Innovation Prize: the vegan saddle

Innovation Prize: the vegan saddle

Nothing has ever really managed to compete with leather in the world of riding. However, cork could turn out to be an alternative in the long run.

Horses were already vegan before the concept was even invented. They only ever eat vegetation. If you look at riding equipment, however, things are totally different as everything there seems to be made of leather. To date, the only real alternative has seemed to be plastic, which is not really sustainable either.

Valentina Kurscheid consciously looked around for alternative new materials. In Portugal the journalist discovered a wealth of different everyday products made of cork from the bark of local oak trees. After her trip, Valentina wondered about making a saddle out of the natural resource. However, it proved to be difficult finding a manufacturer who could make some prototypes. Finally, Christoph Rieser agreed to give it a go. “It was a real challenge. In the beginning I was quite sceptical about cork really being tough enough for the job”, reported the master saddler. Despite Christoph’s initial doubts, however, a cork saddle and tack made their world première at EQUITANA 2019, and also won over the Innovation Prize jury.

The independent panel of experts praised the saddle’s low weight and, in particular, its sustainable design. The saddletree and stirrups are made of native wood, while the padding is made of coconut fibres, natural India rubber and latex. In the meantime, Christopher Rieser has tested wear and tear during riding and, according to his trials, the new material can compete with leather without any problem whatsoever. Being waterproof, heat-insulating and elastic, the vegan saddle also promises to be comfortable for both horse and rider.