iGallop: A Universal Piece of Exercise Equipment

A friend of mine recently bought the iGallop from OSIM, and when I first saw it, I didn't know what to think. It looked a lot like one of those coin-operated rocking horses you might find outside your local store, and for a minute I thought he had just bought it as a decoration or something.

But, after trying the iGallop, I have to say I'm ready to scrape up the $300 to buy one for myself.

The first time I sat on that thing, I was almost thrown from it. But, once I got use to the movements, I found 15 minutes on it equaled an incredible workout.

There are plenty of experts who will tell you the benefits of horseback riding. But, that's not a practical thing for most of us. This gives you those benefits without having to buy (and feed) an actual horse.

Just keeping my balance on the saddle took quite a bit of work. Within a couple of minutes, I could feel it in my legs. By the time I was done, I could tell my abdominal muscles got a workout too.

My friend has lower back problems and he was telling me they've improved since he started using the iGallop. And, I believe him because my own back felt a bit looser following my ride. More importantly, even though my muscles got a workout, it was gentle enough where they weren't hurting me an hour later like they normally would when I try a new exercise machine.

I really like the fact the machine is as small as it is. When not in use, it could easily be stored in a corner or, if you have room in it, a broom closet. And, even though it looks like it might be somewhat heavy, it's actually much lighter than you think it would be. We have a home gym at our house, but I think this would wind up in our living room so we can watch TV while playing....I mean exercising on this.

If I have any complaints about the iGallop, it would probably be about comfort. While the machine is fun to ride, I have to say my rear was getting a bit sore from the seat. If and when I buy one, I'm going to be finding a cushion to put underneath me or I won't be able to sit on it for more than few minutes at a time.

Every once in a while, some company comes out with a great piece of exercise equipment that pretty much everyone can use. The OSIM iGallop is one of those.