Arborist / tree climbing rope protector. Climbing rope runs through it over a limb. Retails for $25 + $15 shipping + tax.
Bought a nice 1/4" thick vegtan leather for $20, enough to make 2 or 3 plus a belt or 2.
Is this really as simple as cutting a strip, soaking it, forming a tube, then forming the tube into a horeshoe. I was thinking form around a garden hose, or even fill with sand to form it. Then rivet or stitch it.