Pivo works!

[BlueDrifter]

I haven’t seen much written about it here, but Pivo is working nicely for dressage riders. It is cheaper than Soloshot/Pixio, and uses software rather than beacons to track you. Simply buy the PivoPod, download the free software onto your phone, connect via bluetooth, put your phone on the PivoPod, and you are good to go. It uses AI technology to mark your horse (oblong rectangle) and then using blue tooth, tracks you. It is not perfect, if you get too far away it might mistake a dark barn door for you horse (they both look the same size!), or if you have a lot of jumps, it might fixate on the jump and lose your horse. It auto-zooms, and folks have recorded a full dressage test from C, but it really works best shorter range. The video you get is as good as your phone. Those with newer iPhones are getting fantastic 4k video. Take a look at the FB Pivo Horse page for videos and comments. It is newer technology and the developers are actively listening.

I have no connection with them, just a trail rider actually, but trying to improve my arena skills, so staying within a smaller dressage court works for me right now. I am just totally amazed at how well it works for $100. Get the silver version, as the pivopod itself can track faster than the red.

https://www.facebook.com/szoltner/videos/pcb.311888053194680/10217607625038641/?type=3&theater

[Elsari]

Thanks for the info! Any idea how it handles multiple horses in the same ring? Would it jump to a horse that cuts in front of me (in the field of vision)? I’d love to use this for schooling and lessons, but rarely have the ring to myself.

[ABookworm]

I just bought the Pivo Silver after a friend used hers during a group ride and shared the videos. I frequently ride alone and when I do lesson I want videos of what I’m receiving corrections on so that I can work on that before the next lesson. So far I’ve used the Pivo for flatting in my tree heavy pasture, jumping in a large arena (180x120), and a group ride with 2 other riders. The Pivo did rotate to pick up whoever was closest to the camera but we just communicated to each other if we wanted it’s focus and then rode directly in front of the camera and had it pick up. The other riders would then stay on the edge of the arena until the focused rider gave the all clear.

Overall I really like the Pivo and am glad I bought it. After playing with it during one of my lessons my dressage trainer just bought one. Tonight we’re going to try it for a jump lesson to see how it holds up to that unpredictability and motion.

As a note, it does tend to lose me in the Florida sun when the light hides us but is quick to pick back up. This might be a fault in the settings I’m using but it isn’t something that would stop me from using it.

[GraceLikeRain]

Good to know. I have a love/hate relationship with my Pixem. It will be the bomb.dot.com for 5 rides in a row and then refuse to sync up, track behind the motion, etc. for the next 3 rides. It was such an investment I’ll keep using it until it implodes but perhaps the Pivio will be a better replacement when that time comes.

[DMK]

a fellow COTHer has been having good success with hers, ad I love the idea since I ride alone 99.99% of the time. It’s on my list to try, although I admit I am REALLY looking forward to trying it with driven dressage, which will be trickier since our rectangles are considerably larger. Most of my practice is in a 30x80m arena so hopefully it will work out OK.

[kashmere]

Thanks for the review! I have been really curious about it. Much nicer price tag than the other systems out there.

[CobJockey]

@Elsari

Thanks for the info! Any idea how it handles multiple horses in the same ring? Would it jump to a horse that cuts in front of me (in the field of vision)? I’d love to use this for schooling and lessons, but rarely have the ring to myself.

Poorly. I used my Pivo Silver to video a 40 minute ride of myself last night, and there was one other person riding at the same time. It probably got my barnmate more than me in a 60/40 split. I could pick the focus back up again if I rode close to it while my barnmate was further away, but it still spent more time on the wrong horse.

That said, I’m really happy with it for the price point, and I say that as a very happy 4 year Pixio owner. It’s not as good as a Pixio, but at this price point + convenience factor, plus the fact that the company is SO agile with updates/improvements, make the shortcomings worth dealing with.

[Texarkana]

Just popping to say that you guys are a fabulous looking pair! “Just a trail rider” pffft!

Also, I’ve been wanting to purchase a Pivo. But since I am not riding much at all lately, I’ve been trying to sit on my hands until I can justify using it regularly. The price point is so good and it would do exactly what I want as someone who rides alone and develops all sorts of bad habits.

[SuzieQNutter]

Oooohhh I bought one. I was hopeful that it was not a scam as it sounds too good to be true. I am waiting for it to arrive. I bought the starter pack and the sports thingies. With postage it was around the $350 mark.

I usually ride in the arena alone.

[Gardenhorse]

I just ordered one a few days ago after reading 900FaceBookPony’s review on her blog. Of course, my horse is lame right now, so I don’t know how much use I’ll get out of it anytime soon. But I figured it will do better at videoing longeing to check on her lameness than I can do when trying to hold the phone, longe line, and whip at the same time.

[BlueDrifter]

@Texarkana

Just popping to say that you guys are a fabulous looking pair! “Just a trail rider” pffft!

Thanks! I usually don’t say “just a trail rider” as it takes some horse and skill to be successful, but in comparison to dressage riders, I am pretty amateur!

[BlueDrifter]

@Gardenhorse

I just ordered one a few days ago after reading 900FaceBookPony’s review on her blog. Of course, my horse is lame right now, so I don’t know how much use I’ll get out of it anytime soon. But I figured it will do better at videoing longeing to check on her lameness than I can do when trying to hold the phone, longe line, and whip at the same time.

It will definitely work for that! Just played with it filming a friend riding and 30m circles at the far end of arena came out fine. Camera at X.

[LetItBe]

I just picked up the silver hoping I can use it to video myself in clinics where it would be one rider and when I’m training and competing my dogs in agility. With AKC offering Rally titles at home I figured it was worth giving it a try for 3 dogs for 3-6 courses vs bothering my husband to come do it.)

LetItBe

[Bristol_Bay]

This looks really interesting! I wonder if it would work with my older iPhone.

[Larbear]

@SuzieQNutter

Oooohhh I bought one. I was hopeful that it was not a scam as it sounds too good to be true. I am waiting for it to arrive. I bought the starter pack and the sports thingies. With postage it was around the $350 mark.

I usually ride in the arena alone.

I’m seriously considering getting the starter pack too since I ride alone. What’s the sports thing? Are you talking about the action mount?

What’s the difference between the action mount and smart mount?

[Mersidoats]

I bought one last week - it’s taking a while to arrive. Being that it ships from China, that is understandable, but it makes me nervous. How long did ya’lls take to show up?

[ABookworm]

@Mersidoats

I bought one last week - it’s taking a while to arrive. Being that it ships from China, that is understandable, but it makes me nervous. How long did ya’lls take to show up?

Mine took 7 days to get to Florida from the time I ordered it and my trainers took 5 days. The friend who turned us onto the Pivo had hers take 10 but she ordered all the accessories so I don’t know if size made a difference. All 3 came via DHL to Florida.

In terms of accessories I have the Smart Mount for the phone which I have yet to use, and the Action Mount for my GoPro which I want to try tonight. The only drawback to the GoPro is that with my phone I was able to auto zoom which actually worked extremely well. For my tripod (you need one to get the horse aligned properly) I just bought a cheap one off Amazon that collapses to 12 inches. As I have to ride a mile to get to my arena I needed something that would collapse small.

For those of you having issues with it locking onto your horse I recommend lining up the horse in the red square before starting your ride. It seemed to hold us better once it recognized my mares shape. Also, my settings are Beta Horse, frenzy, center, auto zoom, abs, and auto exposure.

[Mersidoats]

My second question for everyone - best place to set it up? I figure X marks the spot, but part of me is terrified of knocking it over. I guess this means I’ll have to get honest about my line of travel.

[BlueDrifter]

@Larbear

What’s the difference between the action mount and smart mount?

The smart mount has wider jaws to hold a phone inside a protective case. Some protective cases are too bulky for the PivoPod jaws. My Samsung slim case fits fine, but an Otterbox? No way.

The action mount is like the smart mount but also includes a way to mount your GoPro. So the phone is used for tracking, (and filming), but you would also be getting film on your GoPro.

[BlueDrifter]

@Mersidoats

My second question for everyone - best place to set it up? I figure X marks the spot, but part of me is terrified of knocking it over. I guess this means I’ll have to get honest about my line of travel.

The best place is X, but many have made C work. Placement depends a bit on your environment. The sun causes shadows, so you likely want it behind you, or you accept that it might lose your horse in a dark shadow. Or you might want to place your Pivo in the shadow area. The AI technology really depends on being able to see an oblong shape, and if you go to the Pivo FB Horse page, you will see that most of the hiccups are the Pivo seeing a shape/contrast that looks like your horse and it fixates on that instead of your horse.

There is a bit of trial and error, but I don’t think anyone has much of a problem when they place it at X.