Wow! Your post was incredibly helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed description. I feel like I really learned a lot from this post. Thank you!
[QUOTE=VTMorgan06;8106030]
I’m also a fan of the Higher Standards cleaner, but not so much the leather balm. I find the balm too difficult to work with, it’s too hard and solid. I have trouble with my sponge flaking apart and leaving bits of yellow on my tack because I’m rubbing the jar of balm so hard to get any. I recently started using leather honey as my conditioner and love it! It’s in a liquid form that you squeeze right on to a sponge or towel. A little big goes a long way and it works great. I cleaned all of tack last weekend for a clinic and it had never looked better, and I’m a regular tack cleaner![/QUOTE]
It took me awhile to figure out the HS leather balm. It softens as it warms up, so it takes awhile to get it started, but I get it out with my fingers and work it into the leather with my hands. I never had luck with a sponge. Surprisingly, it doesn’t get nasty under my nails and the bonus is that it makes your hands soft!
Great post! Any suggestions for how to help over oiled tack?
[QUOTE=FirstChance;8126145]
Great post! Any suggestions for how to help over oiled tack?[/QUOTE]
sunlight, if you can help it. dawn dish soap or detergent w/ wet rag, scrub to break down the oil. i’ve made the mistake of over-oiling reins and they were not salvageable (or so i thought) so i used them as a dog leash when we went to the beach… saltwater/salt somehow cured them.
short of dipping your tack in the ocean, try a wet rag/ dish soap wipedown.
Since I’m using up the Hammonal I soak the tube in a bowl of hot water before I try using it or it is too thick. Bought it for my new Stubben bridle, but probably would not buy it again, but I can be pretty sure it is excellent stuff!
Why not use a rag with the Higher Standards leather balm? Then it wouldn’t be ripping your sponges up…
I’ve run out of HS leather balm for now, but found it necessary to heat it a little in the microwave for it to be soft enough to work with. NOT in the container it comes in, which is not microwave safe.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8126812]
Since I’m using up the Hammonal I soak the tube in a bowl of hot water before I try using it or it is too thick. Bought it for my new Stubben bridle, but probably would not buy it again, but I can be pretty sure it is excellent stuff![/QUOTE]
I wonder if that would also work for the HS balm? Instead of cutting a chunk out and microwaving it for a few seconds.
[QUOTE=quietann;8127120]
I’ve run out of HS leather balm for now, but found it necessary to heat it a little in the microwave for it to be soft enough to work with. NOT in the container it comes in, which is not microwave safe.[/QUOTE]
Here’s a good product improvement suggestion for HS balm…sell the product in a microwave safe container 
[QUOTE=IPEsq;8127137]
Here’s a good product improvement suggestion for HS balm…sell the product in a microwave safe container :D[/QUOTE]
well… one has to be careful with microwaving… it changes the properties/structures of certain things… so… you may microwave it and find out it turns into something else after :lol:
Microwave safe, single use packs?
[QUOTE=Mosey_2003;8126981]
Why not use a rag with the Higher Standards leather balm? Then it wouldn’t be ripping your sponges up…[/QUOTE]
I use an old sock over my whole hand. It works well. The heat from my fingers helps soften the balm.
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Microwave water, then set it in.
My favorite tack care guidance is from the poster C4 on the Ultimate Dressage website. He’s very knowledgeable:
http://www.ultimatedressage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=85303
(Sorry, I don’t have time to distill his ideas for you right now…)
I LOVE Oakwood saddle soap, as well as their conditioner. It’s my favorite product to use when cleaning my tack. Just like you, I regularly clean my tack and take pride in it being clean and supple! The Oakwood soap does a great job of getting all of the horse dirt/sweat off of my tack. I am OBSESSED with the Oakwood Conditioner! It makes everything so supple and it really helps my saddle feel conditioned and it makes it sort of sticky and helps me stay in the saddle! The BEST conditioner EVER!
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