Leather riding boots are an equestrian wardrobe staple. Whether you have cowboy boots, tall boots or paddock boots (or maybe something in between) we all have at least one pair in our closets.
Leather is a very tough and forgiving material, but it does require some extra care when it becomes water-saturated. Today we're exploring some tips on how to care for your water-saturated riding boots to make sure that they dry correctly, and to keep the leather lasting for years to come.
1. Yesterday's news is your BFF. Direct heat is not.
The main thing to take care of when your leather boots become waterlogged is getting them dry again. To do this properly, you'll want to use some old newspaper stuffed into your boots to help gently draw the moisture out. Replace the newspaper as needed until the drying process is complete. Give the outside of the boot a wipe down with a dry, lint-free cloth to remove any residue and excess water on the outside of the boot. Resist the urge to stick your boots near a heat source to speed along the drying process. It's very tempting to do so, but can be highly damaging to your boots. Ambient heat in a room that's between 15-20 degrees Celsius is a much kinder way to aid in the drying out process.
2. Give them some extra TLC once dry.
Once dry, give your boots a gentle cleaning with a glycerine based soap to help restore moisture and remove any little bits of grime left on the boots that were missed during the initial boot wipe down during the drying out process. Follow with a deep condition (or oiling depending on the boot) to restore the natural moisture to the leather that was stripped from the boot during the drying out process. Let it sit for an hour or two and then buff them to a shine. They're now ready to be used again.
