Ways to supple up new bridle

[Crazy_cat_lady]

So I "treated" H to a new synthetic bridle as his was looking a bit old and tatty.

It is the Collegiate Syntovia Which is basically synthetic leather. His old one was the material type and I loved it but they seem so hard to source now, a few people kindly linked a couple but the prices were quite steep so I went for the cheaper Syntovia as I'm tight and we mainly hack, plus I thought it looked smart!

Originally the grackle version was out of stock and had been for ages on multiple sites so went for the flash. He prefers a grackle to a cavesson as it doesnt catch in his beard ? (of course he won't let me trim the beard all hell breaks loose!)

Of course the day it arrives the grackle comes back in stock

I thought we were in for trouble when it arrived as the cavesson part was very stiff and quite thick

Went to fit it to him and he was petrified of it ? especially the cavesson part. So returned it and have now ordered the grackle one.

While a lot less stiff than the flash version, there are still some "creaky" parts eg the buckles and the headpiece. Is there anything I can do to try and make it slightly less noisy and a bit more supple? Id consider washing up liquid on the buckles but don't really want to do that until I've tested it fits etc as it could compromise a return

Im guessing its just needs to "wear in" and him wearing it will help and ill just have to expect the hysterical Welsh D reaction for the first few times? I could avoid putting the fastenings that need undoing through the keepers, just the runners for the first couple of times also?

 

[sbloom]

It will only soften with physical wear and tear, something like talc might stop creaking, or WD40 but I'd not want that near skin. Once you've decided to keep it sit working it in your hands when you watch TV, also recommended for leather/good conditioner (not oil!!).

 

[Goldenstar]

I use rapide leather gel .

 

[ycbm]

I found biothane never really softened, and the throat latch never lay nicely. I also found that instead of breaking in, the surface eventually cracked at the wear points. I gave up with synthetic leather in the end.
.

 

[fiwen30]

Accepting no responsibility here, but I’ve been known to take hard bits of leather which need to be supple and soft, lather then in leather conditioner, wrap them in a few layers of fabric to pad them a little, and bash them with a hammer. If you’re a bit wary, I suppose you could use a rubber mallet.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would think there is not much you can do as it's synthetic, you can pick up quite cheap leather bridles these days the last one I bought was only £35 it's a shires one and was in a sale and the quality is quite good.

 

[Steerpike]

Not all biothane is the same, all my endurance bridles are biothane and are really supple and have never cracked even with all the miles I do in them, I'm not sure there is anyway you are going to make yours supple

 

[pansymouse]

With synthetic tack getting warm before you use it will help it become more supple - obviously you need to do it every time you use it. When I used a Prolite girth I used to pop it on the heated passenger seat of my car for the 20 minute drive to the yard and it was noticeably more soft and usable when I came to put it on.