Stupid question or not??? Leather tack.

[Deleted member 163966]

I have been a horse owner for around 30 years and learned to ride in childhood (many years ago!!). All the main items of my saddlery are made of leather - saddle, bridle, "best head collar, girths etc. I'm sure all you horse owners out there are the same.

However - chatting to a vegan friend the other day, she said she would love to learn to ride (or have a little go on my horse!), but couldn't/wouldn't because she objects to having all that leather around her. She doesn't eat meat or any animal based product, does not own any leather items (bags, shoes etc) and is totally averse to the idea of doing so. Fair enough. Her life, her choices. Non-leather alternatives to many items are available, of course, so it is possible to avoid using leather for equestrian equipment. But it prompted a discussion about how vegan horse riders/owners work round this? I am not a vegan myself, and prefer to use leather tack. But there must be vegan riders out there. Thoughts?

 

[JBM]

Synthetic tack I would assume?

 

[Widgeon]

I'm sure I have seen this discussed and I think some people use synthetic tack, boots etc. There is plenty of it out there, and a lot of it is good. Although I wouldn't want to try to saddle fit a horse using synthetic brands only!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Plenty of synthetic or faux suede stuff around

 

[rextherobber]

I'm vegan, but most of my stuff is leather - I reckon if I were that die-hard a vegan, I'd think riding my horse was unethical

 

[Orangehorse]

You can equip a horse with synthetic things. Bridle, saddle, rugs, boots if needed, grooming equipment. I can't think of anything that needs to be leather.

Leather is only a by-product, so no animal was killed to provide leather.

 

[ponynutz]

I've seen people use nylon bridles/head-collars to ride in too.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Synthetic tack is widely available, but if your vegan friend wants to ride at an RS, she would have to use their tack. She couldn't use her saddle on different horses because fitted saddles are extremely important for working horses carrying unbalanced novices.
The horses welfare comes first.

 

[Fjord]

I belive some vegans, if they could only find a leather saddle that fits, would only source second hand. That way they aren't directly contributing to the problem.

 

[Tarragon]

I'm vegan, but most of my stuff is leather - I reckon if I were that die-hard a vegan, I'd think riding my horse was unethical

This is what I was going to say!
It does seem rather at odds.
But, you can get synthetic tack etc.

 

[maya2008]

Beta or nylon bridles, synthetic saddles, job done!

 

[little_critter]

I belive some vegans, if they could only find a leather saddle that fits, would only source second hand. That way they aren't directly contributing to the problem.

Even if you bought new you wouldn't be contributing to the problem. Cows aren't reared for leather, its a by-product of the meat / dairy industry. No cow will have died directly for it's hide.

 

[Fransurrey]

I do know a couple of vegan riders. One uses synthetic tack. The other still uses leather for two reasons. It's a byproduct and as long as animals are killed, it's better to use the whole animal and secondly, synthetic = plastic, which has environmental ramifications.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'm vegan, but most of my stuff is leather - I reckon if I were that die-hard a vegan, I'd think riding my horse was unethical

Same.
I do tend to buy leather tack second hand though so as to not increase the demand.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My friend is vegan but will only use leather for her dogs collars and leads and has sheepskin for their beds. She won't use synthetic at all.

 

[Gloi]

You could use cotton, though some of that is ethically dubious, for bridle/headcollar

 

[TTK]

Fransurrey just said what I was going to. Synthetic tack is generally made of irreplaceable resources, surely it is better to use something sustainable such as leather

 

[ycbm]

I believe synthetic tack is also used making stearate which comes from animal fat, so a pointless gesture.
.