There are new products that aappear to use for saddle conditioner all the time, many of them synthetic, but it is hard to beat Huberd's time tested natural leather care products that have proven successful for so many years. Any product used on leather must be able to penetrate deep enough into the leather to feed the entire hide and then seal it to keep it clean and protect it against moisture. At the same time, it does not need to leave a sticky residue that will allow dirt and other foreign matter to stick to it.

Two Trusted Saddle Conditioners – Huberd's Neatsfoot Oil in Dry Climates & Huberds Shoe Grease in Wet Climates

You have probably heard the name mentioned with leather before, but you may not know what neatsfoot oil saddle conditioner is made from or why it is used. "Neat" is an antiquated name for cattle, so that is a huge clue as to how the product is made. It is taken from the feet and shinbones of cattle, however the hooves are not used in the process. Hence the words "neats" and "foot" come together to form the name neatsfoot oil.

It is speculated that the best neatsfoot oil comes from calves instead of older animals, and the formula should be pure, not mixed with other oils. At one time, neatsfoot oil was considered a treatment for dry and scaly skin, but there are better products for that use today. The primary use for neatsfoot oil is as a saddle conditioner and for treatment of other leather products.

The secret that makes Huberd's neatsfoot oil the great saddle conditioner it is comes from its melting point. Most fat of warm-blooded animals has a higher melting point than that found in the foot area of beasts with hooves. At room temperature, animal fat becomes hard, but neatsfoot oil remains a liquid due to the miracle of countercurrent heat exchange. Without getting too scientific, neatsfoot oil penetrates much better into all types of leather because it doesn't become hard like animal fat.

The best neatsfoot oil saddle conditioner is pure, but many manufacturers put in additives that allow the product to be made cheaper. Some suppliers use lard as the basis for neatsfoot oil, and they sell it as pure. Mineral oil is another ingredient that makes its way into some of the cheaper saddle conditioner products. The mixed ingredients require the manufacturer to list their products as "neatsfoot oil compound." Soya oil and rapeseed oil are also some additives you may find on the neatsfoot oil label. Mineral oil can be detrimental to the stitching in saddles or other leather items and may even break down the leather itself.

Beeswax and Saddle Conditioner

One of the best natural ingredients for preservation, beeswax is the second important ingredient in any saddle conditioner. While neatsfoot oil penetrates and feeds thirsty leather, beeswax seals it to prevent dirt and bacteria from getting in. Beeswax does not break down the leather and allows it to breathe.

One of the primary reasons for beeswax as a coating is that it lasts for a very long time with no chemical changee. Beeswax also holds in the neatsfoot oil, which is especially helpful in arid climates where leather will dry out.  Huberd's Shoe Grease is the best saddle conditioner for wet climates.  It's superior pine tar and beeswax fomula waterproofs leather, conditions, and preserves it.

Whatever your needs might be for leather conditioning, Huberd's has the quality products to treat and protect your valuable leather investments. Not only the saddle itself, but harnessing and all tack gear need to be protected to ensure their usefulness and long life. Huberd's wrote the book on leather care and has continually furnished high quality leather care products to its customers for almost a century.