I read that for a really dry saddle, you wrap it in a damp (not soaking wet towel) heat it in an oven for about a 1/2 hour on the lowest setting about 120 degrees. Then take it from the oven and apply your first dose (and heaviest dose) of proofide. The idea is thatt the steam penetrates and helps, temporarily, hydrate the old leather and allows for deeper penetration of the proofide. When the moisture evaporates, it is replaced by the proofide. Another treatment or two with proofide and that would be it.