I’ll also add that while we do eat some organic, locally raised, free range and grass fed beef and chicken and do use leather products, car interiors, horses saddles, bridles, etc. cowboy boots and other leather belts and shoes, we also care for and have rescued many farm animals and we do not eat, other than eggs, any of our chickens.
We have 5 rescue ducks and geese, two that are special needs and get medications and special care, we have 2 rescue burros, one that is blind and my cats and my friends dog are shelter rescues. I have also spent a number of years in my life volunteering for wildlife rescue, sooo…what leather products we use certainly balance out with all of our rescue efforts and the haven we provide for our animals here at the ranch. I am strongly opposed to fur products and am a major defender of wild life and exotic animal hunting/poaching.
Certain items not made of leather are inferior. They have yet to make a synthetic cowboy boot or saddle that holds up. There are Cordura saddles that are all synthetic but they are lightweight and for convenience and ease of use but they are not sturdy, stock performance saddlery. They are fine for a Sunday trail ride but won’t hold up to heavier, performance riding or ranch work.
There is really no getting around the use of leather in the horse world.