Over - oiled reins?

PikPablo · 10-12-2008, 08:31 PM

I have a black Kieffer dressage bridle that I use extra virgin olive oil on and was told to by my dressage instructor...and it works. You just take an old sock and saturate it with olive oil and then apply lightly to the leather. It works like a charm and NO damages. Olive oil is natural and is good for moisturizing. You just have to do your conditioning little by little. Over time it will soften. It took me 6 months to break-in my bridle. Now it's soft like butter. You work at it a little at a time, you have to be patient and it will soften. Clean once or twice a week, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE

Tack Collector · 10-13-2008, 03:07 AM

Inside a car with windows rolled up is also good for getting things hot. Maybe wrap the reins in paper and then in a bag and carry them around in the car for a week or so.

If they are really sodden and might be ruined anyway, about the only other thing you could do, and they may or may not survive it: Outdoors, away from barn, garage, house, put some solvent like denatured alcohol in a coffee can, put the reins in, put the lid on, and leave them soak a while in the shade so the lig doesn't blow off. That's going to strip both oil and dye, probably. But a solvent soak will remove the oil. It may also raise the grain, cause the "rough" side to go even tougher, and weaken the leather.

JBandRio · 10-13-2008, 06:40 AM

I never oil reins. Ever. Ok, maybe if they were an abused set that was just all dried out

But regular leather, even if a bit stiff, gets pretty supple pretty quickly with regular use, wiping off sweat with a damp rag every ride, regular cleaning with a pH-balanced leather cleaner, and light applications of a leather conditioner.

This isn't necessarily kind to leather, but since the reins aren't usable in their current greasy state, you can try cleaning them with ammonia splashed in a bucket of water. That gets rid of the surface oil, but you'll still be dealing with the ooze for a while if they're really soaked.

guess who · 10-14-2008, 06:12 AM

My friend's mother oiled a bridle and put it in a pan over the stove, of heated oil..and left it on all night.
Lucky she didn't burn the whole house down, but that bridle oozed for a looooong time

Poor pony would actually end up with oil stains on her after she'd been ridden in the sun especially.

Tack Collector · 10-14-2008, 06:44 AM

A good solvent soak will definitely remove the oil but it will be a little abusive to the leather. Hang the reins outside away from sparks, flames, heat, cigarettes, etc. to dry after soaking. Then condition with Lexol or Lexol NF non-darkening, depending. If the solvent takes out the dye, you might need to redye. But try the Lexol in an inconspicous area first and see if the leather doesn't darken enough without a redye.

10-12-2008, 08:31 PM	#11
PikPablo Full Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California Posts: 214 Images: 39	I have a black Kieffer dressage bridle that I use extra virgin olive oil on and was told to by my dressage instructor...and it works. You just take an old sock and saturate it with olive oil and then apply lightly to the leather. It works like a charm and NO damages. Olive oil is natural and is good for moisturizing. You just have to do your conditioning little by little. Over time it will soften. It took me 6 months to break-in my bridle. Now it's soft like butter. You work at it a little at a time, you have to be patient and it will soften. Clean once or twice a week, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE __________________ *"Darnell, Don't Be A Trd In The Sandbox." My Name Is Earl**

10-13-2008, 06:40 AM	#13
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,470 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 12	I never oil reins. Ever. Ok, maybe if they were an abused set that was just all dried out But regular leather, even if a bit stiff, gets pretty supple pretty quickly with regular use, wiping off sweat with a damp rag every ride, regular cleaning with a pH-balanced leather cleaner, and light applications of a leather conditioner. This isn't necessarily kind to leather, but since the reins aren't usable in their current greasy state, you can try cleaning them with ammonia splashed in a bucket of water. That gets rid of the surface oil, but you'll still be dealing with the ooze for a while if they're really soaked. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

10-14-2008, 06:12 AM	#14
guess who Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 816 Blog Entries: 1	My friend's mother oiled a bridle and put it in a pan over the stove, of heated oil..and left it on all night. Lucky she didn't burn the whole house down, but that bridle oozed for a looooong time Poor pony would actually end up with oil stains on her after she'd been ridden in the sun especially. __________________ ~I'll never forget you~ Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars

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10-13-2008, 03:07 AM	#12
Tack Collector Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dreary Station (near to Coma) Posts: 366 Images: 76	Inside a car with windows rolled up is also good for getting things hot. Maybe wrap the reins in paper and then in a bag and carry them around in the car for a week or so. If they are really sodden and might be ruined anyway, about the only other thing you could do, and they may or may not survive it: Outdoors, away from barn, garage, house, put some solvent like denatured alcohol in a coffee can, put the reins in, put the lid on, and leave them soak a while in the shade so the lig doesn't blow off. That's going to strip both oil and dye, probably. But a solvent soak will remove the oil. It may also raise the grain, cause the "rough" side to go even tougher, and weaken the leather.

10-14-2008, 06:44 AM	#15
Tack Collector Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dreary Station (near to Coma) Posts: 366 Images: 76	A good solvent soak will definitely remove the oil but it will be a little abusive to the leather. Hang the reins outside away from sparks, flames, heat, cigarettes, etc. to dry after soaking. Then condition with Lexol or Lexol NF non-darkening, depending. If the solvent takes out the dye, you might need to redye. But try the Lexol in an inconspicous area first and see if the leather doesn't darken enough without a redye.