I watched this thread for a bit, really didn't want to comment at all because the tale has been told many times.
Simple way to look at it: don't focus on the benefits, just realize that (1) is well established as the premium leather material for gunleather (rarely encountered in belts nowadays) and (2) few makers have ever made horsehide holsters beginning 1950 and (3) almost NO name brand makers produce from it today.
As to (3), the only first quality makers I know of offering horsehide are DeSantis, and Kramer who himself is an ex-DeSantis man. Galco did, don't know that they do now.
Kramer's FAQ on the subject is mostly legend, I have a blog post debunking much of what is on his site about horsehide. So once one finds a maker (avoid the little makers, they make only copies of the proven designs but don't know which elements to keep and which to 'improve')(I recommend DeSantis as a man and a company I have many years' professional experience with) the truly difficult choice is among the styles offered by that company.
Not all styles from a single company are noteworthy. Some ride far too high, for example. So once you've chosen horsehide, and you've chosen a maker, then you have to know 'excellent' design from one you'll throw in your box'o'holsters because you don't understand why it's not comfortable, why it prints under your clothing, why the pistol doesn't release ("needs break-in", which in itself is a myth; "excellent" doesn't need break-in which is a flaw in the making of the holster), why the holster forces you to muzzle yourself (because the carry angle forces it over there).
Point, and I do have one: far too much to know when picking a holster, for the material to even matter. Once you know what perfection is, in design, then you can ask for one in the perfect leather which is horsehide. Kydex can be just as excellent and you really can swim with the SEALS with it (false that horsehide is suited to water).
