Best treatment for a new bridle

[Twiglet]

I bought a lovely new Keiffer bridle at the weekend, and want to treat it prior to using it. Have always thought Neatsfoot but think it rots stitching. Any other suggestions?

 

[legaldancer]

I've always used Neatsfoot & never had rotten stitching. Surely stitching needs redoing every so often anyway?
I've only really needed to have stirrup leathers & the occassional rein restitched, besides leather breakages.
I had always heard that Flexelan used to rot stitching, but that's probably an urban myth too.
If you don't oil the leather its more likely to snap anyway, so its a choice between leather or stitching perhaps!

 

[Silverspring]

I use leather oil and avoid the stitching! I oil the leather intensely the first time I do it so over and over again until the oil stops being abosrobed then once every other day for at least a week, then once a week for a good few months or until it gets that really soft feel

This was how I was shown to treat new leather by my dressage trainer, she's got really expensive Amerigo saddles and Elevator bridles and she treats them all the same...no rotted stitching yet!

 

[lensmith7]

I love Stubben Hamanol. Kept my bridle looking as good as new for 3 years now x

 

[abracadabra]

i use oils sometimes with no rotting problems, but a bridle i bought once had the care instructions on a swing label and it said not to oil it,cant remember offhand the maker

if youre really unsure and can be bothered

try keiffer and ask how they recommend you care for their product, after all they know what processes its already been through so what would suit

 

[abracadabra]

ooh i LOVE hamanol, its lovely stuff

 

[TinselRider]

Another vote for hamanol cream although the smell does make me feel ill

 

[Springbok]

I have a keiffer bridle too and worry about the stitching with a lot of the creams and oils. It's fully stitched - not just at the points.

I used their leather cleaning products and haven't had a problem 4 years on

 

[ester]

I have known stitching rot. Where we used to go on riding holidays as kids they used to get the kids to oil and saddle soap the tack every week before the 'show' In 3 trips in 3 years I saw the girth straps come off of 3 saddles. Am sure all that oiling didn't help.

My cheap stuff needs it but never oiled my jeffries just used their leather cream.

 

[Happy Bird]

Coachaline is brilliant stuff !

 

[Twiglet]

Well already use Hammanol for my saddle, so could try that I suppose.

 

[CBAnglo]

Hi - see you got the kieffer! sorry I never made it round with my collection.

I use stubben hammanol for all of my saddles and bridles. one of my kieffer bridles is 3 yrs old and used everyday (or used to be) and it still looks brand new. lovely bridle and I am sure Z will look fabulous in it.

 

[Donkeymad]

Use Effax, Hamanol or Jefferies Leather balms.

 

[Tnavas]

The Stubben saddle soap makes me heave the smell is gross.

Lay out an old bedsheet over a thick layer of newspaper, take the bridle apart and oil the outside of the bridle using a brush or a small piece of sponge, lay it on the sheet and then continue oiling in thin layers until it can't hold anymore. Wipe excess off with a clean cloth and then Glycerine.

We used oil on all the riding school gear and in 10 years I've never had any rot, I've oiled my stuff for 40+ years with Flexilan. Wear and tear and sweat gets the stitching, especially leathers and girth tabs.