How to Care for Your EA Mattes Sheepskin Products

With the right care, your EA Mattes sheepskin products will retain their unique properties, including pressure distribution, shock absorption and excellent breathability, which helps prevent the horse's muscles from overheating.

To help preserve the quality of the sheepskin, we recommend using Mattes MELP Washing Liquid. Specially formulated for sheepskin, it contains the same ingredients used during the tanning process and helps keep both the wool and leather soft and supple over time.

Regular washing and proper care will help your sheepskin products retain their shape, properties and appearance for many years.

Wash regularly - it matters

It is easy to assume that frequent washing will wear out sheepskin, but the opposite is true. If left in the material, dirt, sweat and ammonia can dry out and damage both the wool and leather.

Dirty sheepskin can:

- Reduce its pressure-distributing and shock-absorbing properties
- Cause the material to lose its shape
- Damage both the wool and leather over time

Regular washing helps saddle pads and half pads regain their shape and maintain their performance.

Leaving sheepskin unwashed is much like neglecting to condition your saddle or bridle.

Everyday care

- Once dry, shake out the saddle pad or half pad to remove loose hair and dirt
- Gently remove remaining dirt with your fingers or a dry Scotch-Brite pad
- Avoid brushing dirty sheepskin vigorously, as this can pull out and damage the wool fibres

Washing instructions

- Machine wash at 30°C on a delicate cycle
- Use Mattes MELP Washing Liquid - approximately 50 ml per half pad or sheepskin saddle pad
- Do not use a wool cycle, as it uses too little water and does not provide the correct drum movement
- Sheepskin needs plenty of water to be thoroughly cleaned

After washing

- Gently pull the pad into shape while it is still damp
- Shrinkage of up to 5% is normal

Drying

- Tumble dry on a low heat, no higher than 30°C - this is the recommended method
- Tumble drying helps keep the wool soft and fluffy
- If your tumble dryer does not have a suitable low-temperature setting, hang the product to dry instead

Always avoid:

- Direct sunlight
- Radiators or other sources of heat