[QUOTE=Frizzle;7078956]
Has anyone noticed the Taking Care of Your Tack Doesn’t Have to Be Tough article link over there? -------->
No mention of HSCLC! Geez, COTH. :lol:[/QUOTE]
The NERVE!!! Ugh storms out of the forum and slams the door
2horseygirls – please do send the info!! I am going to do my best to get your order out by in the morning 
and the way I see it? Accepting gracious lodging at RunForIt Farm is worth cleaning a whole bunch of tack!!! :yes:
About the article – I did like the discussion of how to clean and condition tho – Even Kitt said the lederbalsams that are on the market don’t smell nice . . . People seem to think mine smells like cookie dough :lol:
So grateful to the folks at COTH that have helped me develop this and launch it!
Libby
My balm finally arrived today (the local PO is SLOW SLOW SLOW, no fault of Libby’s ) and I am really happy with it! A) it smells like baking chocolate, so I felt like I was baking brownies while I was cleaning! B) It worked wonders on the dry spots of my hunter bridle. The difference is very much in the feel of the bridle. It has never felt this soft and supple and happy!
I’ve been bad about tack cleaning the last couple of days because it seems like I’ve been in a rush after every ride! I’m planning on doing a good cleaning on Weds and following up with some of the balm. I am a VERY happy customer!
ok I have a question on useage amounts. Just got my balm today, and promptly cleaned two saddles. Neither was particularly dry, both are less than 2 years old. I used the apply with your hands method recommended here. When I was done, over half the container was gone!!! I didn’t feel like I applied excessively, I rubbed until it was mostly absorbed, left a light layer to soak in overnight. Did I way overdo it? Or is this normal useage amount for this balm? My passier lederbalsam definitely lasted longer, but I also didn’t apply that by hand.
As for results, well, my saddles are black so… nothing spectacular with regards to appearance changes, black tack just doesn’t get that “glow” that nice havana tack does. For me, the test will be how they feel tomorrow when I get them out.
Should I have rubbed off any excesss and buffed today, instead of letting it soak in overnight?
Feel and smell wise, the conditioner felt good on my hands (but so does lederbalsam) my DD dipped into it and rubbed it in her hands, and the smell is nice, no additional scenting needed imho.
Sounds like you used too much…I have newer saddles and applied by hand and didn’t use that much. Interesting about passier lederbalsam…I found this balm better and not as greesey feeling on my hands.
I buffed my newer saddles the next day before riding in the saddle but did just leave them alone after putting the balm on.
I finally got around to using my balm and its an excellent product. The square jar is a bit difficult to get product out of, not because its square but because the opening is rather small IMO but the square jar is very pretty. Since I’m not riding at the moment I don’t have much tack to use it on, but the Butet saddle I used it on came out looking beautiful and feeling great. Since its a well maintained saddle, I can’t comment on how the product works on leather in poor condition, I am going to have to borrow some dirty tack from friends.
i may have missed this somewhere so i thought i’d ask - will there be more of the Confidence scented soap in the future? if not, would you recommend a similar scent for those of us that would appreciate the calming nature of the confidence?
I am super-super-picky about tack cleaning and conditioning products.
I do. NOT. Like. Balm-type conditioners. At. All.
However, because I love the soap so much, I thought it might be worthwhile to try the balm. Libby was kind enough to send me a sample of the balm with my most recent order of (more!) of the soap (this time for a friend).
I like the balm. I’m not going to say I love it… but I do like it. Probably my second-favorite conditioner. It wipes off my hands easily and it smells like cookies. I will order more, for both myself and as gifts for friends.
(Really, if you guys understood just how picky I am about tack cleaning/conditioning products and just how much I hate balm-type products, you would realize what a resoundingly positive review this is!)
[QUOTE=Bensmom;7081254]
People seem to think mine smells like cookie dough :lol:[/QUOTE]
That would be me :winkgrin: And, seriously… it does. Every time I use it, I start craving cookie dough.
FINALLY getting enough time to come post an updated review after doing an order to get all the scents I hadn’t yet tried and the balm. Here are my highlights:
- I continue to LOVE the soap. AND because of that I continue to clean my tack after almost every ride, which is unheard of for me. My mom's #1 selling point to everyone we've shared this product with is that it made me a daily tack cleaner. :yes: I've had a lot of folks recently comment on how nice my tack is kept too, which is just awesome.
- After smelling each scent, I have to say the Confidence blend is my favorite, with Citrus Ginger in close second. I gave the Rosemary Mint to a friend as a gift as she liked that scent the most, but I plan to order another of it for me next time because I liked the smell in the jar (didn't use it myself since I gave it away). The Vanilla Lavendar is my least favorite. I was hestitant to try it anyway since lavendar normally gives me a headache, but vanilla is my all time favorite scent so I ordered it to give it a chance. I can't really smell either the vanilla or the lavendar in it though.. I don't think I'd mind using it to clean my tack, but I do wish it were more vanilla-y. I'm totally in favor of a future monthly special being vanilla mint or some other vanilla combo.. just sayin' :D
- I really like the balm too! It is yummy cookie dough goodness for my tack. I like the consistency and it is easy to apply (I just use my fingers and buff with my hand versus a soft cloth) and isn't greasy/sticky like some seem to be. My ONLY complaint is that I'm going through the balm too quickly! I know it isn't for using every time you clean, but I used it on a bunch of tack when I first got it because I had stuff that really needed to be conditioned but isn't in daily use. And, of course, I keep finding stuff that "needs" to be cleaned/conditioned so I've already used a good portion of the jar in just a few weeks. I'd love if there were an option for a larger jar of the balm...
In general, I continue to be very pleased with the products and can’t wait until my next order so that I can see the new labels (I think my last order was one of the last with the old labels). I believe I may also have converted a few friends, who I am sending the link to the etsy store today.
[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;7082024]
I’m totally in favor of a future monthly special being vanilla mint or some other vanilla combo… just sayin’ :D[/QUOTE]
Agreed! Vanilla Mint would be awesome. I’d definitely buy it.
I finally jumped on the bandwagon and I’m happy I did.
I got the Vanilla Lavender soap, love the mild scent, it is super effective and easy to use. I also like that you included a sponge because when I got my order I was all “argh out of sponges” but I opened and was happily surprised.
The balm is great, it smells nice and is easy to use, I used the corner of an old dish towel and oiled all the things. I did a lot of takc and used very little of either product.
My tack hadn’t been cleaned in ages and with very little effort it looks awesome, seriously.
My husband saw how great my tack looks and now wants me to do all his boots…
Ok so the balm is pretty much the bomb. I don’t think I will use anything else from now on its that awesome. So please Bensmom, start making it in a bigger jar! I don’t know how long mine will last as I am on a conditioning frenzy 
Also wanted to say I finally gave my saddle a really good cleaning with the soap and I’m blown away. Those little black dirt balls that accumulate (I know COTH had a funny name for them) came right off with minimal scrubbing, whereas before I had to either use a soft tooth brush or just pick them off with my nails.
I’m still working on my sample jar and I am very pleased with how it works.
However, just a few days ago I noticed something: Tons of ark-worthy rain working toward that 40 days and 40 nights. A saddle I had cleaned with the soap some time ago and which has a reputation for producing mildew at the drop of a hat–had no mildew when I took it for a spin. I also used a bridle that has been more or less sitting around–only a teeny tiny bit of mildew on the reins near the bit.
Maybe this is also an anti-mildew soap to boot. Anyone else noticed this? Also someone else at the barn was complaining about how mildewy her tack was getting with the weather. Mine is more or less pristine and she is much more of a manic tack cleaner than I am.
[QUOTE=KateKat;7082865]
Those little black dirt balls that accumulate (I know COTH had a funny name for them)[/QUOTE]
I believe they’re called jockeys.
[QUOTE=betonbill;7082873]
I’m still working on my sample jar and I am very pleased with how it works.
However, just a few days ago I noticed something: Tons of ark-worthy rain working toward that 40 days and 40 nights. A saddle I had cleaned with the soap some time ago and which has a reputation for producing mildew at the drop of a hat–had no mildew when I took it for a spin. I also used a bridle that has been more or less sitting around–only a teeny tiny bit of mildew on the reins near the bit.
Maybe this is also an anti-mildew soap to boot. Anyone else noticed this? Also someone else at the barn was complaining about how mildewy her tack was getting with the weather. Mine is more or less pristine and she is much more of a manic tack cleaner than I am.[/QUOTE]
OK didn’t notice mildew resistance (because I’m in dry CA, no worries about mildew here) but I did notice that my leather seemed a bit more waterproof than normal. I used the soap on my tall boots, and definitely noticed that water is now beading up on the leather.
Yes, jockeys! My saddle is now jockey-less, lol. The soap works awesome on them with very minimal work.
[QUOTE=KateKat;7083847]
OK didn’t notice mildew resistance (because I’m in dry CA, no worries about mildew here) but I did notice that my leather seemed a bit more waterproof than normal. I used the soap on my tall boots, and definitely noticed that water is now beading up on the leather. [/QUOTE]
I noticed this as well with my tack- normally after riding in the rain, the spotting on my saddle doesn’t fade for a bit. Not so after this soap + balm, and that’s what really sold me on this product line.
I’m so glad y’all continue to be pleased! On the mildew/mold issue, I don’t add anything specifically for that function but it does seem to help. I live in Florida, though, and my tack lives in my horse trailer, so this time of year, I have issues with it no matter what 
I have been very pleased with the little bit of water resistance the balm has as well! It was developed to do that – it isn’t so much that it would form a barrier that would make it hard to clean the next time, but it does a good job of protecting from a light rain shower. I love it on my boots
Libby
Bensmom, would you ever consider make a soap or balm that has a chocolate scent? It is my absolute obsession. Target used to make the best Chocolate Latte lotion but I can’t find it any longer. My barn life would be complete if I had a super strong smelling chocolate soap/balm. (And really both if I were given a choice.) Or would you consider custom orders for certain scents? That may be time consuming though.
I know some don’t love strong scents but if it is sweet I am all about it.
I also LOVE the Rosemary scent you have. I think that would be awesome if it was stronger smelling too. (But again, I get most people don’t like that kind of thing. I’m just strange.)
I am IN LOVE with your products. I clean everything all the time. You’ve got a great product, please never stop making it!!!
I wonder–those who have found that the soap seems to inhibit mold/mildew, which scent do you have? Maybe certain essential oils help with mold/mildew.
I have been using the citrus ginger in the barn, and as much as I love the soap, I have not seen it inhibiting mold. I have not ridden because of the lousy weather, and my saddle is pretty mold covered. No worse than with any other soap, but I don’t think any better.
