In today’s everchanging world, videoing our unique ways of life is a great form of entertainment. It is also a great way to share your love of riding horses!
If you want help finding the right camera to capture your ride for social media, family or for training purposes, then you have come to the right place.
The journey to making an excellent horse-riding video begins with getting the right horse-riding camera gear.
We know that horses are not all the same, and neither are action cameras! It is not as simple as buying any old camera and hitting record.
Times have changed and technology has advanced so filming your ride is easier than ever before!
It’s important to learn all about the types of horse-riding camera gear available so that you can make the right decision the first time.
Capturing your ride while you are riding your horse seems tricky, but it can be done with the right horse-riding camera gear. With a good set up, you can safely and seamlessly record all your rides, whether you are on the trail or in an arena.
Table of Contents
Types of Horse-Riding Camera Gear
There are several different options for camera gear to use when horseback riding.
The type of camera that you need depends on the type of filming you want to do.
It is important to figure out which camera set-up is most comfortable for your riding style.
Helmet Only Cameras
Although helmets offer a lot of protection when riding, not every equestrian wears one. If you do plan to wear a helmet while you ride your horse, you may want to invest in a helmet action camera.
Mounting a camera on your helmet offers the ability to film as comfortably as possible, often forgetting it is even there at all. These action cameras are designed specifically to be worn on helmets, including those for riding.
This front-mount action camera has mounts available that are specifically designed for use with a helmet.
The GoPro Hero Camera offers an astonishing amount of features including video stabilization and the ability to play back your footage in slow motion.
The video may be slightly bouncy or choppy depending on the speed of your ride and the terrain however the software can help clean up any of that in post-production.
This action camera was designed to capture adventures on motorcycles, bicycles, and other sports including horseback riding.
It is Wi-Fi-enabled, and it includes microphones that help to pick up all the captivating sounds of your journey!
Shoulder, Chest, and Helmet Cameras
These cameras are not restricted to the helmet. With a few accessories, these horse-riding cameras can be fitted to film from your shoulder, chest or helmet.
The GoPro Camera listed above also offers great flexibility as far as the types of mounting options available. It’s our number one pick because you can also use it chest mounted, or even mount it to your horses breast collar.
If you are looking for some more options, here’s another good one:
With the right accessories, this camera can be used as a shoulder, chest, or helmet camera. It comes with 2 rechargeable batteries, each recording up to 90 minutes of video!
The Akaso EK7000 4K action camera is waterproof, comes with a durable case, and was made to film the outdoors.
This camera also comes with a wrist remote control, allowing convenient control of your camera at all times.
This amazing action camera offers hydrophobic coating, making it waterproof and able to withstand the outdoors.
It is compatible with most universal mounting accessories, allowing easy setup as a shoulder, chest or helmet camera.
The DJI Osmo Action 4K has a slow-motion option and picture stabilization, which makes it a superb option for filming horse rides. It comes with 1 lithium battery, a quick-release base, and an anti-slip grip. This camera also comes with a tripod and case.
This action camera can be used as a shoulder, chest, or helmet camera and it is terrific option for the trail.
The Campark V50 4K camera offers a dual color screen display, a tough cover, and a waterproof body. It has a built-in stabilizer that will help you capture the best videos possible.
This camera comes with 2 rechargeable batteries and a remote control.
Auto-Follow Camera
Just as their name suggests, auto follow cameras do just that, they follow you! Say, for example, you are riding in a small area, like an arena, pen or paddock.
You can set up an auto-follow camera up to video you as you ride! Auto-follow cameras allow you to video yourself riding horses without the need of a cameraman.
You only need to wear the tracker that comes with the camera. The camera will automatically follow the tracker and if it is attached to you, that means that it will film you as you ride!
This auto-follow camera attachment is one of the best available and it can be set up to film a diameter of 330 feet! It is automatic zoom capable and offers the option of live streaming.
The Move and See Pixio Auto Follow Cameraman comes with a convenient wristband tracker.
The cameraman does not include a camera or camcorder device. You will have to purchase it separately. It adapts easiest to Sony Cameras, like No products found..
Handheld Gimbals
Have you ever wondered how the social media videos you see online are so smooth and professional looking? Well, handheld gimbals are usually the answer.
Handheld gimbals are amazing little gadgets that transform your action camera footage into stable, smooth video.
Instead of bouncing around and creating choppy and bouncy footage, a handheld gimbal will make you look like a professional videographer.
While most handheld gimbals are just attachments for cameras, this one was designed with a camera built-in.
It is lightweight and very portable, making it a great option for your ride. It can be connected to smartphones to allow for a larger viewing area, but it is not necessary for filming.
This camera/gimbal combination offers crisp, stabilized video, on and off the trail.
This handheld gimbal is compatible with GoPro Hero models 3 through 8, as well as the DJI Osmo Action Camera, the SJ Cam, and more. It is water-resistant and has a battery that will last up to 12 hours.
Described as both durable and dynamic, the iSteady Pro 3 Gimbal is a great option if you have one of these action cameras or intend to purchase one. It is not just an accessory; it is a necessity for those wanting a truly stable video.
Things to Consider
Zoom Length and Quality
Zoom is not the most important aspect of an action camera, but it is a nice component to any camera. Not only should the zoom on your action camera be sufficient, it should also be of high quality.
Sound Quality
You may not think sound is important, but if you are filming for a vlog or for social media, sound can really help to give the viewer a truer experience.
Unless you intend on overlaying all your videos with music, make sure the camera you choose has an acceptable sound quality.
Battery Life
When choosing the right camera, look for one that will have enough battery life to last during your ride.
Rechargeable batteries are great options, allowing you to easily and inexpensively recharge your own batteries.
Durability
Horseback riding is not a sport for the weary or, in the case of a camera, the flimsy.
You need a camera that can withstand the rough terrain, bouncing and unrelenting bumps and knocks that will inevitably happen on the trail. It should be able to handle extreme weather and at least a little bit of rain.
Camera Accessories To Consider
This pack mount kit is designed to fit not only GoPro cameras but also other action cameras as well. It can be used to mount the camera to your chest or shoulder.
This kit includes multiple accessories that fit most action cameras including the ones talked about above. This kit includes a helmet mount, chest mount, a flexible tripod and more.
Tripods
Tripods are great accessories for action cameras, especially auto-follow cameras.
Many auto-follow camera set-ups include a tripod, but you can purchase a larger one if needed.
Extra Batteries
Consider getting a back-up battery, or two, for your camera. If you keep extra batteries, you can always have at least one or two camera batteries charged and ready to go if possible.
This will make sure every horse-riding adventure can be captured as intended.
Final Thoughts
It is clear there are many options to choose from when selecting your own horse-riding camera. Each option comes with its own unique qualities, but the right one for you is out there.
The trick is to figure out exactly what you want to film, how you want to film it and purchase the option that fits the best. Thankfully, there are many comfortable options to choose from! Happy riding and happy filming!
