horsehide
In fact horsehide is preportionally stronger by weight than other hides. This is due to the fact that horsehide has a higher density of fibres (proteins and collogens) running in multiple directions. If you combine that with early tanning processes that involved considerable shrinkage of the hide, the strength per weight ratio of horsehide is the best of all the leathers. It was preferred for its durability and fantastic grain which would often help in the "breaking in" process when properly assembled. Horses were more common in the olden days, however the big problem today is not the availability of horses more the availability of tanneries. Most have closed their doors and moved to China where cheaper labour and lack of environmental regulations allow for a competitive advantage. This resulted in a generally unavailability of horse leather. Furthering that, the demand for expensive quality leathers is virtually nil, so the few surviving tanneries in North America work mostly as specialty operations. Europe is slightly ahead as the europeans still value high quality over cheap price which affords many high end tanneries to operate in France, GB, Germany and Italy. Its just plain easier to work with cheaper more readily available leathers. I routinely blog about these things on my blog "The art of vintage leather jackets" . Horsehide will always be a superior leather for safety applications, steerhide comes a close second. The goat skin has its own benefits, it is thin, flexible and tough, which is why it was prized for glove weight garments and gloves. Fundementally it was always cooler due to breathability and lighter weight making it a perfect hot weather leather for summer riding and tropical flight jackets.
In fact horsehide is preportionally stronger by weight than other hides. This is due to the fact that horsehide has a higher density of fibres (proteins and collogens) running in multiple directions. If you combine that with early tanning processes that involved considerable shrinkage of the hide, the strength per weight ratio of horsehide is the best of all the leathers. It was preferred for its durability and fantastic grain which would often help in the "breaking in" process when properly assembled. Horses were more common in the olden days, however the big problem today is not the availability of horses more the availability of tanneries. Most have closed their doors and moved to China where cheaper labour and lack of environmental regulations allow for a competitive advantage. This resulted in a generally unavailability of horse leather. Furthering that, the demand for expensive quality leathers is virtually nil, so the few surviving tanneries in North America work mostly as specialty operations. Europe is slightly ahead as the europeans still value high quality over cheap price which affords many high end tanneries to operate in France, GB, Germany and Italy. Its just plain easier to work with cheaper more readily available leathers. I routinely blog about these things on my blog "The art of vintage leather jackets" . Horsehide will always be a superior leather for safety applications, steerhide comes a close second. The goat skin has its own benefits, it is thin, flexible and tough, which is why it was prized for glove weight garments and gloves. Fundementally it was always cooler due to breathability and lighter weight making it a perfect hot weather leather for summer riding and tropical flight jackets.
