What C&W Western Horse Is Discontinuing, and What It Will Keep Selling

Updated

C&W Western Horse (kyhorse.com) is phasing out its handmade leather halters over the coming weeks and may discontinue some other leather items as well. The shop is shifting its focus toward its leather belts and other accessories. If a leather halter is what you want, the window to buy one is closing; if you want a belt or general strap goods, the business intends to keep serving you.

What's going away

According to the notice on the site's homepage, signed by Wes and Anita Forsythe:

  • Leather halters — being discontinued over the next few weeks.
  • Some other leather items — the notice says "eventually some other leather items" may follow, without naming which ones.

The halter category currently listed on the site also includes leather halters, halter and tack repairs, and repair parts. The announcement specifically names the halters themselves as the product line being wound down, so treat the repair side as uncertain rather than confirmed either way.

What stays

The notice points in one direction for the future:

  • Leather belts — described as "our famous leather belts," and the area the owners say they want to expand.
  • Other accessories — the site says shifting away from halters "should allow us to offer new options" in belts and accessories.

The shop's catalog also lists clothing and accessories, leads, strap goods, bits, hackamores, dog stuff, hardware, and liniments. The announcement doesn't promise all of these continue, but it only names halters and "some other leather items" as the lines being cut.

Why the change is happening

Two reasons are given, and both are practical rather than seasonal:

  1. Machinery. The equipment used for halter production would need to be replaced, upgraded, or repaired to keep the quality and turnaround time customers expect. The owners say they aren't ready to make that investment.
  2. Time and stage of life. They want to direct more time and energy to their cattle farm, and describe themselves as nearing what most people consider retirement age.

What this means if you're shopping

  • Want a halter? Buy sooner rather than later. The site says the halters will be discontinued "over the next few weeks," which is a moving target, not a fixed end date.
  • Want a belt or accessory? The direction of the business is toward you, not away from you. New options are mentioned as a possibility, though no specific products or dates are given.
  • Need a repair? The site lists halter and tack repairs as a category, but the announcement doesn't confirm whether that service continues. Ask before shipping anything in.

How to reach the shop

The physical location is closed — the notice states COVID-19 made their country shop unable to meet safe-shopping requirements, and all business is now done online and by phone. Contact details from the site:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone or text: 859-234-9905
  • Mail: 58 Peak Lane, Cynthiana, KY 41031

Shipping is listed at an $8.50 flat rate. The owners also note a known quirk in the new shopping cart that can overcharge shipping by one cent, and say they're still uploading inventory, so the full catalog may not be visible yet.