Leather Care

[bren]

Ok, I'm using a bridle on Marty that hasn't been used in 3 years. It has been hanging in our basement (shame on me I know!) and is very stiff and its hard to do up the buckles and the reins stick up when I ride. What can I use on it to soften up the leather. I have neets foot oil here but I remember hearing not to use it on saddles but can I use it on the bridle?? The bridle wasn't the best quality but it was only used for about 2 years and I would like to save it if Ican.

[Sarah]

hello!

If you can get some leather balm (like moisturiser cream!) from your saddler, i'd apply that every night for a week and you should see a significant change to the suppleness of the leather.

bye!

[olympicprincess]

I'd use Neatsfoot Oil, especially if you already have it and if your bridle is not good quality.

[bren]

Well, I was going to go and buy leather conditioner today, but woke up completely snowed in!! :) So I am going to use the neestsfoot oil and see if that helps. I went out on Marty yesterday and had a wonderful ride down the field road. When he hit the dirt path he paced slowly for what seemed like miles. :)

[Mossy]

Word of warning about leather dressing. it is excellent for reconditioning tired leather but treated tack will go mouldy unless it is stored inn dry conditions. if you use Glycrine saddle soap and lots of elbow grease you will not have this problem.

[cynthia]

my personal favorite is actually this stuff called "Horseman's OneStep" - a really nice cream that's a leather cleaner and conditioner in one. i use it on everything; works really well and doesn't do that gppy build-up thing. and i imagine you wouldn't have molding or rotting problem as with some oils. it comes in a plastic canister-type of thing; about $5 or so, i believe. :cool:

[Allie]

I use Leather New to both clean and recondition leather. It is a liquid soap/polish, and the best part is it DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BUFFED OR POLISHED. It works wonders. I had a yucky bridle that came with my first horse, it was really old and the leather was sticky (I think the owner gave it to me to get rid of it.) Anyways, I used the Leather New on it. Although it stills looks old (nothing can help it with that), it isn't sticky anymore, and the leather is very pliable. I also used this on my new english saddle last year to expedite the breaking in process.

Allie

[Catherine]

Neatsfoot oil is great, but be careful not to use too much or the leather will become really papy and squishy, as the oil soaks into the cell structures of the leather.

Just like teaching your horse - go gently, a bit at a time, and you'll appreciate the end result.

[Sarah]

be very careful using neatsfoot oil as, as Catherine said, it can make the leather VERY slippy. It can also rot the stitching, particularly if you need to do a lot of oiling over a short period.