Horse rugs and equestrian textiles from China

2% as saddlery, whatever the material

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, heading 4201 covers saddlery and harness for any animal, of any material, and the tariff's own examples include saddle cloths and dog coats, so textile horse rugs, fly sheets, fly masks, saddle pads, headcollars and lead ropes are classified there rather than as textiles. Other than hand-made leather riding saddles, the line carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

Grooming brushes are entered as brushes at 2%, and riders' clothing, such as jodhpurs and jackets, is classified as clothing at higher rates. Confirm the commodity code for each item in a mixed order. Dog and cat products are covered in our pet products guide.

What buyers specify

A turnout rug is specified by outer fabric, usually polyester ripstop described by denier, waterproof coating, lining and fill weight in grams per square metre, together with neck style, closures and leg straps. Ask for hydrostatic head results to ISO 811 and breathability to ISO 11092 on the coated outer, tear strength to ISO 13937-2, seam strength to ISO 13935-2 and light fastness to ISO 105-B02, and fix the size chart in centimetres or feet and inches from the back of the chest to the tail.

Equestrian products sold to horse owners are consumer products under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, so fastenings must hold, reflective trims must not be claimed as safety equipment without testing, and instructions should cover fitting and washing. Composition labels on textile products help retailers even where the item is classified as saddlery.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 800 own-brand turnout rugs under 4201 00 00 90. At £26,000 free on board and £3,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £29,000. Horse rugs at 2% pay £580 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £29,580, giving £5,916. Of the £6,496 paid at import, only the £580 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. Grooming brushes in the same shipment would be entered separately under 9603 90 99 00, also at 2%. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

What goes wrong

Horse rugs fail in the field. The waterproof coating washes off after a few cleans or the seams leak because they were not taped, the outer rips on a fence because the denier is lower than ordered, fill migrates and leaves cold spots, the rug slips and rubs the shoulders because the cut differs from the sample, and buckles and leg straps break. Fly masks rub the eyes or come loose.

Test the outer fabric and seams before bulk, repeat the hydrostatic head test after washing, check denier and fill weight on production samples, fit sample rugs on real horses across the size range, pull-test straps and buckles, and inspect stitching, taping and labels on each lot.

Cambridge China Bridge sources turnout rugs, stable rugs, fly masks and saddle pads for equestrian brands and saddlers, with field-fit samples and fabric testing agreed before production. See our equestrian sourcing.