Kincade Bridles

McNally

McNally

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I just got a brown saddle, but my bridle is black! Am on a VERY VERY tight budget now and actually cant afford anything but....I also hate to ride with un matching tack ;-)

I have seen Kincade bridles in my local tack shop and felt the leather which was surprisingly less stiff and yuck than i had expected!
Then i saw the one i liked online reduced! Are they worth a try? or do i continue my mis matched riding until summer when the money situation may hopefully improve?!
 
I bought a cheap bridle last year because I was broke (it was a shires one I think and cost something like £25..). It's still in decent shape a year on, before I used it I had it in a bucket of oil overnight and that really improved the quality of the leather. It's still used pretty regularly.

If you think brown saddle and black bridle is bad, I ended up with a brown saddle and a red leather bridle on my loan pony :eek: it was horrendous. Before that I was using my cheapy shires one, but my friend moved yards, really needed a bridle so I gave her mine, and was forced to use the one the pony had come with (funnily enough his head was the same size as her horse, who is about 16hh, he's only 14.2 hehe).
 
I have to say I really like the Kincade bridles, my chap came with one that was just a few months old and that lasted me about 3-4 years (the nose band strap where you do it up just got too worn) then I bought a secondhand much more expensive 1 year old well known make of bridle off someone at the yard and have been very disappointed with the quality of that supposed English leather so have just bought another Kincade! - I have the flash one and think even if European leather the quality I've found to be good. It seems to clean up well and lasts. The rubber sections on the reins will wear a bit but reins are easy to replace cheaply.
 
Really not a fan of them, the quality isn't good but then you generally get what you pay for with leather.

I don't do un-matching tack either but if the black bridle is nice I'd just stick with it. Save the pennies and then buy a nice brown bridle that will last you ages :D
 
I'd take a cheap bridle over a cheap saddle any day!

I'd go for the kincade bridle, it won't break the bank and it will look nice for now, and then I'd consider buying something a little more expensive in the summer.

You might find that you like it and then won't have to buy a new one at all.
 
I've found that after a while I can never get my kincade ones to look clean.

But that's after a year + of regular use, so I think for a quick stop gap bridle they can work well. :)
 
Ok thanks- I may well do it, even if just for now. (can always sell the black one!)
Not overly worried if in 6/12 months it needs replacing.
I'm sure no one would even notice but am scarred by my livery yard days where is something was slightly wrong you got mocked mercilessly until the next person made a mistake ;-)

I "think" my old pony had a kincade bridle and i had it for ages.

Lets shop!!!
 
My kincade one lasted years, the only thing that made it look used was the scuff mark my mare put on the noseband! I think I upgraded to heritage about 3 years after buying it but still have it just in case I need a spare. They are very good value for money :D
 
I have found that some of the requisite (robinsons ones) are often better leather than the more expensive brands they have alongside them at 3 times the price. TBH nothing beats buying the bridle in person and getting hands on to feel the quality of the leather. I do have a kincade double bridle for showing - it does the job but I think I would find it too stiff to put up with every day. However you can always drench them in neatsfoot which pretty much softens everything.
 
I'm in the Kincade Brigade :o

I've had it years and used it as an everyday bridle and to be fair for the money it's done rather well and is still going strong, it has not stretched either, but I have looked after it (as using leather conditioner after cleaning, not oil.)

BUT, like with all cheaper brands of leather work, make sure you examine it carefully before you buy it, look through them all, as some of the leather is thinner in places which will wear weaker which will in time snap or stretch, so it's hit and miss if you get a full bridle including reins without a defect (in the leather) as cheaper leatherwork is used from cheaper hides, however if you go through each bridle in the size you want, you may find one that's ok all throughout, but if you buying online you don't get this choice, I'd nevery buy any leather work online unless it was a very good make.
 
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