Although we don't do our own braided rawhide bosals and reins, we do carry Vince Donley's braid work. Vince is an extremely talented rawhide braider who does a variety of products.
Vince began making his own braided rawhide equipment when he started cowboying for a living. He couldn't find the equipment he wanted in the local tack stores, so he decided to try to make it himself. With the help of a book by renowned braider Bruce Grant, Vince taught himself the craft. Now his work is sought after by riders and collectors alike.
Vince's bosals and reins are available in work quality, midgrade and show quality.
Even though he calls the very finest braidwork "show quality" it still strong enough to stand up to everyday use. This is the finest work Vince does. The rawhide strings are very narrow and the work is almost perfectly smooth when it is finished. This grade is also available with contrasting interweaves in the knots. For example, he could weave dark brown rawhide strings into the nose button and heel knot of a bosal.
His midgrade work is a bit less fancy than the show quality, but finer braiding than the work quality. The rawhide strings he uses for the midgrade work are slightly wider than those used in the show quality pieces so it isn't quite as delicate-looking. Interweaves of contrasting colors are available in this grade as well.
Vince's work quality braiding is just that; beautiful, functional braidwork made to stand up to hard everyday use. He uses a fewer number of larger strings than in his midgrade work. However, even Vince's work quality is finer than most other braidwork available in regular retail establishments.
In addition to bosals and reins, Vince also makes quirts, hondas, cavesons and shuflies.
Vince is willing to adjust his measurements to make bosals smaller or larger to fit almost any size horse.
Please look at our rawhide gallery for photos of his work.
Vince's bosals are available with or without hangers. All are priced without hangers, but we would be happy to put them on for you for an additional $17.95.
We always try to keep some of Vince's work on hand. However, because his work is in high demand, we may not always have what you want. We are able to order at any time, but it may take a couple of months for the order to be filled depending on the status of Vince's order book. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
It is never too early to start planning for the holidays when it comes to rawhide work. We place our holiday order in July or August so we can have some available by the first of December. Since we have to make an educated guess at what people will want 6 months in advance, we may have plenty of one item left by the end of December, but sell out of another within a week or so. In order to guarantee holiday delivery of braided rawhide work, we will need your order by the end of July. Any holiday orders placed after that will be filled out of our stock on a first come, first served basis.