How to Stop Saddle Damage: Fleece & Deluxe Stirrup-Pocket Covers for Australian Riders
Do You Really Need a Saddle Cover? Protecting Leather in Australian Conditions
Updated September 2025
A practical guide for Australian horse owners on how to clean, condition, and preserve saddlery leather - keeping tack soft, safe, and ready for every ride.
Your saddle isn’t just gear, it’s the single most important investment in your riding. Whether it’s dressage, all-purpose, or close-contact, it connects you to your horse and represents hours of saving, fitting, and care. Yet too many riders leave saddles exposed in tack rooms, floats, or dusty yards. The result? Scuffs, scratches, fading leather, and stitching that wears out years too soon. In Australia’s mix of dust, heat, and humidity, a saddle cover isn’t a luxury. It’s essential protection.
Why Uncovered Saddles Wear Out Faster
Every day, conditions do more damage than most riders realise. Dust works like sandpaper in seams and girth points. Sweat-stained stirrups rub dark patches into leather. UV light in sheds or floats dries billets and cracks flaps. Even casual contact with other tack leaves marks. By the time riders notice, their saddle has already lost suppleness or value. A well-made saddle cover prevents 90% of that slow, hidden wear.
Standard Fleece-Lined Saddle Covers: Daily Protection
The Delzani Fleece-Lined Saddle Cover is the everyday workhorse. A tough 480D outer blocks dust and dirt, while the soft fleece lining cushions leather against scuffs. The 360° elastic hem slips on quickly and fits snugly, making it perfect for tack rooms, floats, or busy barns. Built for most English, all-purpose, and dressage saddles up to 18”, it’s the simple way to keep your saddle safe between rides.
Deluxe Saddle Covers with Stirrup Pockets: Travel and Show Protection
For competitions and transport, saddles face extra risk. Crowded tack rooms, long hauls, and stacked gear can all ruin a show saddle. The Delzani Deluxe Saddle Cover with Stirrup Pockets is built to stop that. Its 600D Oxford outer resists abrasion, while a fleece lining protects panels and stitching. Reinforced stirrup pockets keep irons outside the cover, so they never press into leather. A 360° drawstring gives a secure, customised fit. It’s the choice for riders who want their show saddle looking pristine.
Choosing the Right Saddle Cover
Everyday riders: Pick the Fleece-Lined Saddle Cover to guard against dust and scuffs.
Travel and show riders: Upgrade to the Deluxe with Stirrup Pockets for maximum protection on the road.
Serious owners: Use both one for daily training saddles, one for competition saddles, so each is protected for its job.
Quick Specs
Standard Fleece-Lined Saddle Cover: 480D shell • 300gsm fleece lining • 360° elastic hem • Fits English/All Purpose/Dressage saddles up to 18”
Deluxe Saddle Cover with Stirrup Pockets: 600D Oxford shell • 300gsm fleece lining • Reinforced stirrup pockets • 360° drawstring fit • Fits saddles up to 18”
FAQ: Are Saddle Covers Really Worth It?
Yes. Riders often regret skipping covers when they see cracked billets, sun-faded panels, or scuffed flaps that cost hundreds to repair. A $50–$90 saddle cover protects a saddle worth thousands. It’s one of the cheapest, smartest insurance policies in your tack room.
Protect Your Investment with Delzani
Your saddle is the bridge between you and your horse. Don’t let dust, sun, or stirrups cut its life short. Explore Delzani’s saddle covers, designed for Australian riders, and choose the protection that fits your riding life. The right cover today means a better saddle tomorrow.
Written by Jane Griffiths - An experienced Australian horse owner and product developer with over three decades immersed in equestrian life. Jane has spent years refining horse rugs, tack, and riding apparel to better suit Australian climates. She has enjoyed countless weekends at gymkhanas, show jumping events, and pony club competitions with her daughter, and still loves hitting the trails with friends whenever she can. Her lifelong passion for horses and hands-on understanding of equine comfort continue to shape her practical, rider-first approach to horse care and product design.
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