Challengair
Equine Vacuum
Grooming Equipment
Manufacturer: Challengair
Model: Equine Vacuum
Category: Grooming Equipment
Purchase: I received this as a gift, so I don't know how much it cost. I need a vacuum because I have asthma, and can't take the dust cloud that cleaning my beast inevitably raises. I have used the large, turquoise 'Electrogroom' before, and it worked fine. The noise didn't bother my horse much, and the suction wasn't excessive.
Likes: The challengair initially seemed perfect - it's small, relatively light, and comes with an 8' hose. The suction is very vigorous with some of the attachments.
Dislikes: The first time I tried to use it hanging from my shoulder, the strap broke (very cheap clips used to clip the strap to the machine). There was no unusual pressure on it, it just plain failed.
The first time I turned it on, it scared both me and my horse it was so loud. Every horse on the barn aisle skittered to the back of their stall, and several snorted at it. I eventually convinced my horse it wasn't going to kill her, but she still can't stand the thing. (She used to stand quietly for the electrogroom).
The curry attachment wont stay on with the adapter that is included. (I have it attached correctly, as indicated in the manual) I have to hold it together with my hands while vacuuming, or it will fall off. The suction also drops down to barely-useful with the curry attachment on. The pins on the curry are also quite sharp, and made my somewhat tough horse jump/wince when it went over the point of her shoulder.
I ended up using it twice, because on the second vacuuming, it started to squeal like a small animal was dying. (The horses really loved that noise. Several of them actually whinnied at it, thinking something was in distress) Then the motor shut down. I tried turning it off and back on, and it just quit again. I opened it up, and there was a small (1" by 1") clump of hair at the opening of the paper bag - apparently this was enough to clog it completely, and it killed the motor. I replaced it with a new bag, and it will stay on again, but honestly. I used it for two, ten minute grooming sessions on a horse that isn't shedding much, and wasn't that dirty to begin with. If I have to change the bag after every 20 minutes of grooming, this vacuum is NOT for me.
I would not recommend this product.
Quality: The housing unit seems durable - after all, it did go crashing to the ground when the strap broke and there was no harm done to it.
Summary: Overall, a nice idea, but totally impractical for grooming horses. This unit is extremely loud, and is not up to the task of vacuuming dirt and hair.
Rating: 2
Author: Asthmatic horse groomer
Date: 2010-02-10
Usefulness Rating: 2.98263 out of 5.
403 reader(s) voted.
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