EcoRider
Saddlery
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Eco Rider Saddlery
Eco Rider saddlery is leather tack made with vegetable-tanned leather, aimed at riders who want kit that lasts and treads a little lighter. This collection holds 16 Eco Rider lines covering bridle accessories, martingales and breastplates, stirrup leathers, lunge reins and leather care. Right now the pieces you can order are the Eco Rider Poll Guard at £9.95, the Eco Rider Leather Blinkers at £19.95, the Eco Rider Ecosoft Balsam from £9.95, the Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment at £69.95, and the Eco Rider Anti-Stretch Leathers at £75.00. Sizes and colours move quickly, so what you see on the product page is the live picture.
In a hurry?
- Cheapest way in: Eco Rider Poll Guard, £9.95 in black or brown.
- Best for a distracted horse: Eco Rider Leather Blinkers, £19.95, black or brown.
- Best for saddle stability: Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment, £69.95 in cob brown.
- Best for stirrup leathers: Eco Rider Anti-Stretch Leathers, £75.00, 140cm black.
- Looking after it all: Eco Rider Ecosoft Balsam, from £9.95 for the 500ml.
- Not sure on size? Get in touch and our team will help you match pony, cob or full.
Which Eco Rider piece do you actually need?
| If your problem is… | Reach for | Price | Options in stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure or rubbing over the poll | Eco Rider Poll Guard | £9.95 | One size, black or brown |
| A horse who spooks at what is beside him | Eco Rider Leather Blinkers | £19.95 | One size, black or brown |
| The saddle creeping back on hills or across country | Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment | £69.95 | Cob, brown |
| Stirrup leathers that stretch unevenly | Eco Rider Anti-Stretch Leathers | £75.00 | 140cm, black |
| Dry, tired leather that needs feeding | Eco Rider Ecosoft Balsam | from £9.95 | 500ml |
Prices and availability shown were correct when this page was last reviewed. The rest of the 16-product Eco Rider range here, including the Tara Breastplate, the Ultra Comfort stirrup leathers and the elasticated martingales, moves in and out of stock as deliveries land, so it is worth checking the individual product page.
What makes Eco Rider leather different?
The leather across the Eco Rider range is vegetable-tanned rather than chrome-tanned. In plain terms, that means the hide is tanned using plant-based tannins instead of chromium salts. Riders tend to notice three things: the leather darkens and takes on a patina with use, it stays breathable against the horse, and it feels firmer out of the box before it softens with wear and conditioning.
Does vegetable-tanned leather need different care?
It likes feeding more than it likes soaking. Wipe sweat and mud off after work, let the leather dry away from direct heat, then work in a small amount of balsam or conditioner. The Eco Rider Ecosoft Balsam, from £9.95 in the 500ml size, is designed for exactly this job: a thin coat, worked in with a cloth, rather than a thick layer that sits on the surface.
Will it stretch?
All leather gives a little as it beds in, which is why the stirrup leathers in this range are built around an anti-stretch core. The Eco Rider Anti-Stretch Leathers at £75.00 pair that core with stainless steel fittings, so the pair you ride on stays matched rather than one side dropping a hole ahead of the other.
How do I choose between a blinker, a poll guard and a breastplate?
They solve completely different problems, so it is worth being clear before you spend.
- Blinkers narrow what the horse can see to the side. Useful for a horse that loses concentration in a busy arena or on the road. The Eco Rider pair is £19.95 and attaches with removable Velcro, so you can take them off between sessions.
- A poll guard sits under the headpiece and spreads pressure over the poll. At £9.95 it is the cheapest thing here and the easiest to justify if your horse is fussy about his ears or head being handled.
- A breastplate stops the saddle sliding backwards. If your horse is round, croup-high, or you jump and hack over hills, the £69.95 Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment gives you both saddle security and a point to clip a martingale attachment.
How do I get the sizing right?
Eco Rider sizes its body kit as pony/cob, cob, full and X-full, and its stirrup leathers by length in inches or centimetres. As a rough guide, measure an existing breastplate or leathers you already ride in and match the length rather than guessing from your horse's height. If you are between sizes or unsure which pattern suits a wide-barrelled horse, get in touch and our team will help.
Is eco-friendly tack a compromise on strength?
It should not be. The Anti-Stretch Leathers wrap soft hypoallergenic leather around a strong nylon core and finish it with stainless steel fittings, the Hunt Breastplate is padded at the wither for comfort, and the leather is chosen to be worked hard rather than kept for best. What you may notice is a shorter break-in period on softer chrome-tanned tack by comparison, and a longer, slower softening on vegetable-tanned leather that rewards regular conditioning.
Frequently asked questions
What is Eco Rider saddlery made from?
The leather items in this range use vegetable-tanned leather, tanned with plant-based tannins rather than chromium salts, paired with stainless steel fittings. The Ecosoft Balsam is a leather conditioner made for looking after that leather, and the lunge rein in the range is strong cotton with a swivel rather than leather.
Which Eco Rider items can I order today?
At the last review the in-stock lines were the Eco Rider Poll Guard at £9.95, the Eco Rider Leather Blinkers at £19.95, the Eco Rider Ecosoft Balsam from £9.95, the Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment at £69.95, and the Eco Rider Anti-Stretch Leathers at £75.00. The collection holds 16 Eco Rider products in total, and the others come back in as stock arrives, so the product page is always the live answer.
Do I need a breastplate or a martingale?
A breastplate keeps the saddle from sliding backwards; a martingale influences how high the horse carries his head. The Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate at £69.95 includes a martingale attachment point, so it covers both jobs if you need them together. If saddle slip is your only issue, a breastplate on its own is enough.
How do I care for vegetable-tanned leather tack?
Wipe off sweat, mud and grease after riding, let it dry naturally away from radiators or direct sun, then work in a thin coat of balsam or conditioner. Avoid soaking the leather or drying it fast, as both dry the fibres out. Little and often beats an occasional heavy treatment.
How do I choose the right size?
Breastplates and martingales here are sized pony/cob, cob, full and X-full; stirrup leathers are sized by length. The most reliable method is to measure tack your horse already wears comfortably and match it. If you are between sizes, get in touch and our team will help you pick.
What are the delivery and returns terms?
UK delivery is free on orders over £50, and you have 90 days to return an item that is not right. If you are unsure whether a piece will suit your horse before you order, get in touch and our team will help.
Free UK delivery over £50 · 90-day returns · Expert help
Last reviewed 2026-07-24 by the Just Horse Riders team.