How is our leather processed before it becomes a bridle or curb bit?
We care not only about the aesthetics and individuality of our products, but also about the well-being of the horse. We place great value on high quality. This includes, among other things, avoiding as many chemical and harmful substances as possible during the production of our halters, bridles, curb bits, and reins.
We use exclusively vegetable-tanned leather, as it is particularly skin-friendly while remaining robust and durable. It is ideal for equestrian use and is also a more environmentally friendly alternative to the chrome tanning process commonly used today.
What does tanning actually mean?
Tanning is a step in leather production that makes the leather supple and durable. Vegetable tanning, also known as vegetable-based tanning, is the oldest method of leather processing and was the standard for a long time. Today, it is often replaced by chrome tanning. However, as sustainability has become increasingly important in recent years, vegetable tanning is experiencing a resurgence.
How does vegetable tanning work?
Vegetable tanning uses plant-based substances. The active ingredient extracted from plants is called “tannin.” Plants naturally produce tannin as a defense against predators. This substance is mainly found in the bark and roots of plants. Oak or spruce bark, chestnut, or willow bark are commonly used for tanning leather.
Vegetable-tanned leather is highly breathable and skin-friendly. It is also easy to work with and hardly warps during processing.
The tanning process
The vegetable tanning process takes several days. The leather soaks together with the tanning agents in a water-filled basin. After this pretreatment, it is further processed in a bath containing only the tanning solution. Once the leather has absorbed enough tanning agents, it undergoes additional steps: drying, curing, and pickling. The leather is then ready for further processing into the final product.
The finished vegetable-tanned leather forms the basis for our halters, bridles, and curb bits, which you can customize to your liking.
