I'm sort of new to western horseback riding. I've been taking lessons for two years, and have decided to invest in my own saddle. The only problem is that I can't find one that isn't made of leather :-( For my lessons I've been using a half leather one that my instructor has because I didn't have a choice. Now that I'm buying my own I want one that supports my beliefs. Even the "synthetic" ones that I've seen online have leather stirrups or seats. I can't be the only vegan/vegetarian out there riding. Help please!
2006-09-02 17:51:24 · 20 answers · asked by ceruleanharadrim 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Other - Outdoor Recreation
Check out Wintec saddles. They have all synthetic models in both English and Western versions.
2006-09-04 13:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by WSG 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I understand your position, but just so you know, my husband bought a synthetic saddle package (because it was less expensive than leather) and often times you'll find that the quality is lacking - I later found out, after my husband got thrown and seriously injured, that the particular saddle was well-known for pinching the horse, which is what happened. I would think in all honesty that you'd be acting in the best interest of the horse you ride by buying a saddle for HIS or HER comfort put first, above your personal beliefs. If you can find both, then hoora for you but in the mean time, do think about your horse's comfort, it can mean all the difference in the world between a good ride for you and a bad experience for all. Also, I prefer leather billets and off-billits, they are much easier to use, and better for horse and rider. Maybe if you are so convicted not to use animal products, ride bareback?
2006-09-04 12:24:05 · answer #2 · answered by Giovanni 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use a bareback pad made of polyester. Leather is abundant and you wouldn't be affecting the killing of cows by trillionth of a grain of sand. The leather is for the horse. Leather is organic and synthetic products pollute the environment more. Leather lasts much longer, possibly more than your lifetime. Don't be so resistant to tradition. English and western saddles have gone through decades of design improvement. Actually, vegan refers to edible products. Organic vs synthetic may be an issue for 1 in 10,000 people. Synthetic pollutes the environment from the beginning. Plastics use the most dangerous chemicals to humans and the environment during processing. Then the plastic locks the chemicals and leaches them into the environment for years and years. Leather is organic. You can choose non-animal base oils to treat and soften the leather.
Choose leather for the horse, and for the environment and don't worry about sitting on cow skin. The pad in the middle of a western saddle may be suede leather, same for English.
I suppose you wear plastic shoes. ???
2006-09-03 01:08:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I never understood vegans / vegetarians. There aren't enough plants in the world to support 6 billion of us.
That being said, I'm sure there are some outfitters who can custom make you a faux leather saddle. There probably isn't a big market for them though. Good luck finding one.
2006-09-04 17:45:32 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Here's what you need to do. Wake up really early on your next day off, go to Denny's and help yourself to a big ole' plate of steak and eggs and a tall glass of milk. Then go and buy the best leather saddle that you can afford. You're right. Your not the only vegan/vegetarian out there;your just the only one with no sense. Now quit being stupid. God put animals on the Earth for humans to slaughter and eat. Your sinning by not eating at least three helpings of meat a day. Oh, I can't wait till deer season. They are so yummy. Especially the babies. Oh so tender. Now quit being stupid, ride hard and chow down.
2006-09-03 04:05:57 · answer #5 · answered by Queevil 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
I like Abetta Cordura nylon saddles; very light-weight as opposed to leather, and just about indestructible.
http://www.buyabetta.com/products/saddles/abetta.htm
2006-09-03 00:59:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
what do you think cows are for? people are going to eat them anyway so why not take advantage of whats left after they are killed? honestly though dont buy one of those synthetic saddles, you'll spend alot of money on it and if you ride very much i can garantee that you'll break it. western saddles were designed for long hard trail rides. i bought a used saddles 5 years ago for breaking 2year olds and ive been tough on it and its just now starting to fall apart. thats 5 years of horses falling on it, throwing me around in it, and lots and lots of bucking. good luck to you
2006-09-03 07:47:16 · answer #7 · answered by walker 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Just for your information,
Vitamin B12 is found in significant amounts only in animal protein foods—meat and poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Even small amounts of these foods supply sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 to provide enough for healthy people.
Except for vegans (vegetarians who also abstain from eggs, dairy, and other animal products), virtually no one in North America has a diet deficient in vitamin B12. Those who avoid animal protein foods can easily take vitamin B12 supplements instead. Strict vegans generally develop a dietary deficiency of vitamin B12, but it is often many years before a deficiency becomes severe enough to cause symptoms or to be diagnosed. Doctors recommend that all vegans supplement with vitamin B12.
Tempeh, a fermented soybean product, provides some vitamin B12. However, the B12 content of tempeh is variable and insufficient to meet dietary B12 requirements.2 Small but inconsistent amounts of B12 also occur in seaweed and spirulina.3 4 Because of this variability, most doctors do not recommend vegetable sources of vitamin B12 to replenish deficient stores. No other vegetables provide vitamin B12, unless they are contaminated with fecal matter (e.g., fertilizer).
2006-09-07 00:28:51 · answer #8 · answered by Ice 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Are you eating the saddle or riding on it?
If you are so strict about misusing animals, why subject a horse to riding you around? That is contradictory. You think the horse wants to lug your fat *** around?
Either quit moaning about leather saddles and get one, or don't abuse horses if you're so against mistreatment of animals.
2006-09-03 00:56:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
You're beliefs are crazy and out of place....
You should be thinking:
"What is the most comfortable thing i can do for my horse?"
and that would be bareback...
canvas would hurt your horse's skin... it would be rather abrasive.. cotton wouldn't last.. hemp the same.... if you must use a saddle, you're best bet would be to find one that didn't use a toxic form of tanning... that would be better for the earth, better for your horse and better on your conscious..
2006-09-06 19:56:19 · answer #10 · answered by nikkicfox 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋