The Tech Equestrian is already in the holiday spirit – Yes! Believe it or not…and for good reason - there are so many great horse tech gifts this year and so much to be thankful for! This month we asked The Tech Equestrian Advisory Board two questions: What is your recommendation for a horse tech gift (not your own brand) and why and 2) What is your favorite horse charity; or what do you do to give back to the horse industry?

Cam Box — I love the first-person video perspective through the ears. (Plus, you can upload the video into your Hylofit ride data and overlay horse and rider heart rates from the ride!)

The EQUUS Foundation — we are partnering with them on Giving Tuesday (December 3). Every Hylofit sold that day will result in a Hylofit donated to the EQUUS Foundation. Donated systems will go to their Guardian organizations to help support therapy work.

I just stumbled upon this fairly new product called EqRight. Being a riding instructor as well as having my tech business, I think it is a really cool concept. It attaches to the riders helmet and corrects simple, frequent riding errors such as looking down and shoulders tall. It's a really smart product especially in this day and age of DYIers and for all those perfectionists out there. I know the #1 thing I am always saying to riders is "Eyes Up!" Now they just need to get something for their boots for "Heels Down!"

I love to give to horse rescues! In fact, now that Facebook is really cracking down on animal sales, which is in turn really affecting the reach of rescues, Sales Paddock has a special gift. Starting in January 2020, horse and animal rescues can use Sales Paddock for free. All they need to do is email us their story with links to their social. If they qualify, they can have a free profile and list adoptable horses/animals. Their profile will be marked with a special logo that identifies them as a rescue program. This will include OTTB rescue and sale barns. These beautiful animals rely on us to give them safe and happy spaces. The people that spend their lives trying to find a second chance for those horses that end up unwanted are amazing individuals.

My favorite horse tech gift is not very specific to the horse industry, but very practical!  My go-to gift is any kind of convenient charger for our many electronics whether it be a portable power pack, charging solutions, and/or multi-purpose docking stations. I am all about organization and love anything that simplifies and organizes all of our various electronics! 

I am personally dedicated to giving back to dedicated young riders in our industry. HorseLinc offers 3 scholarships (hopefully more in the near future!) to incoming freshmen, undergraduate, and graduate students to help support our hard-working young riders succeed in their education and support the future of the horse industry.  

I really wouldn't call it a charity, but more of an organization. The national 4-H council is probably one of the best equine groups that we can support because they are promoting animal science along with the equine knowledge and equestrian lifestyle for our next generation of horse owners. I got involved a couple years ago when my son started riding and supported him as we figured it out. Last year I started volunteering as "Paddock Pat" as my job is the announcer to get all the kids and their horses to their classes on-time. This year I'm the chairman of the Ranch Riding and Working Horse category bringing this competition to our county for the first time. Beside creating the rule book and picking patterns and challenges, I've stepped it up a notch and have recruited many large businesses as sponsors so that we can make it a total experience to ensure these young adults will have these life long memories.

It's difficult for me to pick a horse tech gift without knowing what the receiver does with horses. For example, what I'd recommend for someone who is competing at a very high level would be very different from what I'd recommend to someone who has a pet in their backyard. So, a gift that I think would be great for all horse people would be a stall camera with monitoring app. For those who have very expensive or fragile horses, it'd be great to have a reliable system to watch them in their stall or paddock from a different location (at night, in bed, on your phone, for example!). For those who have breeding operations, this is essential. Even for those who just have pets, it's soothing, fun, and entertaining to watch your horse even while you can't be with them.  

I cannot choose just one horse charity, because I respect and value all of those organizations who provide valuable services to the horses and people who especially need help. StableSecretary is happy to offer a 50% discount for any nonprofit organization who uses our software. I have immense respect for the people who work so hard to rescue horses and give them the care they deserve, as well as for those who provide therapeutic riding lessons. I am so happy that we have so many nonprofits using our software, and we love offering our software and services for less to them. 

Horse Tech Gift: A smartwatch. You can get all notifications and even answer with the phone in your pants if it is urgent even while riding. Also, you can see how your body reacts while you are riding, you heart rate, calories and even for basic health information.

Right now Equo contributes to two charities: TCA and Babington Foundation, for Kevin and his recovery we are donating 5 of every trip we do between October and December.

A horse-related tech gift that I recommend is an adjustable and rechargeable heated vest (for men & woman) from Ororo, which offers just the right amount of warmth without being too bulky; we own 2 of them ourselves. It can go as long as 10 hours on a single charge (perfect for most days at the barn) and is machine washable. 

With regard to giving back to the horse industry, Protequus has given away and/or donated more than 30 NIGHTWATCH smart halters since the spring to horses in need, horse owners who have a heartwarming story we identify with, and silent auctions for national charities (eg, JDRF) who themselves give back in a much bigger way than we can. Some of our smart devices have gone to horses used by police forces in NH to 501c3 horse programs in TX and CA. In addition, we have also provided slightly used headstalls (lower portion of our hand-crafted all-natural leather breakaway halters) to a local rehabilitation center where the use of leather (vs nylon) halter is a luxury so we feel is appropriate to continue to promote safety and wellbeing whenever we can.