Sounds like I need to invest in an Apple Watch for the fall detection. I ride alone and can’t count on my 12 year old to leave his video game if I’m not back in x amount of time.
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That does sound like a very viable solution. May we all stay safe out there!
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My Garmin Venu 2 has a ‘crash sensor.’ I haven’t had a fall from a horse (knock on wood) since buying it, but I did have a crash while mountain biking. I went over my handlebars onto some rocks, and it was kind of low speed and I rolled some so I was not seriously injured. Alert went off, watch was not damaged. It comes up with an alert and I have something like 30 or 60 seconds to click a button to say “I’m okay” and dismiss the alert but if I don’t do that, it automatically texts my Mom and my husband that it detected an incident and gives them my location.
I believe it works not by sensing position (laying down or not), it works off the accelerometer. Moving relatively quickly and then suddenly stopping? Likely to be a crash. I believe it takes multiple factors into account.
I’ve had this watch for 2 years and it has been through all kinds of rough treatment and physical activities and been fine. The incident alert has never gone off during routine activity or horseplay with my kid or jumping on the trampoline, or even if I am in a car that suddenly stops. I THINK it only goes into effect when you are actually tracking an activity. So if I am standing around, it would not, but if I start tracking a ride then the incident detection would go on.
I swim with it too - in pools and in the ocean.
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Isn’t that what the Life Alert for aged seniors does? I guess they may have to push a button but maybe not. Of course you would have to have cell service I guess. We don’t get reception anywhere on our farm…
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Most of the time at the barn I’m alone riding and I’m the arena so the fall detection would be a nice upgrade for me on that.
I also do go out on trail alone pretty regularly, and for that I just share my location with my SO on google maps in case someone needs to come find me in the woods. He can also see us moving along if he wants to look. I always keep my phone on my person as well…never never in something attached to the horse.
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Yes this.
I did this before I got a watch.
Is fall detection on all the time? With my Garmin I have to actually select an outdoor activity to turn it on, which does me diddly if someone loses their marbles while I’m doing turnout.
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I looked into LifeAlert before I got my Samsung watch, and yes, you do have to press a button to trigger the fall alert. Yes, unfortunately you have to have cell service regardless of the technology.
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Yes it’s just part of the function of the watch.
Awesome, thanks. I don’t want to switch my phone to Apple but I think I read somewhere that you can use the Apple watch with an app on Android…
If you want to try something while you are figuring out what watch to buy, and maybe even after to help find you in case of an accident, I use the free app Life 360. It’s meant for parents to keep tabs on their kids, but I found it does a really nice job of tracking where I am on trail also. It doesn’t have fall detection (though the paid version may have a crash detection feature), but I check in with my DH before I go out and then again when I am home. He can always pull up the app and look at where my dot is/what it’s doing - you can see the dot moving even at walking speed in real time.
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I’ve used Life360 in investigations, and I can vouch for accuracy on location!!
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Oh yikes. Those “horse returning to the barn without its human” episodes are the worst!
Had one of those at my last barn. Horse was being handwalked only, but owner walked him all over creation, sometimes several miles at a time. He came galloping back to the barn without her one day, trailing a longe line and having crossed a busy road. Luckily she had her phone and we were able to confirm that she was OK other than a friction burn on her hand from the line. Not sure why she was using a longe line instead of a lead rope. Horse needed a few days with rest and icing before he was OK.
But these situations don’t always turn out so well.
Question for everyone: can a horse get out of a properly fitted rope halter? Should I add one of those little breakaway leather pieces to it? I use a 14 foot rope and have nightmares about the mare getting trapped. And … fly mask over or under the halter?
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Overkill for most but my DH and I have a Garmin in-Reach for when we are going to be out for long amounts of time in remote areas. It does a great job with very accurate tracking and the battery lasts forever
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I have an Android phone and a Samsung watch. They work well together and are slightly less pricey than Apple options.
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Does your Samsung watch have fall detection on all the time? As much as I don’t want to drop the cost of a mortgage payment on a phone, LG stopped making phones and the Garmin doesn’t have “always on” function - and I’m klutzy. I won’t get an Apple phone tho, I have one for work and strongly dislike texting on it or how many of the functions work - I can’t get an answer on the Pixel watch or the Samsung watch regarding fall detection always being on like Apple watches tho. But the Samsung phones are cha-ching.
Yes, fall detection is on all the time. I have a Motorola phone and the watch works well with it. You should be able to use the watch with any Android phone.
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Ohhhhh!! Well that’s fantastic! Totally not an option on the Garmin unless I turn on an “activity” and then it only gives me the timer for the activity and distance, no options for looking at the time or seeing messages that come across.
Thank y’all so much for the information on the Apple Watch. I thought I would destroy one as I have other watches. I wear blue tooth sports ear buds now and I can make a call with Siri so long as I can move an arm to double click the button and speak and am within range of my phone. I have wondered the best thing to do if I ever get back into trail riding again.
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Greetings from the land of the flip phone. I refuse to spend my life tethered to a “smart” phone. My phone has a emergency button on the outside that you push 3 times quickly to message you contact. It also has a page where you can enter informatoin to use in an emergency such as health insurance, diagnoses, medications.
Although I’ve given up riding, I’m looking for something for the rest of my lifestyle that doesn’t need a cell phone.
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Okay, embarrassing story incoming, but I need insight into the best solution for my situation.
I live alone. Several months ago (I know it was winter), I went out to feed one morning like I always do. I fed the horses and then stepped into my storage/feed room (over a detached garage). A strong wind blew the door closed, which shouldn’t have been a major issue. Except that SOMETHING inside the doorknob broke, and…I. Was. Stuck. In the storage room. Without my cell phone, which I had put in my truck before starting to feed.
Very, very long story short…TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER, I ultimately MacGuivered (yes, I am just old enough to get that reference) my way out of the room via a screwdriver, pair of bolt cutters, and hoof pick.
I realized that it could have taken DAYS for anyone to miss me in this scenario. So, members who have an Apple Watch, how much do you pay for this service in addition to your phone? Trying to decide whether I should spring for the watch or just learn not to put my phone down ever on the farm.
Not that cell service is guaranteed anywhere on my property, but that’s a different conversation.
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