100% Pure Neatsfoot Oil on a bridle???

[Navi]

Believe it or not, I got a pretty nice brand new english bridle at a tack shop sale for $15.00!! (Sorry Penny...I said $10 but that was the bucket with the leather/nylon bridles :o ).

I had some 100% Neatsfoot oil down on the shelf that I bought a couple years ago but have never used because, when I got it home, I read the warning label and it says: Read Material Safety Data Sheet before using product. Avoid breathing mists or vapors. Use with adequate ventilation. If inhaled, remove to fresh air. Call a physician. Avoid eye contact. In case of contact, flush eyes with plenty of water. Call a physician. Avoid skin contact. In case of contact, wash with soap and water. :eek: :eek:

Geez! Do I really want to put the bridle on my horse after using this stuff!?!! :confused:

Has anyone had any experiences with it...good or bad??

Thanks!

[jumpinghorses]

Neatsfoot tends to eat away the stitching. I suggest some amonia/water (one cap amonia and 5 gallons of water) to strip any extra wax any other such things and then some luke warm olive oil.

[Navi]

Thanks for the heads up, Julie! I guess I'll just pitch this Neatsfoot oil! That was a $7.29 lesson learned the hard way! :rolleyes:

I would have never thought of olive oil but I have some in my cupboard so I'll definately give that a try! :cool: The bridle is brand new so I don't think it has any excess wax on it?? Its been years since I bought new tack but this is actually pretty pliable and doesn't feel too stiff for only costing $15. :)

Thanks again!

[jumpinghorses]

You are very welcome. I strip all new tack and then strip about 1 to 2 times a year to get any extra gunk the cleaners didn't get. The olive oil is nice because it protects from moisture and the leather tends to really drink it up. You want to warm it on the stove to the point when you can still touch it but it is free flowing. Another nice thing about it is that it doesn't change the color of the leather. I learned about it from a tack shop up north that makes their own saddles and that is what they use. What an exciting find, did they have more? Could I send you $20 and have you pick one up? Haha, like I need more tack. Heck, we always need more tack right?

[Navi]

Thanks for the guidance. Paul's eager for me to get this thing together so he'll have to hold off another day til I get the strpper.

They did have a whole bucket full of bridles and the guy says he gets them in all the time. I got a large black one for Tucker but they also had brown. They had a $10.00 bucket too with leather/nylon bridles, another bucket with martingales, another with half chaps...they were all a great deal! It was a whole discount room in the back of the store...kind of hidden away! ;) I know you were half joking but, if you want to PM me your address and your horse's head size and colour, I'll look next time I'm there and I'll mail you one. If you like it you can mail me the $15 and if you don't you can just donate it to a kids riding camp or something. ;)

[Jimmy Driver]

We have NEVER had a problem with the Neetsfoot oil. We use it on all of our stuff. You want to make sure that you use the 100% Neetsfoot oil. There are some out there that do have additives and it will eat away at the stitches but we have had only but good results with the 100%. I don't know how long you plan on keeping the same tack but we have Jimmy's grandmother's rodeo saddle that is 75 years old and it has only been cared for with Neetsfoot and the stitching still looks wonderful.

Just another opinion.
Kim

[Tripledeuce]

I have to agree with Kim,,,,,,after 20+ years of using "real" neatsfoot oil,,I'v never had a proble!!!!!!!

The "problems" comes from using the "neatsfoot oil compound"....whatever they put in it rots stiching!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea why the stuff is still for sale..........

Terry

[denise]

I remember seeing a thread on here on how to care for leather. And to make sure you buy the 100% neatsfoot, so I did. But then I couldn't remember what or how everyone said to use it. DUH ;)
I have a whole bottle in the tack shed. So do you just wipe it on, wipe off the excess? clean it first then apply like conditioner?

[DreamQuest]

I have read that it is might not be good to use any kind of vegetable oil to oil a saddle. Vegetable oil can react with the air, moisture, and components in the leather, causing the leather to go rancid and rot.

I have read that good quality saddle oil is the way to go. :)

[jumpinghorses]

Well first olive oil is not a vegetable oil, don't use vegetable. I use olive oil on all my tack even the stuff that ends up sitting in the heat and sun as well as the stuff that gets sweated on. No problems and the saddle shop that I got this tip from has been making saddles and using this technique for over 20 years. It is also saddle and high quality tack makers along with trainers that have told me no neatsfoot, period. None of the trainers I have worked for have even allowed the stuff, even the pure, in thier tack rooms and these are A circuit show barns. I guess it is like everything else, people all have different thoughts on things and you will find a different opinion with each person you ask.

[Tripledeuce]

I think your right,Julie........

I do know that neatsfoot oil will darken leather!!!!!! And,then,as the oil evaporates, The leather will lighten,again.

Terry

[denise]

I'm sure there are lots of ways to treat leather. Two of the women we rode/camped with swore on baby oil. :D

[joe]

I haved used 100% Neatsfoot on my bridles without any problems. This is what was recommended to me by my "local experts" :) to condition/soften/darken the leather.

I have also heard about using Olive Oil, although not tried it myself. Either the smell, that it can rub off or that it takes a longer time to dry - one or more of these is supposed to be the downside. Again, I don't know from direct experience.

Still using a bridle that I used neatsfoot on about 7 months ago. The neatsfoot is long dry, but the color hasn't changed. In other words, it will darken the leather permanently (as far as I can tell). For me, this is a godd thing, since I darken the bridle to match my saddle.

For the poster that asked how to apply it....

Some people say to soak the bridle overnight. I have heard that the oil takes forever to dry when you do that. I poured some into my hand and "dipped" the leather in it. Then I worked the oil into the leather with my hands. Did that two or three times to make sure the leather was soaked, and then hung the bridle up to dry overnight. In less than 24 hours it was dry. The next day, I repeated the process (I wanted the leather very dark). Did this for three days to get a "heavy oil" color.

As mentioned, the color hasn't become lighter since. The leather has also stayed nice and soft. I have just used cleaner on it since.

[denise]

It sounds like it works just like the Lexol conditioner. I really like it and Colorado Saddlery not only recommends it but sends you a sponge, conditioner and cleaner with your purchase. :D

I like the dark look, the darker the better, although I don't like black. So I don't have the same problem as some with not wanting the darkening.
Thanks for explaining the how to's. Like I said, I have a whole bottle sitting in the shed and it isn't cheap. :D

[Navi]

Thanks for all your replies. That's what's great about this board...we're all different and can learn from each other's experiences. :)

One question...Joe..you said you pour it on your hand? ...but the bottle says no skin contact...did you have any problem with that? That was part of my worry...the serious warnings on the label and this bridle will be on my horse's face and on a rainy day water could run from the browband into his eyes. I'm assuming no one that uses the 100% neatsfoot oil has ever experienced any adverse effects to them or their horses?

I really got a lot of great information out of this thread. Thanks!! :)

[DreamQuest]

I guess you get differing opinions wherever you go. :D I probably should have said that I have read that you should use oil of an animal origin to treat leather, which is also of animal origin. (I read this on my saddlemaker's website, who also has years of experience with leather.)

I'm not trying to pick a fight, just relaying what I've read. :)

[joe]

Thanks for all your replies. That's what's great about this board...we're all different and can learn from each other's experiences. :)

One question...Joe..you said you pour it on your hand? ...but the bottle says no skin contact...did you have any problem with that? That was part of my worry...the serious warnings on the label and this bridle will be on my horse's face and on a rainy day water could run from the browband into his eyes. I'm assuming no one that uses the 100% neatsfoot oil has ever experienced any adverse effects to them or their horses?

I really got a lot of great information out of this thread. Thanks!! :)


No one who recommended neatsfoot told me anything about skin contact. By the time I was done, both my hands were _drenched_ with the oil. This was a few nights in a row. I never had any reaction at all. When I was done, I simply washed up with soap and water.

Both my wife's bridle and mine were soaked in neatsfoot. As described, they were left hanging to dry overnight. By the next day, they felt dry to the touch (i.e. no oily residue). We have since ridden in the rain - never noticed any dripping or anything coming out of the bridles.

BTW - someone else here mentioned Lexol. I have used that and really don't like it. I was using it to clean/condition my boots for a while. Then, someone recommended another leather cleaner/conditioner (no brand name - just has a picture of an apple on the bottle). I couldn't believe the ugly reside that Lexol left on the leather. The other cleaner took it all off and my boots looked so much better.

[ShadowfaX]

I have been using pure neatsfoot oil on my tack for years. Every year I take my saddle apart and re oil the whole thing. I clean it with sadle soap and water and get the leather really wet so the pores open up and then I soak it in neatsffot until it does not take in any more. This I do yearly and then once every few months I just do a wipedown of oil. My saddle and bridle are 17 years old and in excellent condition. The stitching is just fine not at all rotted and they leather is soft and supple and feels good in the hand. Every time I buy new tack I scrub it down and give it a heavy dose of oil. I prefer dark leather so I actually like that the oil darkens the leather. I top coat with mink oil to give it a water proof finnish since I tend to ride in all weather. A lot of rain will strip out the oils so it is important to oil your tack after you ride in rain or snow.

[Green Pastures]

This thread got me thinking as I get my girls to clean their tack and stuff with neatsfeet oil and we never use gloves or anything :eek: . I looked on the site from the manufacturer of the bottle I have. I didn't find any disclaimers or anything anywhere on the site or on the bottle but I did notice that they sell 100% Pure Neatsfoot Oil which is a all natural product (this is what I have); and they also have Prime Neatsfoot Oil Compound which is a combination of natural and synthetic oils. I wonder if this is what some people are using :confused: . With it have synthetic oils in there it might be something not safe in it. Just a thought.

[Whistlin Dixie]

I read recently in a medical report that olive and first press coconut oil are actually better for US because the vegetable oils go rancid inside our bodies...cause free radical damage. Weird, huh? Smell a bottle of older corn oil......it is rancid. Olive or coconut.....no rancidity.

Now I don't know what to do with that bridle and Neetsfoot oil my friend gave us......Guess I'll make sure it is not compounded but 100%?

[Tripledeuce]

My custon bootmaker always said to use 100% pure neetsfoot oil,,,,,he said that it was the neetsfoot oil compound that caused rot............

He's been doing boots,saddles and custom leather work for over 50 years................ He ought to know something.............LOL!!!!

Terry

[Whistlin Dixie]

When I was little I reconditioned my dad's old baseball mitt with Neetsfoot oil. It softened it up nicely after the poor thing had been sitting in the damp basement so long. He said there was nothing better for old leather.