All leather colors will darken eventually, even the lightest tack. Several factors influence how rapidly and how deep the color becomes:

• Frequency of cleaning and conditioning. The more often you condition your tack, the faster leather colors darken.
• Type of conditioner used—oil or lederbalsam. Oil tends to darken most leather colors, especially softer leathers, faster than lederbalsam.
• Type of leather, whether very soft and porous or tougher and thicker. Soft leather absorbs oil more readily than thick leather.
• Age of tack and exposure to sunlight, the atmosphere, and the elements, such as rain. Environmental conditions cause leather to darken.
• Frequency of use and exposure to horse sweat. As tack is used, a patina develops and leather colors deepen.

Depending on the type and finish of the leather, you can usually influence how your tack darkens with oiling if you want to create a closer color match between pieces of tack. Bear this in mind when matching a new saddle to new fittings and a bridle versus matching a used saddle.

Alternatively, if you do not want your tack to darken much, use only saddle soap to keep it clean and apply a light, single coat of Lexol Leather Conditioner when necessary. A light coat will preserve the leather without darkening the color much.

Color Comparison Examples

We've photographed some of Dover Saddlery's best-selling bridles, girths, and stirrup leathers to show how they appear just out of the manufacturer's packaging and after they've been cleaned once and oiled multiple times with pure Neatsfoot oil.

Compare how the different leathers respond to cleaning and oiling. Some leathers, such as very soft covered stirrup leathers, darken more rapidly than others with the same amount of conditioning. Other leathers barely change. You can use this knowledge when coordinating your brown leather tack.

Example 1: Circuit Grand Prix Bridle in Oakbark (browband shown)

Notice how the soft, flexible bridle leather absorbs oil and darkens dramatically. The faint layer of wax from manufacturing on the new browband will disappear with the first cleaning.

Example 2: HDR Pro Pre-Stretched Stirrup Leather in Hazelnut

The tough leather of these durable stirrup leathers has changed color only slightly with five treatments of oil.

Example 3: Marcel Toulouse Lined Leathers in Cognac

The ultra-soft calfskin leather absorbs oil readily; notice the dramatic difference in tone. Such a change should be considered when coordinating these stirrup leathers with a saddle.

Example 4: Stubben Pre-Stretched Leathers in Havana

With Stubben Pre-Stretched Leathers, hardly any color change occurs with conditioning. Distinguishing between the new and conditioned stirrup leather is difficult.

Example 5: Circuit Overlay Girth in Oakbark

The padded side of this girth has darkened substantially, while the slightly heavier hide on the outside has barely changed. A faint layer of wax on the new girth would be removed with the first cleaning.

Related Topics:

Tack and Leather Care
Basic Overview of Leather Grains and Qualities
Caring for Genuine Fleece