ok as I said I was raised using beef tallow in a piece of canvas, but rodents make that a problem, so I don't really remember how long ago I started using at first called harness honey now called leather honey, been in production since 1968 and my old saddle arou nd 70 years or so, was better then thirty years when I bought it, started with tallow last 20 years leather honey, not a single crack or tear in my saddle, love it more then my old girlfriends probably why I ended up single hehe, but my saddle is cared for as I have will have at least another 70 plus years, I picked up a mule team with work harness, leather taken good care of, I got a friend that travels to mule pules mule waon rides, still to this day makes garden, cuts grass so on so forth with mules, he is the one that said id better use extra virgin olive oil, but in 48 years of caring for my leather saddles, tack, shoes, boots, holsters, knife sheaths and so on, with now a team harness set, I've yet to be converted to olive oil, I've read on here and see many on here make leather products i'm sure many saddle and harness masters are on he, so I had wished to see if I could become more informed on leather, using is far different then working with. yawl work and shape leather, my but and hands polish what masters make, I've went to a fore cart because they amputated my right leg below the knee and the front half of my left foot, I need no pity, I am still here, and since with no front half of my left foot I cant use a saddle no more, I have had Shetlands from age 8, I've raised QH AN APHA my adult life, so as my bucket list is a team of mules I cant disappear into the woods no more but I can still travel down paths and trails as well as roads so I am quite happy, so I believe unless given a compelling reason I'll stick with leather honey 20 years or so of proof are on my old saddle, I do appreciate any knowledge given to me, thank yawl for your time
richard