Dressage Training Headsets

[Dude]

Looking to get one of these for our trainer for Christmas. Several students would use, but one at a time. This could sometimes be handy in lessons if it’s outdoors and windy, or if the ring is particularly busy. And would be very helpful when warming up at shows.

Some very basic questions first:

• What features are most important to you?
• Is it important to have two-way communication, or is one-way fine?
• If two-way, I'm guessing a voice-activated headset would be best?
• Separate headset for each student, I would guess. Or at least earpieces.

What models have you used or liked? Some that I've looked at a bit include the Eartec Simultalk 24G, Mototola Talkabout, and CeeCoach. Quite a range of prices. Are there big differences that make it worth spending more?

[fordtraktor]

I used headsets back when I was teaching, forever ago, because I am soft spoken and I can’t yell across the ring for six hours a day. I found that one way was sufficient – if I put it on two way my RadioShack setup would get feedback from the hoof noises, wind, people breathing once they were working hard, etc. So they could always ask questions of course, but not through the headset.

I used ones that I would rubber band onto the tops of helmets. I am sure there are more discrete models but I would avoid wireless earbuds because I ride (at home, alone) with my iPhone earbuds a lot and they fall out occasionally. I would worry about that happening and finding them again if they were the wireless, small kind! if you do go that way, get bright pink or something!

[fordtraktor]

oh, and another good option is a lavalier microphone for the coach instead of a headset. maybe less useful for shows, but often cheaper and less likely to break.

[Scribbler]

hahaha, I read the heading of the post in a totally different way!

No advice on the models, but when I rode in the same arena as someone using this, I found that the rider tended to be a bit more internally focused, not looking around her as much. And because the coach wasn’t calling out patterns, I couldn’t stay out of their way as much. Rider couldn’t call out patterns or she would deafen the coach! I expect however they would be very useful to the people using them.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I feel like I’m the only person left around here who doesn’t own their own, and I should probably stop borrowing them. I just logged onto COTH to start this exact thread!

I found an older thread, but am eager to hear updated reviews on the different models.

I miss the day of the coach or clinician talking into a mic. All the people watching became auditors and could hear what was being said. It was more of a true clinic (our dressage instructors come once a month from out-of-state) as opposed to very-not-private lessons.

[ArabDiva]

We had the Eartec Simultalk system at my barn. It lasted about 8 months before it crapped out. The difficulty was that the belt-clip receiver unit often fell off of students if they didn’t have it secured well enough, wires got whipped around, kids didn’t take care of it, etc. It just wasn’t a durable enough unit for barn use in our experience. Their over-the-ear earpiece always fell off my ear and/or jiggled around, bothering me, so I bought my own earbud that plugged in to the unit.

Next my coach got the OneK system. That one has held up longer. It mounts on the helmet only. I do hate passing around the sweaty earpads from lesson to lesson (ick). But it is more comfortable to wear, there are no wires to get caught while you are riding and it doesn’t fall off.

Each of those systems has 2-way communication and we have never had an issue with wind noise.

[KBC]

@Scribbler;8967550

hahaha, I read the heading of the post in a totally different way!

You are not alone, I was totally expecting something else, even reading the first line I was still thinking “what?, maybe a headsetter”

[Lusoluv]

I have been teaching with the Eartec Simultalk system for the last 8 years. I love it and so do my students. I don’t have a strong voice and when lessoning outside on a breezy day, I can’t (and don’t want to yell) at students. It has fallen off a rider’s belt once in while, but again, it’s been durable all things considered. External noise or wind is not a problem. You definitely need a 2-way system - otherwise you’re giving a monologue and won’t know if the rider understands of have questions. If they do, they’d have to stop and ride over to you to ask vs. having a conversation during the ride. For $300 for a trainer/rider system, it’s been worth every penny. This is the only system I’ve tried so I can’t speak for new and improved systems, but I don’t see the need to invest in anything else right now.

[dudleyc]

I use my iPhone with the standard earbuds with that speaker thing. It works great!

Oh also useful for phone calls, internet and apps etc.

[Anne]

I have the most experience with the Ceecoach, and didn’t have any problems with the ear piece falling out. At home one on one, it works as a two way. At shows if your trainer is warming up more than one student at a time, they will all be able to hear her, but only one student can speak back to the coach.