High-end Bridle 'HOs: New Cavalry?

[mvp]

In the original bridle 'ho/bridle junkie thread, a couple of you old-schoolers mentioned New Cavalry bridles. Oh yes. That’s what I’m talking about.

I’m old enough to remember when they were the bomb… way before Edgewood split off and then went… well… not anywhere nearly so impressive.

Rumor has it that the original partner who kept the New Cavalry name is around, but the quality of his leather uneven.

So, anyone have any up-to-date news about these bridles? If I could find a nice one it would fulfill a childhood dream.

[PinkPonies]

They still have a website: http://newcavalry.com/

I have no idea about the quality. But mine that I bought new about 8 years ago, is AWESOME! Not sure when their demise was, but I know when I got mine Edgewood and Beval was all the rave and my friends were like New Cavalry…what?!

[BREEDINGMANIAC]

I was told that Edgewood bought NC? I don’t think NC exists anymore.

[TheOrangeOne]

I saw a really prety new cavalry bridle at the middleburg tack exchange a few months ago- it had a snakeskin inlay on the brow and nose. Really pretty bridle, and it was all one color, so it was subtle.

[Go_Fish]

[QUOTE=TheOrangeOne;3957959]
I saw a really prety new cavalry bridle at the middleburg tack exchange a few months ago- it had a snakeskin inlay on the brow and nose. Really pretty bridle, and it was all one color, so it was subtle.[/QUOTE]

That sounds cool…but very hard to clean. I remember in my old days having a pair of snakeskin boots and being told not to use saddle soap or glycerin on them.

[LARGEBORE]

Doubt it was EDGEWOOOD

I spoke with the guy from NC when he was going to sell the company. I am pretty double positive he did not sell it to the Edgewood folks.

[c.harrison1]

They are still around I have two, one about 10 yrs old and the other one is less than a year. I love them both and the gentleman who makes them is extremely nice. BTW the “old” one looks beautiful. I have an edgewood too which I like, but it stretched out a lot which the NC doesn’t do.

[CrossRail_Queen]

He’s still around

There was a display of them at Southern Saddlery in Aiken (which just closed). I met the man who makes them (the NC owner) in there one day as he was setting up the display. It’s all hand made and he was lovingly oiling the stuff as I watched. I think he’s based in Arizona or somewhere west coast. The stuff is top quality and lasts forever, but he did a lot with brass buckles and the width of the straps was a little fine for today’s tastes. He’ll make anything you want though, but it’s pricey!

[Lulu]

I think there may be a couple of NC bridles at

www.PremierTackOutlet.com

[mvp]

You guys are my heros

Thanks!

I do know about the NC dude’s website. Sometimes I go there for my visual fix… but it leaves me jonesing.

Everyone needs an inlaid snakeskin (but tasteful!) bridle, you know?

But I was worried about the varying quality of the guy’s stuff since the business seems so on again off again.

[LittleGray]

sigh I too was a New Cavalry fan. I remember they were all the rave when i was a junior in 95’. I believe I had bought one for my pony at the time but it was too big…bummer. Anyways, when I have always thought of high end bridles I have always thought of NC (couse I don’t know about their quality now a days…).

[pattnic]

I have an older New Cav that I bought on consignment for about $100… I use it as a schooling bridle, but with some good cleaning and conditioning, it is becoming one of my favorite bridles - once I took the time to do that, it turned out that it’s really nice (and in much better condition than I had thought), and the square raising on it is LOVELY.

ETA - Though I do really like my New Cav, I still wouldn’t put it in the same category as the truly high-end bridles like Antares, CWD, Jimmy’s, etc.

[Lucassb]

The guy who owns New Cavalry has been talking about selling out for at least the last decade, maybe longer. He has opened and closed a bunch of times. He has also talked about wanting to re-invent his business with different models a bunch of times over the same period.

Personally I am not a huge fan of his stuff. The older NC strapgoods were nice - but not as nice, say, as Jimmy’s 20th Century products of the same vintage. And these days, well… again, they’re OK. IMO, they lack some of the features you’d expect to find on a higher end bridle, buckle guards being one simple example. If you’re going to spend the $$$ for a really high end bridle, NC wouldn’t be a brand I’d recommend. The Hadfields and Jimmy’s products are significantly nicer.

Of course, if you want a snakeskin inlay… well… NC is probably your best bet.

[BAC]

@Lucassb;3959203

Of course, if you want a snakeskin inlay… well… NC is probably your best bet.

I can’t imagine who would want snakeskin inlay, or some of his other colored options either, especially at those prices. :no: I guess I am very conservative.

[TheOrangeOne]

I’m not saying it’s something I’d personally go out in public with or drop a lot of money on, and as I recall it was 150 for the matching bridle and martingale set. I’m a hadfield girl myself. Just wanted to set the record straight on that.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

I have one that has an inlay of hunter green. Both the bridle and the inlay have darkened to the point where it is difficult to see that it’s two different colors until you’re quite close. It looks lovely on my chestnut, and I keep it as a show bridle.

[fourmares]

I have two of them from the late 90’s. They are lovely bridles. Don’t know anything about how they are now.

[mvp]

blasphemers!

Woe to either the dissers of New Cavalry… or to the guy who has let the quality of his products and business drop. Not sure where the fault lies, but it is so sad to hear that NC no longer ranks near the top.

I believe y’all, but I have a hard time believing that Hadfield bridles seem nicer. Are they still made with that finish that’s a bit opaque and will not absorb oil? I know this was touted as a selling point of theirs, but I don’t think it bodes well for a pretty bridle.

I’m going to call the 520 number on the New Cavalry website and see what’s up. I’ll report back.

[Lucassb]

@mvp;3961454

Woe to either the dissers of New Cavalry… or to the guy who has let the quality of his products and business drop. Not sure where the fault lies, but it is so sad to hear that NC no longer ranks near the top.

I believe y’all, but I have a hard time believing that Hadfield bridles seem nicer. Are they still made with that finish that’s a bit opaque and will not absorb oil? I know this was touted as a selling point of theirs, but I don’t think it bodes well for a pretty bridle.

I’m going to call the 520 number on the New Cavalry website and see what’s up. I’ll report back.

I don’t think the quality has changed so much as that other products have improved and NC has stayed the same. And the recent business model seems to cater to those who want something different (snakeskin inlays and the like) rather than to the top of the H/J crowd, not such a bad idea when that market is already quite saturated with well established products like Hadfields, Jimmy’s and now the saddlers like Antares and CWD.

John has had a challenging history with most of the high end retail outlets and so has limited channels of distribution into the H/J market these days. It doesn’t mean he couldn’t come up with another model but I have yet to see one that seems viable to me. Last time we spoke, he wanted to produce bridles at the $1k price point but did not seem to have much to offer in terms of product innovation to justify that price IMO.

As for Hadfields… I have several and they have all oiled up beautifully. The leather does come with a bloom on it like most high end pieces; it doesn’t inhibit the oil in any way.

[mvp]

New Cavalry is still alive!

Just called them. New Cavalry is still alive and ready to make you the most beautiful custom piece of horse jewelry you could ever desire.

Going to buy lottery tickets right now!