DO NOT USE GIGANTIC MIRROR CO! They just installed mirrors for my dressage arena and we can see very little. My builder built the structure per their specifications, they installed the mirrors and at the far end of the arena we can maybe see our heads. We can’t see our horses legs anywhere in the arena. They took all money up front and are unwilling to make things right. They just say it is my problem not theirs. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?
If there is no defect in the product itself, perhaps re-angling them is the solution. If the angle is to spec and that is not correct, then surely the company should pony up to correct that…if it can be proven that your builder did, in fact, install them correctly. Is there a rep that can come out to verify the instillation?
Mirror companies usually install for dancers. DID YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU NEEDED TO SEE THE HORSE’S FEET??? (Or did you tell the builder?).
Unless the mirrors are installed lower, they will not ‘work’ (See the entire body/feet/etc) unless they are tilted (a couple of degrees) inward. And unfortunately the way most are built (screwed into backing and then glued onto the backing) USUALLY do not allow change. Even standing beside such mirror you cannot see feet hardly at all.
When installing mirrors, they should be adjusted (angle) with someone mounted to ‘check them’.
Looking at their directions http://giganticmirrors.com/dressage-arena-mirrors about NOT tilting them…they are WRONG if they installed about the barrier…they MUST be tilted in. From what they give for directions, I don’t think they can be changed, but ask the builder, perhaps the screws which hold the backing are on the outside of the frame??? That is the only way the angle could be changed. (And think about small claims court…other people will suffer the same problem otherwise.)
See if you can have the builder tilt the structure. Even an inch at the top makes a big difference (ask me how I know, lol). If he can detatch the structure and put a 2x4 or 1x4 at the top to add angle, that should solve the problem. You really do need to be checking (on the horse) as they are being installed becuase the angle will change depending on the height.
Holy crap, for $150 I found two nice used arena mirrors on CL…
mylar mirrors
http://www.matsmatsmats.com/ballet-dance/mylar-mirror.html
This isn’t the company, but this explains the mylar mirror idea.
Acquaintance just got mirrors like these in her indoor and the image quality is fantastic. Only issue is little arena birdies whacking into them. The surface is very delicate. But on the plus, no injury issues if someone crashes into them. No injury to the horse/rider, mirror would be wrecked.
They were about 1/2 the cost of glass mirrors. And since much lighter could likely be installed by an enthusiastic ‘do-it-yourselfer.’
[QUOTE=Dayle Holleger;6064884]
DO NOT USE GIGANTIC MIRROR CO! They just installed mirrors for my dressage arena and we can see very little. My builder built the structure per their specifications, they installed the mirrors and at the far end of the arena we can maybe see our heads. We can’t see our horses legs anywhere in the arena. They took all money up front and are unwilling to make things right. They just say it is my problem not theirs. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?[/QUOTE]
Oh come on now. No offense but how can this can possibly be the mirror companys fault? I just dont see it. (there is a recent thread on here about installing mirrors that has lots of good information not to mention probably other mirror installation threads).
When I had builders building my mirrors, I got on a horse to determine the height and angle. Neither your builder or the mirror company are dressage riders (right?), so how could they possibly know what the specifications for mirrors are without a horse and rider being involved.
Sorry to say but I agree that it is your problem and not the mirror company. They simply supply the mirrors and someone else builds the wall to your specifications.
The first wall that was built for me was totally wrong because my instructions were not followed. Hired second builders to tear it down and build correctly. Sounds like the right angles were not determined before you had your builders make the wall to hold the mirrors.
I don’t feel the mylar mirrors work well at all - except for being safe and repairable. From any distance it’s blurry and very wavy.
If you install regular mirrors you have to tilt them.
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;6065506]
I don’t feel the mylar mirrors work well at all - except for being safe and repairable. From any distance it’s blurry and very wavy.
If you install regular mirrors you have to tilt them.[/QUOTE]
:yes:
This is your builder’s fault, sorry. And yours. You’d have to know those things need to be tilted.
When a company states
We at Gigantic Mirrors frequently provide mirrors for dressage arenas.
I assume they actually know whereof they speak …
Further
Your wall should be constructed just above your kickboard (4’ from the ground) and must not be tilted. Once the mirrors are up, you will be able to see everything you need to from anywhere in the arena
If you read the website, they appear to have specific instructions for how the mirror mounting surface should be prepared, so if this was done to Gigantic Mirrors specifications, how can they have no culpability 
Oh come on now. No offense but how can this can possibly be the mirror companys fault? …so how could they possibly know what the specifications for mirrors are without a horse and rider being involved.
Because they POSTED the SPECIFICATIONS under their DRESSAGE ARENA mirror part of their site. They say hang them vertically…which ONLY works if they are hung at 2’ not 4’…they are INCORRECT. And the consumer did not know to mount up when the first set was put in.
I stand corrected. However Dayle Holleger probably should have posted the full story, including the link to claims the company makes. Then her accusations would been qualified instead of seemingly unqualified as in her op. Would have been clear she was right, the company was wrong, and we would have all sided with her. :yes: From the beginning.
There instructions don’t make LOGICAL sense. If it was me hiring them I would have not followed their goofy instructions of “not tilted” in any way shape or form. Wall would have had mirror wall built to my specifications. Regardless as to if they think they know what they are doing or not. I’d have to have 10’ or taller mirrors mounted their way to be able to see across my 200 foot arena. Even then the image of horse and rider would be at the top of the mirror.
That said many people are told to hang them vertical…but that only works if they are lower. I know of 2 people who did what the OP did…and couldn’t undo it.
It was your responsibility to be in the ring, on your horse and pointing out when you could see what you needed to see and when you were unable to see things. You have to be mounted and you have to explain to them that they need to be tilted–which also often requires a totally different and more expensive mounting technique. Usually you have to work with a carpenter to get that part right.
Can’t say that I would ever blame them. They didn’t know what you didn’t tell them. :no:
Well since Dayle is one of my best friends in the world I’m probably a little teeny bit biased but still…
The company’s directions were followed to a “t” by Dayle & her builders. The instructions need to say to please be on your horse while mirrors are being installed but they do not. It plainly says “do NOT” tilt the mirrors.
I think the company truly needs to at least come out & remove the mirrors so that they won’t break while the structure is being tilted to the proper angle. Then they need to reattach them. It’s not like Dayle is asking for them to pay to rebuild the whole thing, just help with “their” part as none of us or the builders know how to handle very large glass mirrors.
Now Dayle’s left with many many $$$$ in a set of mirrors that stand to break when moved.
Hell, now I’M mad too!!!
Whatever happened to customer service?
Got your back girlfriend!
If OP followed their directions it is not her fault if the directions were not clear or incorrect.
This is the sort of stuff small claims court is made for.
What I hear is that she followed the directions and they hung them as they described. I’m missing what a judge would see that they did wrong. Starts to sound like the buyer should have checked to see how they’d completed previous jobs. Anyone who asks for cash upfront is suspect in my book. I would have done more research.
Has anyone had any recent projects done by “gigantic mirrors”?
No glass company in my area seems to want to touch the project.
- I am not a “do-it-yourself-er” on this one. I actually want it done right this time!
This is how the arena mirrors are done in the arena we use.
“Your wall should be constructed just above your kickboard (4’ from the ground) and must not be tilted. Once the mirrors are up, you will be able to see everything you need to from anywhere in the arena”
We have absolutely no problem.
I think they followed the plan of a well known dressage rider in Pa’a mirrors.
