I have always used neatsfoot oil in the past, but at this past horse show a lady told me that neatsfoot oil can damage the stitching on your bridle. Is this true or not true? I bought leather therapy brand conditioner. She told me it would darken my bridle. I have an edgewood. It did darken the bridle, but not as much as I would like. Even with multiple applications I just can’t get it to the way it looks when I use neatsfoot oil. The coloring also looks uneven. I have never had a bridle fall apart from using neatsfoot oil but maybe they mean long term? Have you tried any products like neatsfoot oil that make the leather soft, won’t damage stitching and also darkens?
When it is used in large amounts for long periods of time, yes, neatsfoot oil DOES rot stitching on a bridle- or on any other leather product, in fact. I normally only use neatsfoot very sparingly on my tack, and I make sure to wipe any excess off after I’m done. Neatsfoot oil is a conditioning agent for leather, but it is NOT a cleaner. To both clean and darken leather, you will need to use consistent applications of something like Lexol leather cleaner, followed by the conditioner made by the same company. Lexol DOES darken leather- that is how I get my new bridles and saddles darkened and broken in for use. You can also use Hydrophane, and follow that with Lexol if you want- that method will also work. Hope this helps.
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2 Responses
- Debi Says: May 20th, 2010 at 7:33 pm I used to swear by neatsfoot oil but I read somewhere that it rots the stitching so I stopped using it. I now use hydrophane leather dressing or effax leather balm. Don’t know if either of them has the same darkening effect as neatsfoot though as all my tack is black now. References :
- Starlight 1 Says: May 20th, 2010 at 7:59 pm When it is used in large amounts for long periods of time, yes, neatsfoot oil DOES rot stitching on a bridle- or on any other leather product, in fact. I normally only use neatsfoot very sparingly on my tack, and I make sure to wipe any excess off after I’m done. Neatsfoot oil is a conditioning agent for leather, but it is NOT a cleaner. To both clean and darken leather, you will need to use consistent applications of something like Lexol leather cleaner, followed by the conditioner made by the same company. Lexol DOES darken leather- that is how I get my new bridles and saddles darkened and broken in for use. You can also use Hydrophane, and follow that with Lexol if you want- that method will also work. Hope this helps. References : Horse owner and horse professional who has 20+ years experience, and who worked for a brief period with a Master Saddler.