I was younger. Thanks for the memories. I can almost smell the leather of the saddles.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 29th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Great job, Betsy! I am curious, is winter the best time to clean saddles?
Posted by: Julie | January 29th, 2009 at 3:50 am
She only thoroughly cleans your tack once a year??!! I can't believe that! I do it twice a year, with touch ups often. I know we American's do overkill on tack cleaning, but once a year is just not acceptable!
Posted by: Jamie | January 29th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Hi Martha!
Loved this post! Took me back to the days when I , too, had horses. I was just remembering that feeling of satisfaction after cleaning all the tack as well as my tack room. And Betsy really does a great job, yes? Lucky, lucky horses !
Posted by: tinay | January 29th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Other than the cats, dogs, and horses, what kind of animals do you have on your farm?
Posted by: Karen | January 29th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Hi Martha:
I think Betsy is a gem! She really knows how to take care of a stable and she does a great job of cleaning saddles and shining up the other parts.
I wondered if she wiped the oil off the saddle but then another picture showed it drying so thanks for clearing that up. Thanks also for letting us know about the Glycerine saddle soap! I found out it comes in foam also but I'm getting the bar. I've been looking for something to clean leather but didn't know about the saddle soap. I'm so excited; I can't wait to start my cleaning project. (Will have to wait until the soap comes in the mail though.)
You're a gem too Martha for teaching us so much. You have no idea how much I have learned from you. Thanks! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 29th, 2009 at 5:50 am
(...one English saddle cleaned, oiled, and drying...how many more to go?!! [grin] )
You have a gem in that Betsy, Martha! I'm sure she thinks she has the bestest [giggle] job in the whole wide world! I know in my heart that she has true passion for all things equestrian.
What a labor of love. I AM a proponent in taking proper care of things. Those saddles are fine works of art in themselves...when shined and buffed, what better "jewelry" for your Friesians to don about - how 'bout it?! I LOVED your labeled saddle (I just like things like that)...I guess a saddle can be fitted to the rider(?)...I know they're fitted for the individual horse. (Hmmm...interesting!...)
Oh, before I forget... I especially enjoyed Dan Hinkley on yesterday's (Wednesday's) show - talking about his adventures and plant discoveries. What a wonderful partnership, too, with Monrovia...Monrovia (to me, and others, I'm sure) translates into q-u-a-l-i-t-y! You know you're getting good nursery stock when Monrovia is on the pot! His in-person air layering tutorial was nice, too...a nice refresher course from one of your earlier greenhouse-pictorial blogs from mid-December.
Boy oh boy, my posts get longer and longer...let me allow some room here for someone else!
Sunshine!
=^..^=
"To enjoy garden work, put on a wide hat and gloves, hold a little trowel in one hand, and tell the man where to dig."--Anonymous
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 29th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Hi Karen,
In addition to cats, dogs, and horses, I have 3 miniature donkeys, and a large cage of canaries, not to mention a coop full of chickens and some roosters. Before winter set in, I was boarding a pair of miniature Hereford cattle - they are now back in their 'home' stable on a nearby farm. If you are interested in reading more about my menagerie of animals, look above, on the left side of my blog for a category called, 'My Pets' - there's lots of info about them.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 29th, 2009 at 6:12 am
To answer Julie's question about cleaning the saddles in winter - Betsy says that this is the best time of year for her because the saddles are not in use as much as other times of year. She really likes to give the oil a good 2 days to dry and that fits into her winter schedule.
Also to respond to Jamie - Betsy maintains the saddles all year long, but feels this thorough cleaning need only be done once a year. It really all depends on use and riding conditions.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 29th, 2009 at 6:24 am
Lovely to ensure that everything is well maintained. So important and a very teachable moment. Thanks Martha and Betsy.
Posted by: Sherey | January 29th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Interesting post, and woo hoo Martha made a comment, I always wondered if you answered
I thought your show today was great by the way, I just love Joan Rivers...she is a hoot and ALWAYS makes me laugh !! You two are good together.
Kathy
ps I was just wondering if you have had to lay any of your employees off ?? Such scary times !!!
Posted by: Kathy :) | January 29th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Hi Martha, What a fascinating procedure involving the cleaning of a saddle. Betsy is the perfect righthand woman for the job. She certainly does pay close attention to every detail. It looks like the glycerine soap and the neetsfoot oil are good for your hands, because Betsy's hands look great and she's not using rubber gloves. Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
MARTHA...
I'd love to see more behind the scenes type of stuff. Like your kitchen and your house and your chickens and hot house and around your farm and more of your prop-room and pics of your show guests taken by you, etc.
Posted by: Mike | January 29th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Martha and Betsy,
You have motivated me to clean my tack!
Had I read your Blog first thing this morning(like I normally do)--I would have been cleaning tack all day. Having said that, this weekend I am going to clean out the tack room and clean my saddles and all that leather.
Thanks again for sharing
Sincerely,
Heather
Posted by: Heather Swan | January 29th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thanks Martha! I guess I use my saddles way more than you do. Plus living in Georgia we have that awful red clay to deal with. With the drought down here, dust is everywhere especially during the summer. Unless you're fortunate to be able to be able to sprinkle your arena (I'm a dressage rider) with well water you have to put up with it.
Also, has Betsy heard that Glycerine soap can cause stitching to rot.
Posted by: Jamie | January 29th, 2009 at 11:48 am
It is my nonexpert opinion that saddles are like shoes. If they are worn daily then they should be polished at least once a week. As an old old school kid that was one of our Sunday chores: polish our school shoes.
If shoes are not worn very much or never, well then what's with polishing them every week. Again it also depends on where everything is stored with the environment of moisture, uv light, temperature, rodents, cats and dirt. NOT that I care to have a mouse living in MY shoe.
As I said, my not expert opinion.
Thanks Martha and Betsy.
Posted by: Margie | January 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Martha,
Thanks.
I have learned lessons from you that will last me and my future children's lifetime.
My favorite Martha Stewart book is HOMEKEEPING.
As hardworking as you are, you make every task effortless. I thank you for that.
Your friend,
Sonia
"Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct, they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them." (Benjamin Disraeli)
Posted by: Sonia | January 29th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award today Martha.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | January 29th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Cindy, don't worry about your posts getting too long.
I enjoy reading your comments just as much as I enjoy Martha's blog!
Posted by: Mel | January 29th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I wonder if there's such a thing as vegan saddles?
Posted by: Melissa Gutierrez | January 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
We use the Stitching Bench in Ridgefield, I think her name is Ginny. Great and a good deal closer than Dutchess. Also, once a year is not enough, really not good for the tack or the riders hands. There are a number of good resources on the subject at Beval. Good luck. The Hostess.
Posted by: Blushing Hostess | January 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hi Martha, Britian is foolish for not letting you go there. They could learn alot about tea and biscuits and even maybe crafting in the palace. Maybe you could teach them a few things about how to keep their horses saddles supple. What do you need them for anyway? I love being an island hopper and looks like you had fun in Bahamian waters.
Posted by: Rita | January 29th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
This made me wonder about neatsfoot oil, saddle soap, and glycerin for which I found my answers on Wikipedia. I always took the term "saddle soap" literally. Interesting that neatsfoot oil, coming from the fat in the leg and feet of cattle, is liquid at lower temperatures than the fat of the body, as part of the animal's adaptation to winter weather. I'm always interested in how animals survive very cold weather. Also, where and how has this discovery come about, evolved, and the knowledge cohere for practical use today?
Posted by: jw | January 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Martha
Congratulations on your award. You are an inspiration to your fans. I love your TV show and your magazine. I try to incorporate a little Martha into every day.
Posted by: Lorna Driemel | January 30th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Martha:
Congratulations on your award.
I have never owned horses but I loved learning about them and how to take care of saddles, tack, bridles, etc. etc.. Thanks for teaching me via your blog.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | January 31st, 2009 at 3:04 am
I HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED A CARD STATING THAT MARY ENGELBREIT'S HOME COMPANION HAS CEASED PUBLICATION. NOW I'M TO RECEIVE MARTHA STEWART LIVING IN ITS PLACE. IV'E RESEARCHED THE WEB AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO H. COMPANION, TO NO AVAIL. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU, FRUSTRATED IN OREGON.
Posted by: d.payton | January 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am
Hi Martha,
I watch your show everyday and I live in Adelaide, Australia.
You give away so many things on your show, any possibility of sending me something.
An avid Fan
Julie xx
Posted by: Julie Dow | January 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
This was a great post. I especially enjoyed learning about cleaning leather. Do you know if I can clean my husbands leather work boots safely with glycerine soap? I think the answer could be "yes".
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | February 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Well, I cleaned my tack room and most of my tack this weekend, I still have to clean the saddles. It's hard to keep up to you Martha (and Betsy). My husband often says, "Martha has a whole team working with her"... LOL. Thanks again for the motivation.
Sincerely
Heather
Posted by: Heather Swan | February 1st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I'm helping a woman in Anza Ca. who has a horse ranch (Arabians) which she inherited from her father, approx 45 horses. They don't have stable shelter, they live only in their pastures. They have been in snow conditions this winter. I so much want to help her horses have a better life, as I am a zookeeper. I don't know how I can help her, as she has no money to help her horses. Some of her neighbors have let their horse go into the wild. Not good.
Any suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by: Neena Danna | February 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I have a client who must sell her wonderful Friesian due to economics. He is one of the best-minded horses I have ever met. We need to find him a wonderful home and know you love your Friesians. He is 8 years old, baroque style and healthy and sound. I am a dressage trainer and have had him in training for two years. He goes on trail, has not been off and has been healthy in that time. I hope you can help as it is heartbreaking for me to have to let him go. I wish I could afford to buy him myself but I can't. He is so sweet. Mary
Posted by: Mary Muellner | March 6th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Dear Martha, I am stumped and do not know where to turn except you! I do not have enough vegetable waste myself (household of two only) to supplement my chickens. For a long time, the local markets allowed me to remove one or two produce boxes from the trash each week to supplement my chickens and it is great. Now, something has happened and I am not sure what but the grocery stores--supermarket chains will not allow it any more. I think it is so wasteful to just put this vegetable matter into the garbage and that is where it is going. Can't you discuss this on national TV and encourage the stores to reach out to poultry husbandry people and allow this refuse to be recycled into the chickens. They might have to get liability releases signed so that people are aware that this is not for human consumption--especially in this time of tight money--but I am burned by the wastefulness of tossing it into the garbage. I am also getting ready to incubate some more araucanas or araucauna americanas....for blue and green eggers. I am hooked on araucaunas thanks to you.
Marty
Posted by: Marty Brookman | March 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I feel confident that Betsy cleans tack after every ride. I think the Neatsfoot oil is a once a year event, otherwise your tack would become too greasy.
Another tip: AMONIA
Use amonia to wipe off the dirt and grime, the follow with wipe down with glycerine. At least, this is how George Morris' groom cleans tack and swears by it.
(Personally, I love wiping tack daily after use w/Leather Therapy; condition only as necessary. If you use/clean tack frequently, it really doesn't dry out and need too much conditioner. The conditioner (as well as dirt) can degrade the stitching.)
That's two hints today using inexpensive, home products...I feel like the Equine Heloise.
Best, Susan
Posted by: Susan | May 9th, 2009 at 1:20 am
As ever, thanks to everyone who took part. ,
Posted by: Settor16 | October 22nd, 2009 at 6:20 am