I have always used neatsfoot\u00a0oil in the past, but at this past horse show a lady told me that neatsfoot\u00a0oil can damage the stitching on your bridle. Is this true or not true? I bought leather therapy brand conditioner. She told me it would darken my bridle. I have an edgewood. It did darken the bridle, but not as much as I would like. Even with multiple applications I just can\u2019t get it to the way it looks when I use neatsfoot\u00a0oil. The coloring also looks uneven. I have never had a bridle fall apart from using neatsfoot\u00a0oil but maybe they mean long term? Have you tried any products like neatsfoot oil that make the leather soft, won\u2019t damage stitching and also darkens?<\/p>\n
When it is used in large amounts for long periods of time, yes, neatsfoot\u00a0oil DOES rot stitching on a bridle-\u00a0or on any other leather product, in fact. I normally only use neatsfoot\u00a0very sparingly on my tack, and I make sure to wipe any excess off after I\u2019m done. Neatsfoot\u00a0oil is a conditioning agent for leather, but it is NOT a cleaner. To both clean and darken leather, you will need to use consistent applications of something like Lexol\u00a0leather cleaner, followed by the conditioner made by the same company. Lexol\u00a0DOES darken leather-\u00a0that is how I get my new bridles and saddles darkened and broken in for use. You can also use Hydrophane, and follow that with Lexol\u00a0if you want- that method will also work. Hope this helps.<\/p>\n