Saddle soap is best. You can also use Murphy's Oil Soap. Those are for the saddle. It likely needs oiled, too. 100% neatsfoot oil ( not neatsfoot compound) or even a decent olive oil from your kitchen will work.

You mention the pad being smelly, though. Is this a separate item? If so, scrubbing it with a detergent and letting it dry in sunshine will help a lot. I understand you're in an apartment. Can you impose on a friend with a yard for this project?

Or, is the smelly part in the seat of the saddle? A padded seat? If so, you can still carefully scrub it. Dabbing it with vinegar water after washing will further cut odor. It will need fresh air and sunshine.

The odor could be from rodent urine. Tough to get out, but possible.

 

Saddle soap is best. You can also use Murphy's Oil Soap. Those are for the saddle. It likely needs oiled, too. 100% neatsfoot oil ( not neatsfoot compound) or even a decent olive oil from your kitchen will work.

You mention the pad being smelly, though. Is this a separate item? If so, scrubbing it with a detergent and letting it dry in sunshine will help a lot. I understand you're in an apartment. Can you impose on a friend with a yard for this project?

Or, is the smelly part in the seat of the saddle? A padded seat? If so, you can still carefully scrub it. Dabbing it with vinegar water after washing will further cut odor. It will need fresh air and sunshine.

The odor could be from rodent urine. Tough to get out, but possible.

I’m talking about the part underneath the saddle. The part that sits on the horses back, that is what smells

thank you

 

If it were me, I’d spray it down with Lysol, which should kill the bacteria that’s probably making it smell, then place it out in the sun to dry.

 

so just regular Lysol. No saddle soap or oil

 

Is there any "staining" that might tell the tale of what and why it stinks?

The fleece underside has not recently been replaced has it?
Depending upon where that "fleece" came from and how it was glued on could indeed give you a stench not nice.

Being this is a area unseen, just smelled I might be inclined to read carefully a bottle of Odo-Ban....
This is a very versatile product from being a disinfectant, killer of stenches, and used in kennels, human & animal hospitals.... and more.

Anything you try can be a catalyst, creating a disastrous reaction, and for that reason I like to try white vinegar spritzed on and sunlight to see it dry in and see if that helps....
I never soak anything and use sparingly in case a "uh-oh" does occur...
I too would clean the saddle with glycerine/saddle soap carefully...
Depending upon saddle brand, quality and who had any repairs possibly done....indeed some "tanning" process have appeared using animal urine and that does stink to high heavens when it gets damp or musty.
You could actually have a over-lapping of processes creating your not so pleasant issue.
🐴...

 

You didn't saw what it smells like.
If the saddle has been used much, it's going to smell like sweaty horse. Thats just normal.
Since you say it's in the fleece, I suspect that's your problem.
Just goes with saddles.