Finance, Forex and Investments

Made in China? India? Pakistan?

Sadly it is impossible to escape crap goods from these countries nowadays. Whether is the fact that the main ingredient in anthrax treatment is no longer made in the west but exclusively in India or China, or the fact that your diabetes medication is coming from India with fillers like plaster and clay, I don't trust the products of these countries. We all know that if you shop discount tack stores most of the items originate from these countries, my question is: on which horse (and general) items will you not compromise but demand goods not made in these countries? Supplements are my major concern, followed by leather goods and safety products like helmets. Lisa M- I would feel much more comfortable with Argentinian made than Indian made. ;)

Public Comments

1. I will not use nickle bits or stirrups, actually nothing nickle, buckles, the works. Nickle is soft and can break very suddenly and easily. I've seen nickle stirrups that broke while in use and also nickle bits that snap. I will only use stainless steel stirrups and buckles, bits, billets etc have to be steel too. Now as far as Indian/Paki leather, people lump that in with Argie made stuff and the polo players used to bring rawhide tack over to England for exercise work. The bridles were knotted, no buckles and they were fine and very strong. I also used to ride in an Argie saddle and it was comfortable and quite well made.There is a difference.
2. My saddle and most of my tack was made by a local saddle maker right here in Montana. My bits were made by Tom Balding in Sheridan Wyoming. My bosals were made by a rawhide braider in Wyoming. My mecates were also made locally. My hay was grown right here in Montana. My feed supplements and grain were made right here in Montana. But it is not like all my stuff comes from locals.... My trailer was built in Oklahoma. My boots are from Texas. My spurs come from Nevada.
3. saddles/supplements/hard hats/eye protection I haven't seen any really good examples yet....However having said that. The iron work side of things (chinese at least) aren't too bad.And well for just general purpose paddock bashing the leather goods are ok when it comes to indiam made,I have a breaking roller that has given me years of service.I just wish they'd stop using that garbage brown paint like varnish finish on things though.
4. Similar to a previous poster................ Processed feed comes from LMF Feeds, Caldwell Idaho Hay grown right here in Central Oregon... Mineral supplement developed and produced here in the NW Headstalls are by Champion and Ricotti (California), Circle Y, Kathy's, Dale Chavez Saddles by Bobs Saddles and Blue Ribbon Tack Bits are by Les Vogt, Tom Balding, also Greg Darnall.... Trailer by Trails West, Idaho Spurs by Ricotti, California Splint Boots, Classic Equine Wrangler jeans...just how American can they be..... Boots from Texas/Oklahoma..Ropers
5. I try to buy made in USA products but often fail in some areas. I find the Reinsmen bits too expensive so will buy cheaper ones sometimes if they are one piece bits. For two piece bits and hackmores I buy the better ones, especially after having to rebuild two cheap hackmores when they flew apart on me on the trail (literally came to pieces and dropped parts). I do not buy many supplements but feed a good hay and a good grain. I get the grain at a local mill that mixes its own. There are actually two mills here that mix good grains for horses. One is a little cheaper but the horses like the other ones more. But either way I get a 50 lb bag of 14% protein for about 5.80 and 16% for about 6.00 (about 5 or 10 cents less per hundred weight if I buy the cheaper). Overall you are wise not to trust products from these countries. Argentina makes fairly good leather but India and Pakistan you have to watch, because like Mexico, they sometimes use a process to tan leather which uses urea. Such leather smells extremely bad when it gets wet (like urine). Not all products from there use this and even some reputable tack comes from there. You just have to watch. Another reason to watch is the sweat shops. I don't want to contribute to forced child labor.