Sourcing horse breastplates from China

UK duty on horse breastplates

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 4201 covers saddlery and harness for animals, of any material. Horse breastplates fall within the other saddlery line, 4201 00 00 90. The table shows breastplate variants sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff record lists 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. It attaches import controls on cat and dog fur and seal products, plus an export control on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. Seal products for commercial import into Great Britain must qualify under the indigenous communities exemption and have a seal catch certificate. Exclude these materials from the specification.

Confirm the finished breastplate's materials and construction with your broker using our commodity code guide. For related saddlery within the wider heading, see saddle girths.

Specify fit and saddle attachments

Define the breastplate layout with a drawing showing chest junctions, shoulder straps, saddle attachments and the girth strap. Specify strap lengths at the usable adjustment positions, hole spacing, leather or synthetic material, elastic placement, padding and hardware material. Confirm whether a martingale attachment is included or supplied separately.

Approve a fitted sample with the intended saddle and girth. Check shoulder freedom, clearance at the throat and whether adjustment tails stay secure. Agree attachment and elastic recovery tests with the factory before production. Consumer equestrian products sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; fitting and care instructions should cover the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 leather horse breastplates, illustrative order under 4201 00 00 90, invoiced at £4,200 free on board, with £350 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,550. Duty at 2% is £91. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,641, so it is £928.20. Import taxes total £1,019.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £91 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: compare finished strap measurements and adjustment range with the approved drawing, then check left and right straps for symmetry.

Materials: compare leather thickness, flexibility, padding and elastic recovery with the approved sample; confirm the animal species used for leather and any fleece trim.

Attachments: check stitching around rings and buckles, buckle tongue engagement, punched holes and agreed pull-test results; reject sharp edges and loose fittings.

Finish and packing: check edge finishing, colour transfer with a damp cloth, removable attachment fit and packing that prevents buckles marking leather. Use our quality inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A breastplate can match the sample's appearance but fit differently because strap lengths or attachment positions have changed. Short shoulder straps restrict movement, a poorly positioned chest junction rubs, and soft elastic lets the assembly shift. Check fit on production samples rather than accepting size names alone.

Other failures include stitching pulling out at rings, holes stretching, buckle tongues bending and edge coatings cracking where straps flex. Record defects against the approved sample and repeat the agreed functional checks after corrections.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.