Stiff bridle

[crazy horse]

My bridle is stiff,the reins also.What can I do to make it more supple?
Any help greatly appreciated,Thanks.

[ally]

Hiya,
You can allways try working extra virgin olive oil into the bridle,
or I allways use Keiffer Oil on my tack ( available in all good saddlers) its made with bees wax so it doesnt rot the stitching like some oils will.
Good luck !!!!!!!!!:D

Ally

[Pennylane]

Try cleaning the leather with saddle soap then use a leather conditioner, Both items can be found in the tack store. Also olive oil works good on leather.
Pennylane

[unicorndanca]

My stirrup leathers were like that so I soaked them in a dish filled with leather oil overnight and haven't had to oil them since:D :D :D :D :D

[Piaffe]

I use neatsfoot oil everytime I clean my tack (which isn't very often, I'm ashamed to say!). With use, cleaning and oiling leather does become nice and supple eventually!

[sweetbriar]

I use hide food on all my tack and its really good. Its a cream which has beeswax in it and its not as messy as oil. I work the cream into my tack leave it for a while and then polish it up. It leaves my leather so supple and shiny.

My saddler also recommended it to me when I bought my new saddle last year.

[happyhorse]

i use saddle soap and have used neats foot oil before which is also very good, i am ashamed to agree that i don't clean my tack often enough, i have all the best intentions but never seem to find the time! looks like i will make a point of cleaning it this wkend now i can ride my boy again!:p

[lamprellsarah]

i hate that problem when i first got my horse, she had a lovely bridle not that dirty impossible to put back togeather when i undid it the first time!!!
i put a little bit of saddle soap underneath the problem area so it slipped in easier, and then sponged it off, but i am sure there are better ways, that other people have mentioned!! :)

[lleeaannee]

Leather goes stiff if you use too much water. If your saddle soap goes frothy when rubbing it in you are using too much water. The sponge should be damp only. The more soap or oil you use the better - it will soak in eventually even if it is slippery to start with.

[crazy horse]

Thanks everybody,don't know which method I'll try yet.
I'll try to remember to reply how it turned out.:D
Thanks again.

[ros]

Saddle soap and use will eventually make your bridle supple. A light oiling initially, or if it gets wet and stiff, is fine, but I'd be a bit careful about using too much oil on a regular basis. It can weaken the leather and make it too stretchy - particularly stirrup leathers; over-oiling saddles adds extra weight and can also clog the flocking.

[SJ]

We use something called 'Kao cho lin' (sorry I can't spell it). Comes from the saddler in a tin and its brilliant for softening leather. It's not expensive and you just rub it in with a dry cloth anf leave for a few hours. Funny colour though, its pink!