For those of you who are still able to ride, have any of your coaches implemented online, live streaming lessons?
If so, what technology did you use?
Would like to start doing this (both with my trainer and students), but can’t find much info online. Needs to be able to be done fairly low-tech - mobile phone, earphones and an internet connection - if possible.
Experiences? Thank you!!
We’re not allowed to ride now, but when my trainer was in Florida this season, we used the Pixem system. It worked really well but there were some glitches. First, make sure you have all the technology working and your account set up before your scheduled lesson (I had a problem with my credit card payment and while I thought I had an account, I didn’t and they are in Europe so hard to get customer service during a late afternoon ET lesson). The second is that both parties must have descent wifi or else it freezes. Third, it seems to work better with Apple products (ipad) than an Android phone - it focused better with the ipad than with my Android phone; or it could just be tablet vs phone.
It would be very easy to do virtual lessons. 3 people. 1 to video the rider. The world has become Zommers; using Zoom.com; It is generally the easiest to use.
other video conferencing: facebook messenger video chat.
Google hangout, Webex, GotoMeetint, Be.live, Bluejean
virtual live clinics could be set up the same way. you could register, schedule private rides, audit for $ or for free. Set up as a webinar or meetings depending on the size of the classes.
non horsey example are "virtual summits " or “virtual events”
Another example, yoga classes and the like are going virtual.
If some one had a Solo shot or something similar, then there would not be a need for a person to video.
Rider wears bluetooth earbuds.
another person uses the phone or device connected to the earbuds to video
trainer gives feedback, teaches lesson from their connection.
Then if they want to save their video, it could be repurposed for review later and or allow others to watch and learn like DressageTrainingOnline. Super easy to do.
free, no cost to use for smaller number of people. Zoom is limited also by 30 minutes per meeting.
zoom webinar, Bluejean, Be.live also do livestreaming to Facebook live and YouTube live. Then you have 1 to one in in the video conferencing app to many via live streaming. Just live stream to a private fb group if you don’t the world to see.
you all can do this! 🙂
Low tech option
I use Facebook messenger. The rider props the phone up on something around C or A where most of the arena is in view. Wears Bluetooth headphones. I complain about their transitions and lack of preparation etc into my phone from my kitchen table.
Downsides are there is a little lag time, need good cell service or wifi and sometimes the rider gets out of Bluetooth range.
But it’s pretty darn easy. And not expensive.
Use the live lesson program through pixem. You can use the actual pixem robot along with the app on your phone or just the app and have someone hold the phone and follow the rider. The livelesson Saturn has zero lag time. Connect a ceecoach to the phone and the rider wears the other ceecoach.
the coach logs into the livelesson system and can teach from computer or iPad. The rider must pay for the livelesson subscription. It’s the best program I’ve used because there is zero delay.
While I imagine teaching riding would add some logistical hurdles, Zoom works nicely for yoga classes. The yoga studio I teach the bulk of my classes at went over to Zoom as soon as we were forced to close the brick and mortar building. I LOVE it. You can record to the cloud if you have the Pro version, too. Doesn’t seem to be any lag time.
Just don’t forget that people can see you if your video is turned on and carry your device into the bathroom with you like that poor woman on TMZ the other day!
Thanks guys, that gives me a lot of ideas to explore and try out! I’ll start with the cheapest first (I love the mental image of Goforward chopping veggies while glancing up at video of student and yelling “you call that a transition!?” :lol:) and work my way up if needed!
Thanks again!
We just used regular cell phone (not Ceecoach) for talking to each other. The benefit of the Pixem is that it has auto zoom. Just using a phone and FB llive or Instagram TV for example, is that there is no zoom.
Our barn has not gone to video or stopped the trainers from coming out. We have a resident trainer and a dressage trainer who comes in weekly when she doesn’t have shows. We DO require social distancing and the BOs wipe the door handles and light switches daily. They leave out bleach water and rags for people to wipe their keys, phones and things they want, and mandate everyone who comes in wash their hands immediately. Our barn isn’t large at all, but enforcing such measures help make people safe. I bring my own box of kimwipes and 70% EtOH to spray door handles down.
My barn is still teaching as well, although it is really small and I rarely ever cross paths with another student. It’s usually just me and my trainer and we never get within ten feet of each other. Just a side note, I love how you bring kimwipes haha I have never seen anyone use those outside the lab.
We are allowed to trailer to our coaches, and people at my yard are still riding, although anyone not either the owner or agisters or farriers/vets can’t come onto the property.
One thing that’s worked really well to avoid overlap of more than 2 or 3 owners arriving at once is using Google Calendar. One girl set us all up on a shared one so we can see who’s going up and when.
I’m hamstrung by the recent ‘death’ of my little camcorder. It did have a hard life, it did a rubbish job though over eight years of lesson and show filming, because it didn’t have a wide enough lens to cover the 60x20 all that well. But it was better than nothing. Would upload important sessions to Youtube.
With the need to film lessons, and also to adapt my art history and house museum tour business to online, I bought a smart clamp to attached my android phone to my tripod, and I’ve ordered a blue tooth shutter release. Sadly I shattered the clamp as I went out the door to the car yesterday. Banged it on the doorframe. doofus. At least they’re under $20 on eBay.
Anyway, this has been great for getting ideas for virtual coaching. cheers! doctor [clumsy] darling.
@Equestrian1992 Hahahaha! old habits die hard!
I have a Soloshot but I don’t think it can project things “live”. Am I wrong? I’d like to to remote lessons with a specific trainer but the wifi at the barn is questionable at the arena. I did a zoom meeting at the barn the other day and it tended to freeze up when I sat at the arena (the county wifi is pretty much a joke…CenturyLink… Arrrggghhhh!)
What are your suggestions, including hardware, for a successful remote riding lesson?
I just got a soloshot 3, and it can livestream though I haven’t tried it yet (and I don’t think it would work for me because I don’t think we get wifi at our arena either.) I think it livestreams to the soloshot app and site for now - they say they are adding a feature to livestream to facebook “coming soon” … lol don’t hold your breath based on everyone still waiting for the indoor adaptor!
I had a “virtual lesson” with an area YH and GP trainer that I really love today. We “Zoomed” from our living rooms and discussed stuff I previously posted about. She said she is doing virtual lessons with some of her regular clients by having someone film them even with a cell phone (I wonder if Facebook Live or Zoom) and she calls the person, who wears earbuds, and comments in real time. She’s doing a bunch of more interactive facebook things and Zoom things with her clients because, well, that’s where we are.
I haven’t tried that, either (I also have a Soloshot 3). I took a Zoom meeting with my lab at the barn and it was fine for a while, then froze in parts, even as I ran under the router. There is one internet provider in the area of my barn and they have terrible service (and don’t care). The barn even has two internet lines and I was the only one using that one line! Alas and alack…
Thanks for the info!
PS, the dressage trainer no longer comes out, and the Western trainer can have training horses but not trailer-in lessons. Damn!
Heeelp meeee!!!
OK, What would I need to do this? What bluetooth earbuds do you recommend? Yea, I’m only tech-savvy in certain areas…how would I connect the bluetooth earbuds with my phone? Galaxy S7 android. Admittedly, I’ve never used bluetooth. I hear your gasp from here!!! I know, I know…
My University has a professional membership to Zoom, so I go through that.
Just an update!
I’ve had 2 online lessons with my coach so far, just by doing a video call on Facebook messenger. I have been lucky enough to have someone film me on my phone, and I have good quality Bluetooth headphones to hear and speak to my coach.
It works just fine!! I use the 4G connection, I topped up my data to make sure I had enough. I can check how much data each lesson used if anyone is interested.
Also, my coach suggested I wear white gloves so she can see my hands better, and that worked.
Re Soloshots, I know someone with one, and I think you can stream from them, definitely from the 3. I’m considering getting one, now that I know the basic concept works!
I wnder if this would work for yoga. Can you explain how smart coach works?
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
