Most disappointing products/purchases

[BK6756]

I really enjoyed reading everyone’s favorite things on my previous post, so I thought I would ask what everyone’s most disappointing horse product or purchase was (not including actual horses)?

Mine would be:

1. MTG- It smells horrible and has never had any effect on any skin condition I’ve ever used it on. In fact, my horses seemed to rub their tails more after using MTG.
2. Quic black shampoo- Maybe I just had too high of expectations, but this shampoo seemed to have zero effect on my sunbleached boys, despite leaving it on twice as long as supposedly needed. It did stain my hands though…
3. Ovation Aqua X silicone knee patch breeches- I actually started out loving these and have 4 pairs, but the silicone has begun peeling off after less than 10 wears

[skipollo]

SmartPak side reins. Now I bought them several years ago, so hopefully they’ve updated them. The quality itself was fine, but they only had one size (advertised as HORSE). They were so small they would only fit on ponies. I made them as loose as they could go, and my poor horse (16.2hh OTTB) had his nose cranked in. They immediately went back to SP.

SmartPak breeches, particularly the Pipers. Good price, low quality. The sizing is inconsistent between colors (28R in one color fits, 28R in another color I can’t even pull up, etc.) Even the material between different colors is different. Some are slick, some are thick and cottony. The same thing applies to their newer Hadley line. Some are really pretty, some are awful, and it’s so hit or miss with what you’re going to get. I will never buy another pair because of this (I currently have several but am phasing them out as they wear out.)

Kincade full cheek keepers. It’s Kincade leather. That sums it up.

Ecovet fly spray. This stuff really does keep the bugs off while I ride, but the lasting power doesn’t seem to be any longer than a “normal” fly spray, and this stuff is RANK (even the “fresh scent.”) I can’t spray it in the barn because the horses start coughing and it stinks up the place for other boarders. No thank you.

HorseWare Amigo Bravo Plus with disc closure. The blanket is cute, but the disc closure is plastic and prone to breaking. The blanket also rubs my horse’s shoulders because it’s pretty narrow. What is with blanket designers making things narrow? They’re designing them with big sport horses in mind, according to all of their ads. Make blankets that fit the horses you’re advertising to! The stitching is cheap, overall it’s a meh blanket that I got for a really good price. Next time I’ll just buy a Rambo.

[Dubarry]

Smartpak fly spray - While I applaud Smartpak’s efforts to produce a non toxic, cost effective spray - that is stuff is formidable! The robust peppermint smells makes the horses sneeze every time I use it. And its not just them, it makes me sneeze as well! I want to like it but it is not likely I would purchase again. However, I wrote a review very similar to this on their website and was contacted by a customer service representative who gave me a refund!

Myst Equine Coat Elixir - I’ve seen several bloggers use this product with great results. It must be their iPhones producing that shiny, reflective coat. It gives my steeds the worst grimey & slimey coat. Yuck! I wanted to love it…

[mmeqcenter]

Dover RidingSport full seat breeches - I love the knee patch ones for schooling, so I ordered some Full seat ones as well last year. Description on fit is exactly the same as the knee patch version, so I expected the same breech just with a full seat instead of a knee patch, right? No. The full seat breaches waist line is a solid 2" lower than the knee patches. Hi - women’s bodies typically get wider when you go lower on the hip, so WHY do the same measurements make sense to manufacturers when it’s set inches lower??? So annoying.

[KBC]

@BK6756

3. Ovation Aqua X silicone knee patch breeches- I actually started out loving these and have 4 pairs, but the silicone has begun peeling off after less than 10 wears

:lol::lol::lol: I read that as 10 years!!

I was wondering how 10 years of wear was a bad thing…

[PrincessPonies]

I second not liking Smartpak breeches. Between the fit and material I just don’t like them at all. I’ve gotten both the oraginal piper and the knit. Neither one moves with me while I ride. The zipper and two pairs broke after less than three rides. And the silicon knee patches add nothing. The only thing going for them, which is why I ordered them, is they have big pockets for my cell phone.

[snaffle1987]

I love MTG for fungus type skin issues. rapidly clears it up when used regularly; but yes the sulfur in it does make it smell

I second the quic black shampoo.

[limptoad]

Ugh, not a product, but I find Dover’s customer “service” to be rage-inducing. They also mess up orders, take forever to ship, and if you send them one email they automatically put you on their mailing list. I tried to unsubscribe and the site says it takes up to a month to get you off of the list. They weren’t joking - almost at a month now, still getting e-mails, and lots of them.

Agreed on Smartpak breeches (diaper butt, anyone?), Quic Blac, and MTG.

I also hate Mane n Tail conditioner … makes the tail gummy and gross.

[IPEsq]

I’m with you on Ecovet fly spray. Gross! Even being down wind from a horse who has been sprayed with it makes me cough.

Other fails…

Smartpak’s rubber bit guards. Can’t get them on any bit without splitting them in half.

Smartpak’s no bow bandage quilts. For one, when I bought these, I thought I was buying a different brand but this is what I was sent. And second, there was practically no foam in them, so they were too thin. I’ve seen those bandage pads you are supposed to use under exercise bandages be more cushioned than this. The foam that was in them started breaking down after a few washes.

Safe-T-Tie (breakaway tie ring). Takes virtually no pressure to pop open. So, yes, works well as a break away tie, but your horse could also just walk away being tied to this without any effort.

[King_Creole]

I got the Tredstep DaVincis when they first came out. HATED THEM. Hard to break in, zipper issues. I was both annoyed and relieved when the zipper broke beyond repair. Annoyed that I was stuck in them and my class starting and it took three people to get them off of me but relieved when I tossed them. Sure, I could have gotten a new zipper, but this was the excuse I was looking for to get new boots! LOL

[drafting_dots]

SmartPak side reins seconded, for different reasons. Hard to explain, but they have a secondary sort of keeper piece that is totally unattached and I immediately lost one of them (was not expecting a loose tiny piece of leather!). Also the first pair I bought broke within 2 uses so I had to get an exchange.

Jurys out on SmartPak Pipers. I don’t hate them, but I don’t love them. I mostly find that they ALWAYS slide down and need to be worn with a belt. The material is a bit weird. I do like the price/colors/general quality although they are definitely not my favorites.

Dover customer service has been nothing but great for me, though.

[kaya842]

Dover customer service is TERRIBLE. Attempted to make one purchase from them (which I never actually received) and NEVER AGAIN.

Bates Stirrup leathers. - they were almost completely shredded after 2 years of use, infrequent adjustments and an average of less than 5 days/ week riding (heck there was an 8 month span in those 2 years when I didn’t use them at all).

SmartPak’s Fly Spray (OutSmart?) - smells good but doesn’t work at all and scalded my horse

[cyberbay]

For the Eco-vet fly spray: yes, I found if sprayed in the same way as a conventional fly spray, it fogged the place. So, I’ve found that tiny little squirts were the way to go. No more fogs, less product used, more product to re-apply, saved $.

[rockonxox]

Count me in for the piper breeches - I have never had a pair of breeches fit so awkwardly. Usually I’ll find a pair of breeches to be too tight in the waist, too long in the leg, or just a material I don’t prefer. Pipers both the winter and the normal ones just sag in the wrong places (never had breeches sag in the crotch but piper sure will) and bunch in others (mainly right behind my knee)… blech. I have two pairs just hanging out in my closet because I’ve been too lazy to sell them and we are way past the return date.

Other than that I can’t think of anything I absolutely disliked owning. I might think of some later.

[dani0303]

Collegiate Comfi-Tec bridle snapped at the cheek piece after only 3 weeks of use. They replaced it for me and it remains to be seen how long it’ll last but this one has at least made it a month.

I LOVE my Piper breeches. As a plus size rider we don’t have many options and these are stylish, comfortable, and fit me well while being affordable.

[hairystockings]

Tredstep tall boots. Worst tall boots I’ve ever owned. They ate the back of my ankles if I tried to walk in them at all, I couldn’t even walk a course without getting blisters.

[greysfordays]

ADT Bridles. Absolutely awful. And not all that cheap!

Also the standing wraps that smart pak sells. The velcro came off in the wash the first time. Absolutely garbage stitching.

[tikihorse2]

Third-ing on the Tred-Step boots. I got a pair and they Would. Not. Break. In. They tore my ankles and heels to pieces, but wouldn’t break in, neither would they drop! I went through can after can of boot stretch and used bandages and those silicone bands, but nothing worked. They weren’t cheap at $500, at least not to me.

[goodmorning]

Smartpak pipers. They do not hold up & don’t wash well.

Leather halfers for daily use. Some may find this strange, but I do not condition halters regularly enough to stay outside in the New England weather for daily turnout (mine may stay out days on end if weather permits). Even the Walsh halters get too dry. I’d much rather order a new crown piece every spring & use a nylon breakaway halter. Showing/trailering/shipping, all get the pretty leather halters that are kept inside the tack room or trailer.

Non-shaped baby pads

Eskadrons

Leather girths for routine use

anything but Repel X Flyspray concentrate - scalds my horses or just doesn’t work.

[ActNatural]

I LOVE ecovet spray!!! Yeah it’s gross if you get it on you but I figured it out. I put the nozzle directly on the house and spray at the poll, wither, arm, fetlock, opposite inside arm, opposite inside fetlock, point of hip, hock, fetlock, opposite inside hock, opposite inside fetlock, dock then switch sides and do the same. 20 sprays in all. Bottle lasts awhile. Doesn’t get all over me. Doesn’t make the horse sneeze. Seems to really work!