Stock Show vendor keeps braiding skill alive

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Among the hundreds of vendors at the Cinch Trade Show at the Civic Center is Ricky McBride from Texas.

McBride hand makes equine products — mainly cinches, reigns, leads, and breast collars. He makes his horse leads out of 100% mohair, which is from an angora goat.

McBride has been custom-making one-of-a-kind pieces for over 45 years, and plans on keeping the tradition alive by educating others.

As people pass by his booth, he often gets an array of questions about his work.

McBride says, “It’s kind of a dying art, but I enjoy it. I enjoy meeting the people. I try to educate the young people on what mohair is and the properties that it has to make it the better product for your horse; educating our children today is very important with everything that is going on in the world.”

He’s set up on the second floor of the Civic Center with Teskeys Western Store out of Texas.

McBride says, “Most of them [people] are amazed that it is hand made, they always thought it was a machine that made it but there is no machine to make these, so it is hand crafted – it is a dying art, there are people who would like to learn how to make it and at some point I would like to start teaching.”

This is his second year coming to the stock show with his loyal companion, Scarlett, his Australian Shepherd.