Brands that have lost their way...

Derby House =- when it was at Parbold it was the best little shop ever - helpful, very knowledgeable staff and a proper saddle fitter!
It's now the equine equivalent of Poundland (except everything is more than £1 lol)
I used to love it :(
 
Would disagree with the barbour comment actually. They do plenty of more fashionable jackets now that arn't really what we'd be looking for (and hell, these sell and companies need to work hard to stay afloat now), but they still make the models that everyone coveted for years and I've never known anyone to have an issue with the quality of these jackets. Finding the classic styles is harder I grant, but the quality is good.

Hunter wellies, yeah don't touch with a barge pole.
 
Hunter wellies are my main quibble. Agree about stubben leather too.

I completely agree about living in a throwaway society; we have a pair of 25+ year old M&S sofas which we are now looking to replace and only because one of our dogs has somehow ripped part of the valance off accidentally, the rest of the sofas still look great! We popped into a relatively high brand well established home furnishings & womenswear store the other day and were told a few of the sofa models in there the fabric was only supposed to last about 3 years! These were on fixed not loose covered sofas so they were basically saying the sofa is thrown away after 3years- whats that all about?!! Ridiculous.
 
dotty1 said:
When I was young I always wanted a real Barbour wax jacket. It was cold, uncomfortable and smelly but everyone had one.
Does anyone buy them these days???, it seems that they have been 'modernised' and are also just a fashion coat instead of the real farming outdoor jackets they were.

I too have yet to find a real waterproof jacket.
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Yes me bought one last weekend. Well made' double sewn seams ' quality material and can be re-proofed as necessary with a tin of barbour waterproofer. It can also be returned to them when/if it needs repair over the years, eg worn cuffs in about 20 years time. Its a beadale with liberty print lining. cost £229 and ,I think, good value compared to other brand tat thats on sale as wax jackets
 
CatStew said:
I know, my last pair of Mountain Horse boots lasted me about six years, but my current pair are looking very tired and worn after having them less than a year. Very disappointing.

Unfortunately I think it's a sign of the times :(
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Have the same problem with Mountain Horse boots, first pair lasted about 5 years and were great, but I've got through 2 more pairs in the last 3 years! Leather keeps splitting across the side of the foot, didn't have that problem with my first pair. :( Am giving up on them now and looking for something else.
 
Kareen said:
I'm sad to hear it's going on with UK brands too. I've long got used to being sold crap leadropes (with cheap aluminum-poured ends that will break at the slightest tugg from a WB weanling...) turnout rugs that seem to get rips from merely looking at them and all that here in Germany. But until now I had always been under the impression the UK was immune to such crap b/c people had more quality-awareness (and an inert idea about quality for that matter).
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That's strange, over here we (or certainly I) think of Germany as being the home of precision engineering and therefore decent quality!

I have a Fal rug now entering its 8th winter of attempted destruction from my thug and I love it. There's almost more patch than rug now but I'm determined to keep it going as long as I can as I know the new ones are nowhere near as good. I wouldn't mind so much if they didn't charge the same prices as they did for UK made ones.

I've just bought a Premier Equine on the basis that they're made in the UK and experience has shown that rugs made abroad - in the Far East in particular - don't last as long. Hope my theory proves to be right as it wasn't cheap.
 
Tash88 said:
Hunter wellies are definitely not as good quality as they used to be, and they cost about £30 more as well! That's the problem when traditional brands go mainstream I suppose. Mountain Horse is another one as well; the latest pair of boots I bought from them haven't lasted as long as previous pairs.
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Second this - my first pair of hunter wellies lasted 10 years or more, being worn constantly, new pair died within 12 months. Mountain horse boots are no longer as good as they used to be,last pair i had had to be replaced after they ripped inside within 1 month
 
MissSBird said:
Would disagree with the barbour comment actually. They do plenty of more fashionable jackets now that arn't really what we'd be looking for (and hell, these sell and companies need to work hard to stay afloat now), but they still make the models that everyone coveted for years and I've never known anyone to have an issue with the quality of these jackets. Finding the classic styles is harder I grant, but the quality is good.
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Agreed. Barbour still make the exact same Barbour I had originally as a 12 year old.

If you're silly enough to buy one of the fashionable ones because it doesn't make you look like a sack of spuds more fool you. If you don't mind looking short and dumpy and buy one of the original style ones you'll be warm and dry all winter.

I believe the same is true if you'r happy to buy some of the uglier Hunter boots. The Balmoral is supposed to be pretty decent still I believe. But I don't have those so can't vouch for them quite so vehmently ;)
 
Amazed that Barbour are still making the bedale (or have started making it again) I asked about their traditional waxed jackets a year or so ago and was told that they didn't do them anymore and that they don't do any equestrian wear whatsoever. This was on one of their stalls at a large country fair or horsetrials, can't remember where.

To be honest though, if they are charging £200+ for them I'd rather have a technical waterproof that is lighter, more breathable, and can be washed. I can have a really good goretex or paramo coat for less that £200, and my paramo comes with a lifetime guarantee, can be repaired and reproofed and washed in the washing machine.
 
my mum has handed a pair of riding boots down to me as she no longer really rides they were hand made to measure for £200 and they are now 29 years old.

they have done everything my mum didnt look after them very well at all! they were mucked out in daily (she worked on a stud farm as a groom) paddling around in fields and she basically lived in them for 10 years. the only thing that has been wrong with them is that the sole wore out from use so they were replaced and the width of the leg was widened to accomodate my legs.

if i bought a pair of riding boots these days for £200 i would be lucky if they lasted 6 months with the use of the ones i have :o its very sad how things are these days and how expesive things are getting dispite being utter crap!!
 
I am another one who was not impressed with the Woof wear winter boots as mine didnt last 6 months if that....ended up with a random hole in the heel that could not be repaired.....

Robinsons is rubbish - when you go to their sales the stuff in the bins are more often than not stuff people have bought, returned as faulty but are now being sold in the sale!!!!!

I have found getting a decent pair of winter yard boots at a price that I can afford that have lasted more than a few months virtually impossible :(
 
Kat said:
Amazed that Barbour are still making the bedale (or have started making it again) I asked about their traditional waxed jackets a year or so ago and was told that they didn't do them anymore and that they don't do any equestrian wear whatsoever. This was on one of their stalls at a large country fair or horsetrials, can't remember where.
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I bought one about three weeks ago. It's a Bedale in olive and it cost me £179 :)

I have a wax because the drag pack I hunt with allow coats in the pissing rain and I still think a Barbour is smarter than any of the technical coats available.

It already got an outing at showjumping because I forgot my tweed (was meant to go arena eventing and they cancelled so wasn't on the car) and I can't imagine any other waterproof looking as smart really. That's why I still have one...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....768409676545.185338.285400682&type=3&theater
 
I did hear from my local tack shop that the company that used to make hunter wellies are starting up again under a different name, can't remember what she said it was now....

I'd asked as my very old hunters (20 yrs I think) are perhaps coming to the end of their days and I want to keep them useable and buy another pair so was asking what would be a good option
 
another who wouldnt touch hunter wellies with a barge pole now. I had a pair that lasted 12 months before the rubber appeared perished and split - and Im someone who really looks after my stuff!

Derby house used to be THE place to go when you wanted good quality gear - how different it is nowadays.

Ive got the most beautiful proper woollen newmarket excercise sheet (shires) which was my mums many years ago along with her jeffries leather knee boots. Both absolutely gorgeous and still being used by myself now some 20 years later - I think we have had our moneys worth :)
 
Derby House were the first thing ones I thought of.

When I was a kid they were THE people to go to for showing stuff. Made lovely jackets in all the different weights and great saddles too.

Now they just sell the same old junk everyone else sells :(
 
Used to love lavenham rugs, I have a quilt made by rainbow had it years my current horse did wreck it but had it repaired and its still going strong, I also have a horseware nz it has never leaked its about 18 years old and its got nice fluffy fleece as lining had all the straps replaced and repaired the holes its the best rug I have, new rugs are rubbish they dont fit very well and the buckles break easily and rust.
 
annagain said:
That's strange, over here we (or certainly I) think of Germany as being the home of precision engineering and therefore decent quality!


I've just bought a Premier Equine on the basis that they're made in the UK and experience has shown that rugs made abroad - in the Far East in particular - don't last as long. Hope my theory proves to be right as it wasn't cheap.
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I agree, I always think German brands manufactured in Germany - I am sure Cavallo do. Intersting we all have this view of each country.

I think PE now manufacture in China - at least the rug I bought was...

Joules is my big disappointment, things fall apart really quickly. Regularly search ont'internet for UK madecountry clothing but don't find much :(

I agree about Fal too, such a shame. But can only imagine that as everyonewants cheap they have to lower standards to try and win customer. I for one still buy from Lavenham and love them and some rugs are cheaper than the Rambo/Weatherbeeta/Fal that are all made in far east
 
horsesatemymoney said:
derby house...used to be where the quality was now it's just poo !
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Totally agree. I have been in several times recently and been hugely disappointed. I used to like going in and seeing if the Pikeur breaches were in the sale, I got my lovely black show jacket from them (their own make, not sure they make jackets now) - I haven't seen anything of that quality in there for a while.

I have however recently bought a Barbour wax jacket (Bedale!), I love it (does that make me a chav??). I have wanted one for years and I'm not disappointed with it, it is surprisingly warm too.

I made a decision recently to buy fewer things but buy better quality in the hope that they will last. I am saving up for a pair of Ariat boots but this thread has made me feel a bit glum about them. I did notice that the pair which looked good were nearly £200, the ones nearer £100 didn't look like very good quality, ok I know they are nearly half the price of the others but £100 is not a unreasonable amount to spend on a pair if boots and expect quality. I am dreading the day my Hunter Wellies die!
 
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Oh no, mountain horse has gone bad!? I have a pair of high riders that are about 6 years old, 3 of which I was working as a carriage groom and lived in them, and they're still going strong and look great when I give them a bit of TLC. I had a pair of MH protective yard boots for about 10 years too which only gave in because I didn't look after them properly.

*clutches high riders*

But yes, Hunters, Robinsons, Derby House all suck big time now.
 
Companies seem to start up with good quality products and once they have a good reputation they get greedy and reduce the quality and increase their profits.

When Joules first started the quality of their clothing was excellent. My husband's favourite rugby shirt is Joules and has been worn and washed and still looks great years later. Their current stuff is not made in the UK and the quality if poor for the price you pay.

I've bought Derby House own brand rugs and boots in the past and the quality is poor.

Companies I've been impressed with:
Tredstep
Griffin numnahs
Ariat boots
Charles Owen hats
Albion bridles
Ideal saddles
Premier Equine
 
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