PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Seen alot of this stuff on eBay. It's very cheap and it looks ok...
Sooooo, quick, non defamatory product review
Sooooo, quick, non defamatory product review
Gallop tack?
- Thread starter PapaFrita
- Start date
loopylis
Well-Known Member
Ive just sold a gallop saddle and i have one for up the yard for mare they are not too bad defo good value for money obviously no good for showing etc but comfy saddle for every day use
Salcey
Well-Known Member
At the end of the day I think you mostly get what you pay for.
xxcharlottexx
Well-Known Member
i bought a saddle from ebay, looked quite nice, but was very far cut forward? could just have been my horse though (hes a TB, but fitted the cob on my yard, so sold it on to them)
Not the best quality-but then you get what you pay for, as loopylis says, no good for showing, but fab for everyday use
the bridles look nice
Not the best quality-but then you get what you pay for, as loopylis says, no good for showing, but fab for everyday use
the bridles look nice
rcm_73
Well-Known Member
I bought a set of brushing and fetlock boots for my mare. They were cheap, the fur lined type with elasticated straps, however I haven't used them as yet as I find them to be quite stiff, particularly to do up, and as my mare is a TB fidget-bum(!) I've opted to stick with my quickie sportabac velcros. Perhaps I will put some neatsfoot oil on these Gallop boots and see how they come up...or perhaps they'll also be for sale on E-bay in the not too distant future...!
lordflynn
Well-Known Member
had a gallop saddle-wasnt flocked evenly at all-never used it. have seen an older Gallop VSD which was rather nice though (about 4yo) have a gallop bridle as a spare now-was used for a couple of months but the leather has warped a bit on the cheek pieces.
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
Having scratched and sniff, I don't like the gallop leather. The stuffing of the leather is inferior and it makes the leather stiff and will be likely to warp.
It's an economy range so good for people on a budget, however I do think you can better much better quality for a only a bit more price wise.
It's an economy range so good for people on a budget, however I do think you can better much better quality for a only a bit more price wise.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Ah, thanks for that! I was rather suspicious as to why it was so cheap!
What's the scratch and sniff test???? Do you mean that leather that really pongs (although I imagine there's more to it than that!)
What's the scratch and sniff test???? Do you mean that leather that really pongs (although I imagine there's more to it than that!)
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
You can grade leather by its smell and texture, really cheap leather is foul. Fortunately its quite rare, and certainly wouldn't have a brand attached.
The reaon why its so nasty, is that they stuff the leather with fish oil rather than vegetable oil and the smell will never be right (they also use Urine, rather than ammonia straight chemical, which isn't nice either)
The the grade of the leather determines its to be either bridle quality, or a lower form depending on the hide and the part of the hide.
The combination of the two then determines the leather grade, English or German is most common in the UK, but again quality varies. Generic versions are also sold to the Euro market, but they don't really fit either description. The US market often accepts a lower leather grade, which is odd when they have great companies like Weaver.
Neither name English or German has any bearing on where is was made, which is a common misconception.
Interstingly if you look on any major brands site, you will find they give you very little info on the leather. UK companies often use the Union Jack on labels, but this only mean is was assembled in the UK.
The reaon why its so nasty, is that they stuff the leather with fish oil rather than vegetable oil and the smell will never be right (they also use Urine, rather than ammonia straight chemical, which isn't nice either)
The the grade of the leather determines its to be either bridle quality, or a lower form depending on the hide and the part of the hide.
The combination of the two then determines the leather grade, English or German is most common in the UK, but again quality varies. Generic versions are also sold to the Euro market, but they don't really fit either description. The US market often accepts a lower leather grade, which is odd when they have great companies like Weaver.
Neither name English or German has any bearing on where is was made, which is a common misconception.
Interstingly if you look on any major brands site, you will find they give you very little info on the leather. UK companies often use the Union Jack on labels, but this only mean is was assembled in the UK.
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
Really interesting post CotswoldSJ, thanks for that but.......... [ QUOTE ]
(they also use Urine, rather than ammonia straight chemical, which isn't nice either)
[/ QUOTE ] OMG
I never knew that!
(they also use Urine, rather than ammonia straight chemical, which isn't nice either)
[/ QUOTE ] OMG
Christmas_Kate
Well-Known Member
They are what they are..cheap. YO bought one (unfortunately it didnt fit anything) so I sold it on for her. The leather effect material used is quite thick and stif, but the stitching's good, and they have webbing girth straps. You would need a seat saver though. Good value for money, ideal as a second saddle for exercise, but I think you can get a decent second hand thorowgood or something for about the same price which would be comfier. I looked at buying one for little man, but got a second hand synthetic instead to save my poor bum!
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
With leather you get what you pay for. To be honest I would by far prefer to buy a quality second hand saddle that a cheap new one.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
So when they say 'English leather' they might be stretching the truth a bit? or do Gallop also do better quality bridles (been on Ebay ALOT lately)
Salcey
Well-Known Member
Yes you really need to look for english leather made in England, and this is getting rarer and rarer. Most of the large well known English makes now use English leather but are made abroad.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Genuine English leather is reeeeeeeeally expensive though, isn't it? Or again, does it depend on the make? I expect it lasts forever though! I have noticed, however, that the quality of foreign tack seems to be improving. Certainly here in Argentina it seems much nicer than it was a few years ago.
What do you think? (not about tack here!)
What do you think? (not about tack here!)
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
English leather for the horse world isn't tanned here any more - all the tanneries I spoke to are exclusively human products or cars (cars = morgans & bespoke!!!)
Most of the hides floating about in Walsall are all imported, but they always were due to warble fly and then the 30 month rule.
Most of the hides floating about in Walsall are all imported, but they always were due to warble fly and then the 30 month rule.
watcherathome
Well-Known Member
I have one of their saddles, one of the few companies that will supply a genuine extra wide. The finish rubs off quite quickly, the girth straps are HORRID, sticky with what ever they use to assemble them, the flocking is very lumpy so I now can only use it with a gel pad underneath.
On the positive side, it was very cheap, it is comfortable and balanced on the horse, and did I mention it was cheap?
I imagine I will throw it away after two years and buy a decent one,but it did the job when I was struggling to find a saddle to fit
On the positive side, it was very cheap, it is comfortable and balanced on the horse, and did I mention it was cheap?
I imagine I will throw it away after two years and buy a decent one,but it did the job when I was struggling to find a saddle to fit
miller
Well-Known Member
I've got a gallop comfort bridle and been using it daily for 2 years - not the best quality leather in the worlr but the dye has not moved at all and it is lovely and supple.
Don't know that I'd buy a gallop saddle though as the bridle does look like a cheapie one IMO - other people have commented on how nice it is.
Only bought it as I wanted to see the difference with a comfort bridle and I paid £11 with rubber reins on ebay
Don't know that I'd buy a gallop saddle though as the bridle does look like a cheapie one IMO - other people have commented on how nice it is.
Only bought it as I wanted to see the difference with a comfort bridle and I paid £11 with rubber reins on ebay
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
having taken a few of these saddles apart - all i can say is dont put them anywhere near a horse!!!!! The trees are made of old wood, split and weak. the header is cheap metal and rusty, the webbing is second hand and the flocking is whatever the manufacturer had to hand, bandages, tape, chuncks of material, wool. There are loose nails and raised tacks. the leather is horrendous, will wear through very quickly. And when they get damp - the stench is horrid. Retail price in the Uk about £80 - trade price - about £30
Triskar
Well-Known Member
Gallop do synthetic saddles as well as leather. I've had 2 leather saddles from them - they fit the horse okay, but they were 18 inch saddles, and they were a bit big for me so I found the stirrup bars very uncomfortable at the top of my thighs. Does anyone have any experience of their synthetic saddles and what they are like to ride in and quality wise? I should imagine that most synthetic saddles are made in asia somewhere, and with a synthetic material the 'board' type leather isn't an issue.