Do you have to Oil new leather immediately before use?

Eaglestone

Eaglestone

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2006
Messages
5,928
Location
West Sussex
Visit site
I purchased a Collegiate Running Martingale in February and used it for less than a dozen times, when I noticed the top layer of leather was splitting and cracking, where your buckle it up around the neck ..... :(

It is supposed to be English Leather and I was very surprised this had happened ....especially as it was lovely and flexible and I was really pleased with it ... :)

I returned it to the online shop where I purchased it from and today they phoned me and told me the problem was due to me not oiling it before use :confused::confused::confused: ..... well although, perhaps in hindsight I should have put something on the leather, prior to use, quite honestly I do not think that it should have split and cracked anyway :(

They also said that they had contacted Collegiate, who asked whether it had been oiled and they agreed that this was why this problem had occured .. :(

They have agreed to replace the Martingale, but will be charging me postage on the replacement, however I really would expect a new leather item not to react in this way, with such little use, just because I did not oil it ... :confused:

What do you guys think?

I have posted this in Stable Yard as well, as I really want your opinions ..

Thanks :D
 
Hmm well I wouldn't have expected that to happen, but have to say I do always use a good leather dressing (I use effax leather balsam) on new tack before I use it and then regularly until it is fully supple. :( Glad you are getting it sorted though.
 
Last edited:
The leather that this company is not 'quality' english leather, but of poor quality. No leather should need oiling or, indeed,ever be oiled. Use either some Effax or Hamanol. Both will soften, strengthen and protect.
 
the mentioned brand might be 'english' leather but is made up abroad and is of dubious quality. but usually yes i will oil new tack before use! again the old buy cheap buy twice rule applies! god english, made in walsall generally lasts a lifetime! if looked after..
 
Thank you all for your replies :)

I knew that the Martingale was an inexpensive buy, but would have expected it to last a little longer that a dozen uses .... I was just sooooo surprised that I was 'palmed off' with the opinion that I had failed to oil it and therefore, there laid the problem ....

I did not want a replacement, but hey ho, we will see .... it will go back if it happens again ;)
 
Did it come with instructions to oil it? Was there instruction on the advert that said you had to oil it?

Admittedly I buy more expensive tack (a lucky position) and I don't oil any of it before use, haven't needed to. It all gets balsamed as it gets used, but that's it.
 
I never oil leather, leather isn't an oily thing, it's greasy.
If I get something old and stiff or new and needs suppling up I use Ko-Cho-Line, brings the leather up a treat.
For a company to admit their leather needs oil before use I find quite shocking.
 
I would say yes, & I always have, generally with Neatsfoot.

Even top quality English leather that I've bought direct from the saddler has been treated before use & then periodically during use. I've never seen instructions on tack, but did once see a tag on a Stubben item that said not to use oil, but a product of theirs.
 
If it needed oiling then there should have been instructions to do so. I know one cheaper brand does state that the produce should be oiled before use on the tag they use - really trying to think what brand it is...might be Jumpers Horse Line...
 
Well it really depends how the leather was tanned and use

For example we have made our own leather which was tanned to be "english leather", so uses less stuffing (fat) than german or italian tanned.

However we spend a great deal of time and research to find our supplier, and ours you can use and as long as it doesn't get wet doesn't really require oiling. Not that oiling will do any harm.

We have had one person complain that a coloured headcollar left a bright red stain on their horse after it got totally sweaty travelling and to avoid that you need to use a good quality balm to seal the leather (urad, effax etc)

However cracking without the item geting soaked and dried too fast, generally means that the stuffing was either in adequate or poor quality (fish oil rather than vegetable oil always cracks and smells horrible)
 
MrsMozart said:
Did it come with instructions to oil it? Was there instruction on the advert that said you had to oil it?

Admittedly I buy more expensive tack (a lucky position) and I don't oil any of it before use, haven't needed to. It all gets balsamed as it gets used, but that's it.
Click to expand...

I must admit Mrs M that is exactly what I thought, and tbo I just think they are trying to blame me, instead of inferior leatherwork .... tbo I just wanted a cheap item, as I am not really brill at looking after it as it has to stay at the stables and not in ideal conditions ....... but I DO expect it to last more than a dozen times of usage before it fails on me ...... :(
 
CotswoldSJ said:
Well it really depends how the leather was tanned and use

For example we have made our own leather which was tanned to be "english leather", so uses less stuffing (fat) than german or italian tanned.

However we spend a great deal of time and research to find our supplier, and ours you can use and as long as it doesn't get wet doesn't really require oiling. Not that oiling will do any harm.

We have had one person complain that a coloured headcollar left a bright red stain on their horse after it got totally sweaty travelling and to avoid that you need to use a good quality balm to seal the leather (urad, effax etc)

However cracking without the item geting soaked and dried too fast, generally means that the stuffing was either in adequate or poor quality (fish oil rather than vegetable oil always cracks and smells horrible)
Click to expand...

Thank you, it sounds like you know a bit more than others (although everyone has been very helpful :)) ...... it never got wet and has had very little use ...... I really did not want a replacement of the same product, but somehow have gone with it, which is not normally my style, however when they catch you 'at work' then one tends to go along with suggestions that you would never go with, when you have all your facilities about you lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top