It is always an exciting moment when you get a new leather bridle. You can’t wait to use it on your horse, but then you suddenly notice how stiff it is. New leather is almost always stiff. Luckily, it is a fairly simple process to soften up a new leather bridle.
Just follow these steps and it will be silky soft and flexible in a flash.
Materials You Will Need to Soften Your Bridle
- Leather Honey Leather Conditioner
- Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
- A small bowl of warm water
- Two sponges
- Lint-free cloths
Before you begin the softening process, make sure you're working in a clean and dry area. Your workspace should be clear of mud, grit, or any debris.
How to Clean Leather Bridles
The first step is to clean the bridle. Use the leather cleaner with a sponge or lint-free cloth to clean every square inch of the bridle. When it is good and lathered up, you will want to rinse all of the soap off with a damp sponge. When you have the bridle completely rinsed off, use a dry cloth to dry the bridle completely.
Softening a Bridle with Leather Conditioner
When the bridle is completely dry, use a lint-free cloth to apply the Leather Honey Leather Conditioner to the bridle. You don’t have to use much of the Leather Honey. Just a few drops from the bottle should be enough to handle the job, depending on the size of the bridle. Most regular-sized bridles will only need one or two ounces of Leather Honey to make them supple. If the bridle is especially dried out, then you may need to use a little more conditioner.
Once you have completely worked theLeather Honey into the bridle, give it time to hydrate and absorb. It may take two hours or longer for the conditioner to do its work. You will notice that the bridle is softer as soon as you have worked the oil in, but it will probably still be a little stiff. If you wait until the next day, you will find that the Leather Honey has completely softened the leather like magic.
Use Leather Honey Before Storing Your Leather Tack
The bridle will now be ready to use for the first time. It is best to repeat this process before storing your leather tack for the winter. If the bridle gets dirty before that, clean and condition as needed. Doing so will not only keep the bridle supple, but it will also prolong the life of the bridle. It will keep the bridle from drying and cracking, which goes a long way towards keeping it in good condition. Whenever you see signs of the bridle becoming dry or stiff, then go ahead and reapply the Leather Honey treatment to restore it back to new. You – and your horse — willenjoy the feel of the soft leather.
