Hello all! I have a brand new saddle that's all chocolate roughout. Unfortunately even with a 38" flank cinch my flank billets are a little to short for my big barreled horse. I found a pair of 30" billets and they fit PERFECT. Only thing is , they are lighter oil so it looks a hair off with the chocolate saddle. There has to be a way I can just stain them a little darker. Any ideas?!? I almost think iodine or something would work. Lol. 

Chocolate shoe polish?!!!

You'll have to get the clear finished off like lightly sand it off and then you can apply the stain, but the shoe polish is a good ideal, fine one closest to the color you want. If you dont get the clear finish off it will repel the stain.. And then once you get the stain done and its what you like then put a lite coating of clear finish on. 

Just wanted to say NJJ would be the one to really answer your question, her husband was a saddle maker so I'm sure they did alot of leather staining..

I am just seeing this ..... Roxie is right....you have to remove the clear finish first. I, personally, would not use shoe polish but a leather DYE. You can buy finish remover, leather dye and then clear finish pretty cheap at Tandy's. Those products would be handy down the road for any scuffs or repairs needed on the saddle from wear and tear. .  

Thanks! I will look into Tandys. 

There is a bottled liquid that will strip the clear finish - Fiebing's Deglazer under $10.  I also use leather dye.  As a sealer (clear finish) I like Saddle Lac spray by Fiebing's.