How to Make Soap With Neatsfoot

How well you tack up your horse can make a big difference to your riding experience. Whether it's the saddle, harnesses, breastplates or stirrups, regular cleaning and conditioning ensures that tack remains in excellent condition. As leather ages, there is a constant depletion of the oil levels, which can make the leather hard and brittle. Using Neatsfoot oil is one of the best ways to prevent drying out of the leather. Making Neatsfoot oil soap, or saddle soap as it's commonly known, is a simple process that you can undertake at home.

Method 1

• 1

  Put the water in a pan. Place it over the heat source, and wait for it to boil. Reduce the level of heat and allow it to simmer.

• 2

  Gradually stir the soap flakes into the simmering water, a little at a time. Continue stirring until the soap has completely dissolved in the water.

• 3

  In the double boiler, take the Neatsfoot oil along with the beeswax (or paraffin). Allow this to melt. Add the molten mixture into the simmering soap. Keep stirring until the mixture thickens. Allow it to cool, and pour it out into wide-mouthed jars to store.

Method 2

• 1

  Put the beeswax in one of the stainless steel or glass pots. Add the lye flakes and 10 parts of water. Place it on the heat source and allow boiling for five minutes, while continuously stirring with the stainless steel spoon.

• 2

  In the other pot, take the remaining 10 parts water and the castile soap shavings. Thoroughly rinse the spoon used in Step 1 and mix.

• 3

  When the soap melts, add it slowly into the beeswax and lye mixture, stirring well till it gets mixed completely. Remove the pan from the heat source and add turpentine. Stir and quickly pour into wide-mouthed jars, cover and store in cool dry place.