It is a black, black day, my friends: I got an e-mail from Triple Crown Custom saying that they are closing down.
That venerable, old maker of custom horse clothing has been around since I was a kid. It was bought by Horsewear of Ireland back in the 1990s. I would have though people still wanted and needed their stuff. But the virus did them in.
Do you all think this is the first of virus-induced closures?
Noooo!!!
No! I had an order I needed to place soon with them for more matching coolers.
Sadly, I think it is just the beginning. In my area several non-horse related businesses have already gone under.
Those that were teetering where I am are in trouble, a couple of our favorite tack shops are seriously hurting and I’m not sure if they’ll make it. There is all that talk of rent and mortgage relief but I’m not sure if that was just for housing or f for businesses too.
No!!! I have a custom scrim sheet and custom cooler from them. I was planning on ordering a custom rain sheet when they have their Black Friday sale in November. 😞
Their website said they are temporarily closing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Did they send an email informing they are closing for good? 🤔
That makes me so sad. I thought they would be around forever. Unfortunately I suspect that many other tack shops and horse related businesses may follow.
Very sad. I remember getting my first piece of custom horse clothing in barn colors from them many, many, many years ago. Their label on the blanket meant you had the best one.
The first championship cooler o won was made by TC. I’m sorry to hear this.
If I were you, I’d call or e-mail them and see if I could squeak in before they really close up shop. Perhaps they have some materials they need to get rid of anyway?
Oh, yes: I will always remember what their label looks like and the quality I know it represents.
I can pretty much guarantee you if we don’t open up for some socially distanced horse shows soon, so many small time barns and trainers are going to go in the same direction. Horse industry may never be the same.
Same for many towns that rely on people coming in for shows.
I believe their website has made the closure permanent. Here’s the link:
I would say: if there’s stuff you want - not just from this vendor, not just from horse vendors, but from ANY vendor - and you have money - you should buy it now. You should not assume that ANY store or manufacturer will still be in business in November (aside from maybe Apple Computer or other large entities with a lot of cash on hand).
Especially so for smaller operations with small payrolls.
They need your money. Think of it as an investment in having tack stores and suppliers next year. This is not the time to insist on bargains.
I agree.
much yes
Right behind Three Twins Icecream
I think t hey’re actually been in trouble for a while hence the push a few years ago to go directly to the consumer and make those of with tack shops take a hit by them selling direct.
I think this is right. But I don’t think that the goal was to stick it to the tack shops. Rather, I think the folks ordering complicated custom stuff weren’t necessarily going to tack shops anymore. I think lots of bespoke horse stuff was becoming its own business and folks were going directly to the manufacturers to order. Or perhaps tack shops had enough other off-the-shelf stuff, at an undoubtably better price point, such that the people walking into tack shops didn’t choose the custom route.
I’m a No Wire Hangers, Delayed Gratification kind of Hunter Princess, so I’d do OK with the bespoke industry. But I’m also cheap, and I’m not a pro with 25 clients to boss around and dress up, so I’m not enough use to those guys. But I have spent money with custom horse clothing makers and trunk makers. I will miss Triple Crown.
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