Okay, maybe I’m an idiot, but I thought there was a ban on all electronic devices (unless it’s medical) in the show ring.
But then I had a friend today say how much she appreciates her Apple Watch on show days. And that she rides with it in the show ring.
I attached the rule as written below. Has anyone contacted USEF about if they are legal or not?
Aren’t there (much) bigger fish to fry? I wear a 100% old-school analog watch but wearing a smartwatch is a lot different from carrying a cell phone or a walkie talkie.
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Because I want to wear mine if it’s legal. 
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Honestly, I’d be wearing it if I were you. I’ve definitely seen plenty of them, and I’m assuming most folks put them on airplane mode or DnD when they’re showing.
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I see them everywhere. On maybe… 70% of riders? Honestly it never crossed my mind (and I’m sure it didn’t cross theirs).
I’d 100% be wearing mine showing but it shoves my sleeve back on that wrist so it comes off when I put on my show coat. Otherwise I never take it off.
I doubt anyone will care if you’re wearing it, unless something else makes them think “cheating”. But I’m not a steward, judge, or trainer. Just my opinion.
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Most people wear Apple Watches, I think. I think the 70% estimate is a good one! Doesn’t do anything but track my huffing and puffing around the course…and then to help me find my phone when I get off.
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I judge 20 + shows a year. Not once have I ever noticed an apple watch. I wore mine when I showed in March. I think the rule applies to earbuds that you might be getting instruction over or a giant phone in your pocket.
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I actually emailed the USEF several years ago about my Fitbit because it could receive texts similar to an Apple watch. They didn’t have an issue with it - compared it to wearing a bracelet or a watch.
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I’ve been wearing mine in the show ring since the beginning of 2022. Sometimes I remember to turn it to airplane mode, but not always. And part of the reason I have it is to communicate with trainer and barn mates as to where I am in the order. Probably would make some sense to set it to DND and only let certain people communicate. I suppose you could use it for unauthorized assistance, but I think it would be pretty obvious if you were riding around all Inspector Gadget with your wrist up by your ear.
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[quote=“Peggy, post:9, topic:784787, full:true”]. I suppose you could use it for unauthorized assistance, but I think it would be pretty obvious if you were riding around all Inspector Gadget with your wrist up by your ear.
[/quote]
I was thinking the same thing. If I’m communicating with someone over my watch then if anything I’m at a disadvantage.
Well I’m very excited to wear mine next show.
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Man, I’d program the thing to tell me which fence is next.
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Yeah without an earbud, it would probably do more harm than good to try to use it for communication on course.
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I’m envisioning a day when you would find random lost earbuds on the ground in the schooling ring along with the random lost earplugs from the horses. Lol.
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It’s 2033. The show arenas are 90% broken and lost AirPods. No one remembers their course anymore. They just get yelled at by their trainer from the sidelines directly into their tiny ear pieces. LEFT! GREEN OXER! MORE LEG! If you loose both AirPods you are doomed and must shamefully exit the arena.
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That’s 2023 at some jumper rings these days. Without the AirPods. Lol.
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Gosh I know. It’s so bad! The amount of times I hear ‘OH CRAP! (Insert trainer name) WHAT IS THE JUMP OFF??’ Or, the trainer screaming from the in gate, ‘THE BLUE ONE! LEFT! OXER!’
I’m amazed they can speak at the end of the day and don’t loose their voice.
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I hate this rule so much. Unless you are in a full service program with an extremely organized trainer, it’s just a nightmare to have to go up to the ring to show with no means of communication. And if you bring your phone, you have to find someone to hand it to at the ingate who won’t speed off in a golf cart to the next ring once you’re done, or risk leaving an extremely valuable computer sitting unattended. OR: forget it’s clipped to your belt and risk elimination for something stupid.
I honestly don’t understand what the concern is here. I think it’s fine to have a rule against digital coaching etc, but banning people from even carrying devices that are so crucial to managing horse show logistics is such overkill.
That said, it’s even stupider to ban phones and not ban the watches, which have all the same functionality!
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I upgraded to the watch that works independently of the phone after one show with my current group that’s more hands-on.
Personally in this day and age I think they should change the rule to no EarPods or headset devices. If someone has their phone in their pocket and it’s on speaker with their trainer yelling at them to turn left or smile more, well, I just personally don’t think that’s going to really be very beneficial on the round Plus I think it would be pretty obvious if the person is going around with either their phone held up to their ear or their phone is blasting their trainers’ voice from their pocket. The only benefit I could see is someone could maybe tell you the course in jumpers? But even then, someone could stand on the side and scream it at you and that’s allowed. I could scream at my pony hunter rider to sit up more or use more leg, and that’s allowed.
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It’s more about the safety of the rider in the instance of a fall than about communication on course. A rider falls on the phone and cracks a hip - the insurance company is going to say they should not have been allowed to ride with a metal device fixed to their body.
