IMPORTANT: Every saddle pad or half pad with pockets for shims must be hang over a rail or a drying rack after each use with pockets wide opened and without inserts, away from direct sunlight and artificial heat to let horse sweat to dry out completely. After use, store your saddle pad or half pad away from direct sunlight, as ultraviolet rays can degrade the original properties of both natural fibers and synthetic materials. Direct sunlight can cause genuine leather reinforcements and the suede side of sheepskin to crack or shrink; they may also lose their natural elasticity and stiffen.
Washing your sheepskin saddle pad
EquineLUX saddle pads and half pads without sheepskin are machine washable. However, we recommend following our instructions.
Before washing saddle pads or half pads, remove shims/inserts from the pockets and hand wash them separately. Shake your saddle pad outdoors and rub the cotton underside with a soft, rubber curry brush in a circular motion to remove horsehair. You can also use a lint roller for this end. Machine wash saddle pads or half pads in cold or lukewarm* water on a delicate cycle, using a mild soap or pH-balanced detergent.
NOTE: Always fasten the VELCRO hooks and loops before washing. Horsehair, sheepskin and fleece are attracted to VELCRO. Hooks can scratch the fabric's surface.
DRYING instructions
It is not advised to put the saddle pad in the dryer. Hot air can shorten the life of your saddle pad, and the dryer sheets will make non-slip mesh layers slippery. Do not use fabric softeners. It is just not necessary. You should hang your saddle pad to dry by laying it over a rail or a drying rack, away from direct sunlight and artificial heat.
IRONING instructions
You can iron both front and back sides of the saddle pad. Set the iron to the low-mid setting with light steam for the top layer. The cotton lining can be ironed like any other cotton garment, on a medium setting and light steam.
WARNING: Avoid ironing the non-slip mesh!
To restore the fleece trim to its fluffy appearance, you can brush it when the fur is dry.
Merino sheepskin care
It is strongly recommended hand washing half pad or saddle pad with sheepskin lining (underside).
This is because the pelt gets very heavy when absorbs water and may tear.
✦ Everyday care: Lanolin is natural oil found in sheep's wool. Due to lanolin's anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, a genuine Merino lambskin tends to be self-cleaning.
Daily airing will keep the sheepskin fresh and help maintain its self-cleaning properties.
✦ Spot cleaning: Hand wash gently in cold or lukewarm* water using a mild soap designed for sheepskin. For best result clean any lightly soiled areas on the sheepskin right after it has been stained. Use a damp sponge to clean the stained area and pat gently with a soft towel to absorb the water. Waterless horse shampoos can also be used at your discretion.
NOTE: Do not to use hot water when washing sheepskin. Hot water may damage the pelt of the sheepskin. As long as the water is above 60° F (15.5° C) and below 100.4° F (38° C), it is "lukewarm" enough.
✦ Hand washing (strongly recommended): Wash your half pad with sheepskin in cold or lukewarm water using all natural cleaning product specifically designed for sheepskin and wool (e.g., Eucalan Sheepskin Wash Cleaner) or a very mild soap. AVOID USING MELP or WOOLITE. A quality sheepskin shampoo removes stains, and sheepskin conditioner contains a conditioning agent to keep the performance of the wool fibre. Do not use a regular soap, bleach, detergents with enzymes or "oxygen" cleaners. These chemicals counter-act the tanning process causing damage to the genuine sheepskin fur and leather.
Remove excess water after washing or rinsing by carefully squeezing the water out. Never wring the sheepskin half pad out as it may result in damaging the leather side.
✦ Machine washing (not recommended): If you decide, at your (own) discretion, to use a washing machine, you should use the gentle cycle. Once finished, use the spin cycle to get rid of excess water.
✦ Gently stretch a sheepskin lining or sheepskin trim to reshape whilst damp. Allow your saddle pad or half pad to dry completely before resuming regular use.
✦ After washing: To restore the pile to its fluffy appearance and remove horse hair, brush sheepskin whilst still damp and again when it is dry. Stiff brush or rubber curry comb can be used at your (own) discretion.
DO NOT USE ANY SOURCE OF HEAT AT ANY POINT IN THE DRYING PROCESS!
DISCLAIMER: Due to the delicate nature of sheepskin, different types of the washing machines, and the fact that we cannot supervise the washing process, the Warranty is void if washing instructions have not been followed.
EquineLUX Saddle Pads
