leather care and cleaning

[SamanthaG]

Ive always had second hand tack that has come with my horses so its never looked clean and soft.

Ive just ordered a new jefferies bridle. And have a used Fylde saddle which is part suede and in very good condition. It seems the years of oiling everything and soaking new leather (to soften it) in linseed are long gone.

So a couple of questions.......

What should I clean and condition my used fylde saddle with? Any tips on suede care?

And whats best for softening/treating the new jefferies bridle with. I see jefferies do a leather cream. Is it any good?

For any saddlers out there, dumb question....is it only cheap leather that shows wrinkles/folds? And im assuming with a good quality bridle I won't have the problem of the leather being too tight for the keepers ( mainly had this problem with the hook and eye part on the check pieces .

Thanks in advance

 

[JustKickOn]

Well worth a read... http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...to-make-your-own-leather-condioner-and-use-it

CDM is very knowledgeable with all things leather!

 

[cremedemonthe]

Wrinkles means they are using the part of the butt that is up close to the shoulder end, near it's limit of being called butt.
Shoulder leather has less substance than butt. Best butt will hardly wrinkle when used.
Shoulder is not generally used in bridle making, it is always or should be butt
Average breaking strain of 2.5-3mm shoulder is 2000-2500 lbs per square inch
Average breaking strain of 5-5.5mm butt is 5000lbs per square inch
Oz

Ive always had second hand tack that has come with my horses so its never looked clean and soft.

Ive just ordered a new jefferies bridle. And have a used Fylde saddle which is part suede and in very good condition. It seems the years of oiling everything and soaking new leather (to soften it) in linseed are long gone.

So a couple of questions.......

What should I clean and condition my used fylde saddle with? Any tips on suede care?

And whats best for softening/treating the new jefferies bridle with. I see jefferies do a leather cream. Is it any good?

For any saddlers out there, dumb question....is it only cheap leather that shows wrinkles/folds? And im assuming with a good quality bridle I won't have the problem of the leather being too tight for the keepers ( mainly had this problem with the hook and eye part on the check pieces .

Thanks in advance