Saddlery and harness made in Kanpur
Kanpur is India's saddlery town. It is a Town of Export Excellence for leather products, "Kanpur Saddlery" is a registered Geographical Indication (application 159, certificate dated 31 March 2014), and the Council for Leather Exports calls Kanpur the only centre in India that produces harness and saddlery goods, while also listing Delhi. CLE reports saddlery and harness exports of US$220.38 million in 2025-26, up from US$205.39 million in 2024-25 (DGCI&S data), and describes India as the second largest exporter in this category.
The HS heading for saddlery and harness (4201) covers these goods for any animal and of any material, so the same workshops often make dog collars and leads, saddle pads and horse rugs alongside leather tack. The main product groups are:
- Saddles: English (general purpose, jumping, dressage) and western, built on a tree, with panels stuffed with wool or foam.
- Bridlework: bridles, reins, headcollars, martingales and breastplates.
- Girths and stirrup leathers, which hold the saddle and the rider's weight.
- Driving harness for carriage horses, and pet collars and leads.
Most tack uses vegetable-tanned leather, which is firm, holds a burnished edge and darkens with oil. It is cut in long strips from the back of the hide, where it stretches least.
What we check on saddlery and harness
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle symmetry | Saddle viewed from front and rear on a stand; panels, skirts and flaps compared left to right | Twisted tree, one panel fuller or longer than the other |
| Seat and tree size | English seat measured from the saddle nail to the centre of the cantle; tree width or gullet marking checked against the order | Seat size or width marked wrongly, mixed sizes in a carton |
| Flocking | Panels pressed by hand along their length | Lumps, hollow spots, uneven firmness between sides |
| Stirrup bars | Bar fixing and safety catch moved by hand | Catch seized, sharp edges, loose rivets |
| Strap strength | Girth straps, stirrup leathers, reins and lead ropes loaded to the force in your specification, then examined | Stitches pulling, leather tearing at holes, buckle tongues bending |
| Leather | Thickness and width gauged; flesh side and edges felt | Thin or spongy leather, belly leather in a load strap, rough flesh side against the horse |
| Fittings | Material checked with a magnet and against the specification; buckles, D-rings and clips examined for casting flaws | Plated mild steel where stainless was ordered, porous castings, rough edges |
| Stitching | Stitch length, thread and turnbacks around buckles checked | Loose or skipped stitches at load points, thread too thin |
Common saddlery, harness and equestrian goods defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Typical cause | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Strap, stitching or buckle fails the pull test | Belly leather, short stitching, weak castings | Critical |
| Cracked or twisted saddle tree | Poor tree, damage in assembly | Critical |
| Stirrup bar safety catch seized | Paint or burrs, poor riveting | Critical |
| Wrong seat size or tree width marked | Labelling error | Major |
| Uneven flocking left to right | Hand stuffing without checking | Major |
| Wrong fitting material | Substitution of plated steel | Major |
| Mould on leather | Oiled leather packed damp | Major |
| Rough edge finish, scratches | Rushed burnishing, handling | Minor |
Your defect list decides the final class.
Rules and buyer standards for saddlery
There is no EU or US law with a single test for saddles or bridles, so buyers set strength and fit requirements in their own specifications. That makes the purchase order the main standard at inspection.
- General product safety (EU). Tack sold to riders is a consumer product under Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which requires it to be safe and to carry manufacturer and EU operator details and a type or batch number. See EU GPSR.
- Chromium VI (EU). Reins and other leather parts handled by the rider touch the skin, so the REACH limit of less than 3 mg/kg chromium VI applies. Vegetable-tanned leather carries less risk, but combination tannages are common. See chromium VI in leather.
- Fittings. Nickel-plated buckles in skin contact, and lead in brass fittings for California, are the usual chemical questions. See REACH and Prop 65.
- Origin. Each item, or its label, should be marked "Made in India". See country of origin labelling.
Packing, transit and your purchase order
Saddles travel in individual cartons with a cover, stirrup leathers and irons removed or wrapped, and the pommel and cantle protected so the tree is not stressed. Bridlework is coiled loosely, never tightly enough to crack oiled leather, and buckles are wrapped. Oiled vegetable-tanned leather moulds easily in a humid container, so goods should be dry before packing and cartons should carry desiccant. The inspector checks covers, carton strength, labels and moisture.
Put these in your purchase order:
- Saddle model, seat size, tree type and width, flocking material.
- Leather type, tannage, thickness and width for each strap.
- Pull-test force for each load-bearing item and how it is applied.
- Fitting material (stainless, brass, plated) and supplier.
- Stitch length, thread type and colour.
- Labels, origin marking, GPSR operator details and packing method.
Leather belts and bags are often made by the same Kanpur suppliers; see leather belts. Book an inspection in Kanpur.
Sources
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, Towns of Export Excellence (Kanpur: leather products)
- IP India GI Registry: Kanpur Saddlery, application 159
- Council for Leather Exports: Saddlery and harness
- Council for Leather Exports: Overview of the Indian Leather Industry 2026
- ODOP Uttar Pradesh: Kanpur Nagar, leather products
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (EUR-Lex)