New Bridle Help!

[MsJump21]

I just purchased an Aramas padded fancy stitch bridle and a HK Americana fancy raised padded bridle and I don’t know how I should care for them! I want to keep them in great condition and have them last forever if I can. Should I oil or condition them before I use them? Should I clean them with leather soap after every ride? How often should they be conditioned? What brands of soap, conditioner, and oil should I use? I have the CWD soap and conditioner but I don’t know if that is the best to use on the bridles.

What’s your bridle cleaning routine?

[wanderinglemon]

I am not the best or most consistent in keeping my tack clean, but my absolute favorite product is the Horsemen’s One Step by Absorbine. It cleans and conditions and always leaves my tack super soft, with no residue or stickiness.

[OnDeck]

You will get many differing opinions Many people stray from oil nowadays, I think it has to do with the influx of calf leather saddles (which you do not oil) and a wide availability of non-oil conditioners. I still oil my strap goods and see a huge difference in the wear of bridles that are properly oiled vs only conditioned. Bridles that have never been oiled tend to wrinkle, crack, and get rough at the edges.

I use my stuff once (to make sure it fits and there are no defects) then I take it apart and oil it with 2 - 3 coats. Then I clean it, but it back together, and use it for a few more times. If it still feels stiff then you can go back and oil. But if it feels like it’s breaking in nicely then just clean after every use, condition as needed, and oil only if it feels really stiff and dry.

I’m not big on brands of cleaning products, personally. I have and like glycerin saddle soap but if my stuff starts to get too tacky I move onto something a little more watery like the CWD stuff. I really like Voltaire cream saddle soap but I find dust tends to stick to it. Leather New spray is great for quickly wiping off and a clean leather shine but probably not the best for everyday use. In my head all the yellow/off white cream conditioner (Passier, Effax, Voltaire, CWD) is the same stuff and I use them interchangeably. You won’t ruin your tack with any particular brand of tack cleaner!

[MsJump21]

Thanks for your input! What kind of oil do you use?

[OnDeck]

I’m not picky! I will specifically get the Hydrophane darkening oil if I’m looking to darken but for conditioning purposes I’ll buy whatever I can find. Typically Hydrophane, Fiebings, or whatever brand comes in a bright orange bottle.

[fourfillies]

I’m old, can’t avoid all oil on my strapgoods. One pass with Hydrophane, not a soak like days of old but one coating worked in top and bottom. Let dry. Finish with saddle soap (I use Higher Standards but plan glycerin bar is fine too). Clean with LederCombi regularly after usual use. If looking dry I rarely reoil but go with LederBalsam, best to use in reasonably warm weather (soaks in better). Enjoy!

[Moneypitt]

Love Hydrophane Leather Dressing oil for new bridle leather.

For a one step type product, I like Leather CPR. It’s also a safe product to use on tall boot leather inside and out. I especially like using this stuff at shows.

Avoid products like Horseman’s One Step and Neatsfoot oil ‘compound’ because they contain petroleum products and will rot cotton stitching.

[Small_Change]

I absolutely agree with the advice to oil sparingly when the tack feels dry. My routine is to clean all my tack regularly with Higher Standards soap (but any glycerine-based soap will do), and oil as needed with pure neatsfoot. I follow this routine whether it is with my (very, very) old tack or the brand new high end stuff, the difference being that the newer tack needs less frequent oiling and less oil when it does feel dry. When I oil, I like to put some on my hands and work it into the leather by rubbing and rolling the tack, rather than painting it on and leaving it to soak like we used to.

I must be doing something right, as I have hundred year old side saddles, 50 year old bridles and brand new tack that all gets compliments. I refuse to use anything labeled “one step.” I feels completely crazy to me to expect one product to clean and condition in any meaningful way, and would never put it on my tack except if it had to be cleaned and I had no access to anything else.

[Small_Change]

I should also mention that it is often best to seek advice from someone in the same area as you, caring for similar tack. A good example is that caring for “light oil” western tack (that does not get oiled, darkened and softened to that buttery consistency we covet in H/J land) in a hot, humid climate will be quite different than caring for new, high quality H/J tack in a dry climate. Make sure you are comparing care of apples to care of apples, not croissants

[Foitin]

For daily cleaning, my favorite of all time is Stubben pH Neutral Leather Soap, it is liquid and leaves the leather beautifully supple and not sticky.

[173north]

I oil new strapgoods with a 50/50 mix of neatsfoot and olive oil. Then I reapply that when needed - maybe once a year.

I clean/wipe down with Belvoir saddle soap whenever possible (after each ride is the goal, but for me it’s more like once a week or a few times a month) and condition with Effax Lederbalsam about once a month.

[Equestrian24]

I have an Americana I’ve had for 8 years now and love it!

I have always just used Effax Lederbalsam (and Belvoir Lederbalsam) on all of my tack, and given it a quick wipe down with a damp cloth after each ride. For deeper cleaning, I’ve always used Fiebing’s Saddle Soap.

With the Lederbalsam, I apply it with a tack sponge, allow it to dry, and then buff it out with a clean cloth so it shines and doesn’t leave a sticky residue.

When I clean with saddle soap, I wipe down any dust or dirt with a damp cloth, apply the Fiebing’s with warm water and a tack sponge, then wipe down with a damp cloth again. I always finish with the Lederbalsam.

Sometimes I oil with either extra virgin olive oil or 100% Neatsfoot oil (not the compound), but only sparingly and as needed. It is definitely possible to over-oil and IMO that’s just as bad as allowing tack to dry out. It’s also important to read manufacturer’s instructions for specific brands, as some say their leather should not be oiled (Hadfield’s, Huntley, etc.).