Restoring old saddle?

[Resilient]

Alright, I appreciate all your previous input on western information. I purchased an antique saddle a week ago, fit me and my horse perfectly, he went well in it, I loved the feel of the saddle, etc. Only thing wrong with it was that the horn needed re-stitching. I got that taken care of and so now it’s time to restore this saddle. From what I know about it, it’s a Bona Allen saddle, I’ve heard from a couple people that it’s between 50-60 years old and another who said it was probably around 30 years old. I don’t know the last time that it’s been touched, but everything on it is all original and it’s in beautiful shape, aside from being very stiff and dry. No dry rot or anything, it’s just in need of some major conditioning. I had a few different tack shops evaluate it as well before I purchased it (all completely independent of the selling party) who all confirmed that it just needed some oil and conditioner.

I put a couple of coats of oil on it and after the first, it felt like it was softening up. After it soaked it all in, stiff again. I put on another coat of oil and it took that all in very quickly. It’s still very stiff and dry looking, is there anything else you all recommend? I’m following the recommendations of a well-known and very reputable tack shop who does a lot of restoration work on antique saddles. I’m using Neatsfoot Oil Compound (per their recommendations). I have a few other conditioners that I would be willing to try, but do I just need to give it some more time and TLC?

TIA!

[aktill]

Neatsfoot compound is not recommended by any saddle maker I know, since it contains additives (petroleum distillates or something). Most spend considerable effort to seek out pure neat foot (or other oil) that ISN’T compounded.

[AppyMom]

If you are going to use neatsfoot, use the PURE neatsfoot not the compound. I mostly ride hunter horses, but I do ride western on the trails. I was having a talk with my trainer’s husband who is a cutting horse trainer from Australia yesterday. He said in Australia they always used olive oil on very dry saddles because it really soaked it up and softened it. Their saddles would dry out quickly when they were working on the ranch because of the heat. I would never use olive oil on my jumping saddle because it is soft calfskin and oiling weakens the leather, so we use effax conditioner instead. I’ve heard it can also make the stitching rot, but I think that’s only if you overdo it and neatsfoot does the same thing. I’m going to try it on my old western saddle that’s dried out.

[Beverley]

My saddle maker wants me to use only neatsfoot oil. That said I do also like Skidmore’s Leather Cream for my western saddles.

Stiff is in part a function of the cut of leather for western saddles. I do have a 50 yo saddle myself (my 13th birthday present) and I probably oiled it at most a couple of times a year and it’s fine.

When I am bringing back the super dry though, I find that yes, it will soak up gallons, but don’t do it all at once, maybe every few days.