Is synthetic tack a good choice?
Ever since the early 90s riders have had the option of choosing synthetic saddles instead of the traditional leather ones. More recently, synthetic bridle work has become more widely available. But synthetic materials aren’t a new idea – for decades materials like nylon have been used for halters, lead ropes, girths, and other tack, it just never looked like leather before, and it’s the leather look materials we’re talking about here. There was even a time when show ring judges marked down synthetic tack, but that rarely happens anymore – in fact, many judges wouldn’t be able to tell the difference unless they rode the horse themselves! What are the advantages of synthetic tack? Right from the start, manufacturers of synthetic saddles were proud of their easy cleaning – just wipe them down with a wet cloth once in a while. They soon started make them look good too with synthetic suede and a variety of colors to match their leather counterparts. With plastic or other synthetic materials used for the trees, they are cheaper, and lighter that traditional wood and leather saddles. You can still get nylon saddles, but most nylon saddle manufacturers use a mix of nylon and leather substitutes today for a better look. These advantages make synthetic saddles a great choice for some horse owners. Busy riding schools, which need to have a lot of saddles and don’t have a lot of time for cleaning them, or a lot of money to invest, are often big fans of synthetic saddles. They are a good choice for small children, because by being light they’re easy to lift up onto a pony’s back, especially for young western riders. Some trainers choose them for starting young horses because they’re light, and if a horse rolls on one or breaks the tree they aren’t too expensive to replace. Some manufacturers of synthetic saddles make a wider variety of tree sizes – even adjustable trees – so you might even be able to find a better fit. Many come with removable or adjustable knee rolls under the flaps, which attach with Velcro, making an eventing saddle into a close contact in seconds – all conveniences that don’t come with a leather saddle. For some horse owners, synthetic tack has some other advantages. Some riders feel uncomfortable about the prevalence of leather in horse products, and their concern for the welfare of cattle used for leather production makes synthetic options a more comfortable choice. Today, we are very close to being able to keep a horse without using any leather products at all. Production of synthetic tack may not involve leather, but buyers of nylon and other synthetic products who are environmentally conscious should be aware of the production outputs of these materials. Many harmful chemicals are used in the fabrication of synthetic tack, and the source materials are difficult to manufacture without causing some environmental damage. And, unlike the wood and leather that forms the tree and materials of a leather saddle, there is very little in a synthetic saddle that is biodegradable! Ultimately, the best option for your horse is going to be the best saddle you can afford. If your budget won’t stretch to a good leather saddle, which can be around $500 for a general purpose English saddle, and more for a western or dressage saddle, then go synthetic. A good synthetic saddle will always be better for you and your horse than a bad leather one. But be realistic - it may look good, but it won’t last as long as a more expensive wood and leather one, and with a little time and luck you might be able to find an excellent used leather saddle that will still outlast any synthetic model. What about synthetic girths, bridles, martingales, and stirrup leathers? When they first came out, riders were doubtful. Would they chafe like nylon? Would they break when you needed them to and not break when you didn’t? And the early examples of synthetic bridle work really didn’t look much like leather at all. Nowadays though, synthetic strap work looks a lot better, and like the saddles, it’s easy to clean. You can sponge off a sweaty headstall with a soapy sponge, and just dunk your bit into a bucket of water without worrying about you noseband or reins. But even if the new synthetic bridle work looks better, like nylon it has some safety issues. Like its saddlery counterparts, it will not break, but sometimes you really want your straps to snap. That’s why a lot of racing stables use synthetic bridles, but attach leather reins. That way if the horse steps on them or gets a leg through them they’ll snap and not injure the horse. One place not to use synthetic strap work though is stirrup leathers – you always want these to break in an emergency. Either way, always buy the best tack your budget will allow, and care for it the best you can. Good synthetic tack is good tack, and always a better choice than cheap poor-quality leather. But if your budget can handle it, and you have the time to care for it, leather will last a lot longer.
A selection of Synthetic tack suppliers
Wintec: the leading supplier of synthetic tack, including English and western saddles. High quality and mid-range price. Specialist synthetic tack producers. Based in Australia.
- Thorowgood: top range specialist producers of fine quality synthetic tack, looks a lot like leather. Made in England.
- Weaver leather: producers of top quality Cordura nylon bridle work and synthetic saddles; prices are often comparable to leather work. American made.
- Abetta: makers of good value synthetic western saddles, as well as leather versions. American made
- Fabtron: makers of mid-range synthetic saddles, and for a higher price, leather and Cordura combination saddles. American
