you might already know this but ray holes makes some stuff called rawhide cream u can use that stuff but it might be a little expensive, also you dont necesarly need animal fat, just take ivory soap and scrape it, possibly with a poatato peeler or something, and mix it wth some water over the stove, i have not made this stuff but the guy that taught me to braid uses it , i have a friend that makes a mix with snowseal and something else, ill get back to you with the mix