Originally Posted by
Ecrevisse
Rock hard is good. Soft and flexible is bad, so is cracked on the top of the saddle. DON'T soak it in water or anything else to get it to soften up. Use Proofide only.
Soaking in water should not really be done to make it softer, but to make it pliable so that it can be shaped - that is, if it has become flared, or hammock'y. And yes, saddles should be quite hard, though virtually rock hard may be a bit too much
Proofide (or whichever other product in that vein) only most sparingly.