I have a russet amish made leather quick hitch harness that has always felt greasy or oily. It is made out of the soft harness leather. I have tried cleaning it, letting it sit out in the sun and wiping it down but it always feels nasty. I have not used it very much but now I have a horse that it fits so I want to start using it more. Any one know of anythign else I can try to make it feel less greasy or oily?
what are you using to clean it? what have you used in the past to condition it, clean it, etc.
OK Here is something to try
Just to be up front - I used lots of water to clean my leather tack - always have. But we got this tip from a pamphlet from Freedmans many years ago.
In your bucket of cleaning water - add a good squirt of liquid dish soap and a handful of baking soda. The soda neutralizes sweat and helps clean
Dunk you leather into the bucket and let sit for a couple minutes. If its got a lot of crud and jockeys - let it sit longer
Then use a nice sponge (I have some small round tack sponges or a natural sponge) and scrub the leather - gently at first but add umph if you are not getting the crud off - or soak it some more
Then dunk the leather into a clean bucket of water and hang to dry
You need to change the rinse water if it gets yucky
when the leather is dried, I roll it in my hands if I need to loosen any stiffness
If it is very stiff then it could need conditioning - I use Harness Honey
If it is not stiff, my leather feels silky smooth and supple and clean
My old harness was more than 20 years old before I lost it in a fire
Best of luck with your leather
Cleaning
It has never been conditioned but I would normally use the Effax leather conditioner. It is very soft and supple.
I have cleaned it with gylcerin soap, Effax leather cleaner, plain dish soap and water and I even tried Orange glo.
It is almost like they soaked the leather in a bucket of some kind of oil.
I had started working at a barn in VA, and I was reorginizing the closets/tackroom and I found a full set of four in hand reins in a BUCKET OF NEADS FOOT OIL !!!
I did everything to try to get them usable again, I tossed them on the roof during the hot summer months, I drug them in sand, I tried everything; soaps, cleaners, you name it I did it. I would bend the leather and oil would ozz out. Needless to say, they were never usable again. So I had them turned into belts. Everyone on the farm got a really nice, custom made Freedman rein leather belt. OY!
My Amish Work harness WAS the same !.. time and use and you will LOVE IT ~~~ Promise
My Amish work harness (and only my Amish set) was the same 'greasy feeling way" … cleaning did nothing to change the feel. :eek:
I was constantly wiping off my hands when working with it … eeewww :lol:
BUT with some time and regular use … my ‘used to feel :eek: greasy’ Amish made work harness is my favorite …:D:cool::yes:
Time and use * I know you will LOVE IT ! It is made to last !!!
quote=Dynamic Equine;6169266]It has never been conditioned but I would normally use the Effax leather conditioner. It is very soft and supple.
I have cleaned it with gylcerin soap, Effax leather cleaner, plain dish soap and water and I even tried Orange glo.
It is almost like they soaked the leather in a bucket of some kind of oil.
[/quote]
I have to agree with Zu Zu. When I was riding a lot I had a strong preference for English leather goods as they often felt “oily”. Many brits will actually refer to it as “oily leather”.
It is strange at first, it feels almost tacky and does attract dust. But in time, with use and regular wipe downs, the leather gets to a point where it feels just perfect, soft and supple without being tacky. I was just cleaning my favorite “oily” dressage bridle today in fact as I’m beginning riding a friends horse.
I once bought a few oily strapgoods from a person in the UK and I liked the feel (and smell) so much I asked what kind of conditioner she used to get this unique feel. She said nothing, it had to do with the tanning process.
If you decide you don’t like your oily russet harness, PLEASE keep me in mind 
OKay I am off to use my oily harness. I love the harness other than the greay feel. I guess I will learn to wear my gloves. Thanks.
YOU’LL BE OILING YOUR GLOVES ```` AT THE SAME TIME ~
YOU’LL BE OILING/ CONDITIONING YOUR GLOVES :winkgrin: AND ENJOYING YOUR HARNESS AT THE SAME TIME !
** PLEASE PUT ME IN LINE FOR THAT 
‘OILY’ HARNESS IF buck22 DOES NOT WANT IT … PPLLEEAASSEE ?! :lol:
I got it from A&H Harness. Other than being oily it is great. It is easy to hook an unhook and is plenty adjustable. It’s not on the website but ask for information about the quick hitch.
http://ahharness.com/default.asp You have to call them.
THANKS FOR THE LINK ```
THANKS FOR THIS LINK ```
I WAS REALLY JUST KIDDING ```
HAVE MORE HORSE AND PONY HARNESS THAN I REALLY NEED :lol:
If it’s harness leather like western “harness leather”, it’s supposed to be greasy when made and to some extent always will be a little bit that way. I consider it sort of cowboy working tack, meant to live life on the range so to speak and not have to be oiled.
