Kensington

What Kensington does

Kensington Protective Products is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of equine protective equipment and barn accessories, founded in 1954 and headquartered in San Dimas, California. The company designs, sources, and retails a portfolio of products under the Kensington master brand plus three operating sub-brands: Bex Bar Soap Co. (organic shampoo bars), Safe-T-Tie (breakaway tying devices), and Freedom Feeders (slow-feed hay nets). A Yellowstone Drama Series licensed collection extends the catalog into pop-culture merchandise. The product mix centers on fly masks (73% and 90% UV-blocking tiers), fly sheets, fly boots, winter turnout blankets (80g/180g/300g fill in 1200D ripstop), halters, lead ropes, saddle and bridle carry bags, grooming totes, hay bags, and tack organizers.

The company's technical foundation is its proprietary Textilene fabric technology, a USA-made 1000 x 2000 denier polyester mesh sourced from Alabama, engineered for UV blocking, fire resistance, fade-proofing, mildew resistance, and breathability. Specialty SKUs include the CatchMask (a fly mask/halter hybrid with double-locking throat closure) and UViator Dartless designs. All products are sold under a Lifetime Guarantee. Notable supplementary proprietary IP includes the Safe-T-Tie breakaway system, which disengages at 300 pounds of pressure to mitigate pull-back injuries.

Kensington operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model through a Shopify storefront at kensingtonproducts.com, with phone-based support and free US shipping on orders of $150+. There are no third-party retail or international distribution channels disclosed. Pricing is unit-based across tiered configurations, ranging from $17.99 (Safe-T-Tie 2-pack) to $249.99 (signature fly sheet) and bundle packages at roughly $312–$390. Marketing spans organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube), a blog/lifestyle content library, an email newsletter, and sponsorship relationships with six breed associations (Palomino HBA, American Shetland Pony Club, Hackney, Appaloosa, POAC, Morgan Horse). Customer orientation is squarely at individual horse owners across horse, pony, mini horse, mini donkey, and draft sizes, with no enterprise B2B channel documented. The business is bootstrapped with no funding rounds, no parent company, and no disclosed leadership team in the source data.

Name

Kensington

Legal name

Kensington Protective Products

Website

https://kensingtonproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kensington Protective Products is a privately held, family-owned equine manufacturer founded in 1954, selling proprietary Textilene-based fly masks, sheets, winter turnout blankets, halters, and tack direct-to-consumer via Shopify to individual horse owners in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Protective Equipment

NAICS

Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (314910)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Equine protective gear
• Horse fly masks
• Equestrian accessories
• Horse turnout blankets
• Equine safety equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Claremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling protective products for horses including fly masks, fly sheets, winter blankets, hay bags, and tack storage. No subscription model mentioned. Products sold at fixed retail prices through company e-commerce website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kensington Protective Products manufactures and sells physical protective equipment and accessories for horses, including UV-blocking fly masks, fly sheets, fly boots, waterproof winter turnout blankets, slow-feed hay bags and nets, halters, lead ropes, and padded saddle/bridle carry bags. The company also markets a safety breakaway tie device (Safe-T-Tie) and an organic shampoo bar sub-brand (Bex Bar Soap Co.). Products are constructed predominantly from USA-made 1000x2000 denier Textilene fabric and are sold direct-to-consumer under a Lifetime Guarantee backed since 1954.

Product overview

Kensington Protective Products is a single-brand manufacturer of equine protection and barn equipment, operating as a unified product portfolio rather than a platform architecture. The core product line centers on the UViator fly mask family offering 90% UV protection (the flagship premium tier) and standard Fly Masks with 73% UV protection, complemented by the Signature Collection winter turnout blankets (80g, 180g, and 300g fill weights in 1200D), Fly Sheets, Fly Boots, and specialized Draft/Pony/Mini sizes. Supporting products include slow feed hay bags and Freedom Feeder nets for equine nutrition, halters and leads for handling, Safe-T-Ties for safety, saddle and bridle carry bags, grooming totes, and stall organization items. The sub-brand Bex Bar Soap Co. offers organic shampoo bars, while the Yellowstone Licensed Collection provides branded merchandise. All products share common materials (USA-made 1000 x 2000 denier Textilene fabric, 1200D ripstop nylon) and are backed by a Lifetime Guarantee since 1954.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bex Bar Soap Co. Organic, eco-friendly shampoo bar product line for horses, dogs, and humans
• Safe-T-Tie
• Freedom Feeders

Products and services

• UViator Fly Mask Line (90% UV Protection) Premium fly mask family blocking 90% of UV rays with 78% air permeability, built from USA-made 1000x2000 denier Textilene fabric with fleece-lined interior. Offered in standard, dart-free, ear, long-nose, and roomy-fit configurations, with optional CatchMask dual-function halter integration. Designed for horse owners whose animals have uveitis, pink skin, pale eyes, or sun sensitivity.
• Standard Fly Mask Line (73% UV Protection) Basic Textilene fly masks with 73% UV blocking for general seasonal or year-round fly and sun protection, available with web or fleece trim and optional ear coverage in multiple sizes including mini, pony, draft, and standard.
• Horse Protective Fly Sheet Full-body protective sheet blocking 73% UV rays, constructed from 1000x2000 denier Textilene with replaceable belly bands and optional neck cover for horses with sunburn or insect sensitivity.
• Horse Fly Boots Leg protection boots sold in pairs that block 73% UV rays and feature fleece trim to prevent rubbing, shielding hooves and lower legs from pests.
• 1200D Winter Turnout Blankets (80g / 180g / 300g) Waterproof and breathable winter turnout blankets with 1200D ripstop shell available in lightweight (80g), midweight (180g), and heavyweight (300g) fill weights for cold-weather equine protection.
• Slow Feed Hay Bags Durable slow-feed hay bags designed to regulate horse consumption, promote better digestion, and reduce hay waste; available in 1, 2, and 4 flake capacities.
• Freedom Feeder Slow Feed Hay Nets Slow-feed hay nets that simulate free-choice forage to encourage natural foraging behavior and healthier equine digestion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% UV ray blocking with 78% air permeability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• American Shetland Pony ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website as sponsoring organization. Supports the ASPC and its members through promotional visibility.
• Palomino Horse Breeders of America (HBA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website. Supports Palomino breed enthusiasts through sponsorship.
• Hackney Horse AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website. Supports Hackney breed enthusiasts.
• Appaloosa Horse ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website. Supports Appaloosa breed enthusiasts through promotional visibility.
• Pony of the Americas Club (POAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website. Supports POAC members through sponsorship.
• Morgan Horse AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian organization sponsorship - logo displayed on website. Supports Morgan breed enthusiasts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cashel Company: US-based equine product manufacturer known for fly masks, saddle pads, and horse apparel. Direct competitor in fly-mask and protective-horsewear categories with similar North American distribution.
• Shires Equestrian: UK-based equestrian manufacturer of horse rugs, fly protection, and tack accessories. Direct competitor in textile-based horse apparel with overlapping size segment coverage (horse, pony, foal).
• Tough-1: Manufacturer and retailer of equine blankets, fly masks, and barn equipment. Competes in the same mid-market price band across turnout, fly protection, and stable products.
• Horseware Ireland: Irish equine product manufacturer behind Rambo, Amigo, and Rhino brands. Competes directly in turnout blankets, fly protection, and stable sheets with similar premium positioning and breed/segment coverage.
• Weatherbeeta: Australia-based manufacturer of equine turnout blankets, fly sheets, and protective horsewear. Direct competitor in fly protection and winter blanket categories, with comparable product positioning and global distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Farnam: Large, established equine care products manufacturer offering fly protection (sprays, masks), supplements, grooming, and stable products. Competes via broader portfolio and mass-market retail distribution rather than specialty focus.

Others

• Dover Saddlery: Leading US equestrian retailer carrying apparel, tack, and horse-care products. Indirect competitive overlap as a multi-brand retail channel that distributes competing equine protection products alongside its own private-label items.

Emerging players

• SmartPak: US equine wellness retailer with proprietary supplements and supplements-as-a-service model. Adjacent competitor in equine health and protection with strong DTC and subscription capabilities.
• Pyranha: US manufacturer of equine fly-protection sprays, wipe-and-go products, and insecticide systems. Competes in the fly-protection category with complementary spray-based solutions rather than fabric/textile masks.

Regional players

• Equi-Sky / Saxon: Value-tier equine turnout and fly-protection brands typically distributed outside the US core market. Comparable product structure to Kensington's signature/standard tier split but focused on price-sensitive segments in other geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9lXDI5TJQWVdu46d6Wbriw
• Facebookfacebook.com/KensingtonProducts
• Instagraminstagram.com/kensingtonproducts
• Pinterestpinterest.com/kensington_products
• TikToktiktok.com/@kensingtonproducts
• Xx.com/Kensington_Prod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kensington