Does anyone still use Neatsfoot oil?

Yes i do - I bought some to help rejuvenate an old side-saddle I bought that had some fairly brittle leather - it worked wonders.
 
The person who made my saddle advised liberally applying neatsfoot oil four or five times before I first used it, to make it supple.
I have heard that prolonged use can rot stitching....
 
I laughed with OH yesterday as I put on a bridle that I bought when I was 13 (am now 38!) it's had load of neatsfoot and being a pony bridle fitted silly tiny OTTTB horse perfectly - if it's still going after probably 10 years of use then 10+ years junked in a box - I'm not sure it's doing that much harm
Should we run a comp as to who's using the oldest kit !
 
I've bought two old saddles which looked very sad and dry and used neatsfoot oil on them. Worked perfectly and both saddles looked almost new again :)

It also darkened my brown saddle to a deeper, almost black shade which was nice.
 
OldNag said:
It's what we were told at saddlery college.
Click to expand...

Second that, it's what we are taught as Saddlers. It's ok on very old leather but newer hides have a different tannage Ph and it's the newer modern hides neatsfoot is not good for. Under the microscope you'll see a soggy mess of cells and fibres if neatsfoot is used. Far better to use a conditioner that includes greases, firm fats and waxes such as lanolin, tallow and beeswax.
 
polos mum, I did just the same last year. Dug out a lovely old Keith luxford bridle I had new for my pony when I was 14 (I'm 40). Fitted Tb perfectly! It's also lovely and soft after years of neatsfoot and saddle soap.

My favourite though is kocholine, although it turns stitching a bit red.
 
I'm using it about monthly on my lovely thick, second hand but unused presentation harness. Don't need it for the rest of my tack though I'd use it if needed- it's all either old enough (20YO) to be supple or nice enough to come supple though!
 
On waxy leather boots, to keep them waterproof. The boots don't really last long enough for any adverse effects to become apparent.

I'm just coming to the end of the first bottle of neatsfoot oil I ever bought, about 21 years ago - did have a few years' break from horses though. Do I get the distinction of having the oldest neatsfoot oil?!
 
No, it's actually not particularly good for leather, and I like my tack to last so I've not used it for years and years. There's much better stuff available to treat tack with nowadays.
 
Yes, when showing. Have a sponge soaked in it in a plastic bag and use this to polish horse/rider/tack anything!
 
I use it sometimes. I usually put it on new tack when I first get it. My DR saddle leather was a bit stiff so it's had a few treatments with Neatsfoot Oil (I have a Barrie Swain, bought new from and fitted by them, and they specifically told me to treat with NF Oil) and is lovely now. For day to day I just use either that Horseman's One Step cream, or I've got some Red all in one leather cream somewhere too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top