On a recent excursion to the Palisades Center in West Nyack--the largest shopping mall in the NYC metropolitan area--I came face to face with the iGallop. My friends and I were making our way through four floors of more than 250 stores--including a clothing store for pets and a playground equipment dealer. Not to mention an inordinate amount of candle shops.
My two favorite stores, being the geek I am, were The Sharper Image (surprisingly small space considering the size of this mall) and Brookstone. Both stores were loaded with fun gadgets--waterproof MP3 players, noise-cancelling headphones, yet another glowing ducky!, and a really cool touchscreen remote that I'd like to try out for myself.
(Before I go on, I forgot about my most favorite store--the Lego store! And they even had adorable Lego duckies--see below. I was in heaven.)
But back to reality. . .
It was at the entrance to Brookstone that the iGallop caught my eye. The beast! I approached her cautiously, knowing she's a feisty one. As my friends watched, I mounted the iGallop (wow, that sounds dirty) and pushed the trot button. Oh she put up a fight--she nearly sent me flying into the Fannie Farmer shop across the way. But I held on tight, thinking, wow, this is a great workout for my core and abs!
Unfortunately, I find the iGallop useful only for an amusing diversion at the mall. Paying nearly $600 for this thing? I'm not sold.
Related Horsey Links:
Ride the iGallop
Yee-Haw! The JOBA Horse-Riding Fitness Equipment

September 13, 2006 10:17 AM
Well done! I trust you didn't need clowns to distract the iGallop as you got off, right? And seriously-did you feel anything after riding the damned thing? I mean, did it really work out your abs at all? Cause I mean...it doesn't look like...oh nevermind. $600 USD? Sheesh. PS - more ducks!
September 13, 2006 3:41 PM
It's really more of an amusement than an exercise machine. I'm sure it engages some muscles just to stay on the thing, but the price is strictly too high!
November 8, 2006 12:24 PM
I bet its nice to have around so you can watch chicks with big knockers ride on it. Go Horsey Go! Bounce them titties around!
November 8, 2006 6:03 PM
Anyone who thinks this would not be a workout, has not tried actually riding a horse. As an out-of-shape 45 year-old who recently started riding, I can attest to the core workout of properly sitting (keeping in contact with the saddle,) a canter or gallop is prety intense. About ten minutes of a good hard canter, and your abs will be aching until you get them in shape.