What Is Crazy Horse Leather?

My family and I were out at a rodeo the other day, and it was our first one.

We’ve always owned horses, but never really for riding.

We had a great time at the show, and the whole family enjoyed it.

However, there were so many words and so much terminology that we didn’t understand.

One particular thing we heard everyone talking about was crazy horse leather.

We had no idea what this was and none of us had ever heard of it, so when I got home I decided to do some research.

So, what is crazy horse leather?

So-called “crazy horse leather” is full-grain leather made an entire from cowhide which is typically used for horse saddles. Nothing is removed from the cowhide apart from the hair to make the saddle. It is called horse leather only because it is used to make horse saddles.

So, the name makes it sound a lot stranger than it is.

The essential difference between other types of leather is that crazy leather lasts a very long time, and gets more attractive over time.

Full-grain leather is the highest quality in the world, so it’s easy to understand why.

Let’s look at it in more detail.

How is crazy horse leather made?

The process for making crazy horse leather is not that different from any other type of leather.

The tanner will take an entire cowhide skin, removing, as I said, nothing but the hair.

The tanner then takes a special kind of wax and applies a thick layer to the surface of the hide, after the hide has been smoothed and polished on a tanning rack.

Once the wax has been applied, it works on the fibers of the leather to specially mold the tone, shape, appearance and, most importantly, strength of the leather.

Furthermore, the wax makes the leather essentially waterproof.

Liquid and water damage are one of the biggest factors in durability, so being waterproof makes the leather much more durable.

Durability can’t work on its own, though.

Even the most durable piece of kit in the world won’t last long if you don’t maintain it properly, so read on to find out how to do so.

How do I maintain crazy horse leather?

Firstly, store it somewhere cool and dry.

Don’t leave it outside, or exposed to the wind in any way.

Storage is the most important thing, so make sure you do it right.

General maintenance is next.

Whenever it gets dirty, clean it immediately.

If it gets stained, wipe it with a damp cloth as soon as you can.

Then dry it off with a separate cloth.

Any stains that are left on there are likely to become permanent, so deal with it as soon as you can.

Do not use any kind of chemical cleaning product on the leather.

The special wax applied to crazy horse leather saddles is a natural substance, so chemical based cleaning products can weaken the wax and cause further damage.

Simple warm water, with some very mild bathroom handwash, will do the trick just fine.

Finally, be sure to use leather balms and conditioners to keep the leather looking its best.

These are usually going to be specially formulated for crazy horse leather, so make sure what you’re getting isn’t meant for something else.

Learn how to condition the leather and what to use, and it will always be looking its best.

But, how long is always? Let’s find out.

How long does crazy horse leather last?

As I said, how long your crazy horse leather lasts is a case not just of how the leather is made, but of how you take care of it.

If you look after and maintain it well over the course of its life, a good piece of crazy horse leather can last twenty years.

Of course, crazy horse leather is used in a lot of products, not just saddles.

That said, saddles are one of the items likely to last a very long time if cared for properly; they are likely to be used less than other things, and so have less wear and tear.

Things like leather belts or shoes might not last quite as long if they are habitually used.

Any type of clothing is likely to experience much more wear and tear than a saddle, and so the possibility of them lasting twenty years is certainly lessened.

Again, though, ultimately it is down to you.

If you maintain it well, your crazy horse leather will last at least a decade.

The craziest thing about crazy horse leather, then, is simply its longevity. it’s the best quality of one of the most durable materials available, so it’s not surprising that it can last upwards of two decades.

The main things you need to remember is that it is made of cow, not horses, and you need to be really careful with how you treat it.

It will last, but only if you take the best care of it over the course of its lifetime.