HOME ABOUT US CONTACTS & ORDERING PRODUCTS LEATHER & LEATHER CARE SADDLE FITTING  Contact Us:         Stuart Lilie, Saddler         130 Mansfield Rd.         Ashford, CT 06278         info@stuartliliesaddles.com         (860) 208 3111	Leather & Leathercare
	Leather types left to right : English London Tan Bridle; English Black Bridle; Hand Curried Black dyed; Hand Curried Russet; Buff.           Based on military finance guides and color images, it appears that saddles arrived un-dyed and quite light in color. However, pressure, sunlight, and oxidation tend to burnish bovine leathers, causing the leather fibers to compress and darken. This natural effect combined with the oiling and maintenance done by the trooper himself produced a saddle that darkened over its service life. The leather on these saddles is hand curried by me to match the finish of a new enlisted grade saddle and will wear in to a deeper hue with use. You'll always be able to spot the veteran trooper.       To clean this saddlery, use a damp rag that has enough water to be tacky, but not so much to be dripping. To protect the leather use an occasional wipe with pure neatsfoot oil. Apply just enough that the leather soaks it up in less than 15 seconds. More than this ammount of oil will make the leather gummy and shorten its lifespan. Don't over-oil your leather!