TTE ADVISORY BOARD: Turning to Tech in Tough Times
As we all start to adjust to a ‘post-pandemic’ world I thought it would be interesting to see what our TTE Advisory Board members relied on when it came to technology during the ‘stay at home’ phase of the crisis.
May question: What are 1-3 technologies/dependencies that are helping you during the pandemic and why?
Stay healthy and safe!
1. Instagram: This is obviously not a new technology by any stretch, but Instagram has been a fun place to keep up with what others are doing with their horses, stay up to date with horse show cancellations, as well as special offers. For example, FEI TV has made all of its content free through the end of June and has posted some older content to enjoy such as WC Finals from 2015-2019. I never would have seen that offer it wasn't for my Instagram browsing.
2. My Peloton/work out apps/live stream workouts: This isn't specific to the horse world, but exercising has been the one thing that is really keeping me sane during this time. I, unfortunately, am not able to ride my horse right now, so I am staying fit and mentally and physically strong by scheduling workouts into my day. I actually put them on my calendar so that I make the time for myself. The peloton app is great even if you don't have access to their bike. They host a variety of bodyweight classes, yoga, stretching, strength training, and meditation in addition to their cycling and running classes. I absolutely love it. And when I am really struggling in a HIIT or Tabata class, I just think about how much stronger I will be the next time I get to ride my horse. I use the Peloton app for guided meditation every morning, which really helps me to start the day off right and take some time to be present and centered at the start of each day. Then, I mix and match cardio and strength training each day with yoga added every few days. If you are able, I highly recommend getting some workouts in outdoors. I created a little workout nook for myself outside with a spot to set up my laptop and a place for a matt and some small weights. I have also made do without a lot of equipment by using things like bottles of laundry detergent as weights.
3. Podcasts: I've always been a podcast advocate, but during this time, I have been using podcasts not just to stay up to date with the news, to learn new things, and to be entertained, but also to frame my day. When you are staying home all day, day after day, days start to blur together. I decided at the beginning of the stay-at-home orders that I was going to make a point to sit and enjoy my coffee in the morning, as opposed to grabbing it and running, which had become my norm. But I'm not great at just sitting and doing nothing. Listening to a podcast while enjoying my coffee has been a great way to sort of force myself to take the time to sit and relax. It has been really good for me, and I feel much better having this morning routine before diving into my work for the day. I used to listen to my regular podcasts on the way out to the barn and back, so it has also been great to find a new way to incorporate them into my routine.
- Nicole, BarnManager
Despite the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has aided in the transition to the “new normal” in both our personal and barn lives. Within the barn, there are several technologies that allow me to stay connected to our horses and our barn family.
Zoom
Two months ago, I never heard of Zoom, but today I find myself engaged on this platform weekly. From watching our show horses work to socializing with other owners and riders, Zoom has created an easy way for large groups of people to stay connected during this time of quarantine and lock-down. As a personal example, this past Sunday our barn in NH hosted a virtual horse show for their out-of-state clients. During this approximate 3-hour broadcast we got to see the results of our trainers’ efforts over these past two months as they showcased 16 horses, including 2 of our own. Although being there in person would have been best, this virtual horse show presentation via Zoom was a wonderful substitute for the 40+ customers who logged on.
JackBox Games
I am embarrassed to say, but I recently got introduced to JackBox and I am addicted. Although their account set-up procedure is confusing and graphics remedial, this gaming software suite is a must try for everyone. As a host, you simply need to log into your account, select a desired game, and share a weblink with remote participants. When participants click on the weblink from their mobile or desktop device and enter your unique room code, you are all connected and ready to play. I personally recommend you simultaneous host a video conference so you can have a truly immersive experience as you and your friends play JackBox all while enjoying a cocktail (or two…or more).
NIGHTWATCH® Smart Halter™
At the risk of sounding self-serving, the NIGHTWATCH® smart halter™ has been a great tool to ease my mind during this unsettled time. Although I cannot physically be with our horses in NH and KY, I do have a sense of control and peace of mind when I open the NIGHTWATCH® App and look at historical data and graphs to see how they are doing. I am not just the Founder of NIGHTWATCH®, I am also a horse owner who loves his animals and who worries about them when I cannot be with them. While NIGHTWATCH® was originally designed to be an early-warning system for equine colic/distress, we are continuing to learn that access to insight-on-demand is just as important.
- Jeffrey, NIGHTWATCH Smart Halter
The Noelle Floyd masterclasses have been the most helpful throughout this pandemic. As many barns have been closing, it is difficult for riders to go see their horses and keep learning. Yet, as horse shows are on pause, it is a great time of the year to be a better student of the sport and keep improving. To me, the Noelle Floyd Masterclasses are a great way to learn about new skills both on and off the horse. Often, when we are taught to ride, we are given the tools and learn to feel the tools on our horses. The Noelle Floyd Masterclasses take our knowledge a step further by helping us understand why we use those tools and when to use them. As someone that has messaged some of the teachers, Noelle Floyd really brought the equestrian community together to share why we fell in love with our sport: knowing our horses.
- Juliette, Cavall
The pandemic has delayed my travels north to New York from Wellington, so my horse and I are enjoying an extended stay at a dear friend’s lovely facility in Ocala. Our team at STRIDER has always been predominately remote, but these days I rely on Zoom and Google Hangouts for partnership meetings and other interactions I would typically have in-person. I participate in virtual yoga classes and enjoy all of the opportunities for community connection that I’ve seen. Across the equestrian industry, there has been a major shift to the use of these tools for webinars and similar meet-and-greet style activities with top riders and experts.
Equine service providers that I previously paid with a check are now accepting digital payments to reduce the risk of the virus’s spread. It’s much safer and far more convenient to pay with Venmo, PayPal, or a credit card than to dig around for my checkbook when the farrier or chiropractor visits my horse! Looking ahead, our industry will see widespread adoption of tools like DocuSign, through which you can digitally sign contracts or other paperwork. More familiarity with electronic signatures on important documents such as risk release waivers and board agreements will be a huge factor in the equine industry’s ability to safely rebuild and stride forward in the wake of COVID-19.
- Natasha, STRIDER
The horse related technology that I have used the most is HorseLinc to connect me as an owner with my service providers. Being able to still pay board for my retired horse out of state, my farrier here in town, the dentist, the vet for spring shots, all while social distancing and utilizing secure payment process has been priceless to me and my trainer who manages the horses.
I have definitely utilized the various state and county websites and apps to stay up to date on the status of the pandemic where I ended up hunkering down away from home and where my family and friends are located.
I have also started exercising more regularly and have been utilizing the heart rate/distance tracking apps on my smart watch and iPhone that I have not been as diligent at using before. I like seeing the progress I am making with my walking in distance and faster pace! Though I still haven’t figured out how to tell it I’m not doing an outdoor run when I’m riding my horse, LOL.
- Misty, HorseLinc
