iPhone Horses Around: iPhone Apps for Horse People
31. May, 2009 
5 Comments
In a post on her blog today, Linda Tellington-Jones alerted me to a really interesting iPhone and iPod Touch application for riders.
EquiApps.com makes three applications for both iPhone and iPod Touch that might be useful to the average equestrian. But the one I find to be most potentially interesting is EquiTempo.
From the site:
Riders interested in dressage training help their horses maintain a consistent tempo through riding aids and body language. Riding with a metronome that matches the tempo you want to maintain can help you develop a consistent and rhythmic tempo. This metronome utility allows an instructor or peer to mark time for riders by giving a regular tick sound at a pre-determined rate. Plug your iPod into an arena sound system and have a friend or instructor change the tempo as you change your gaits.
The main view shows average beats-per-minute (bpm) for each gait. Change the gait by touching the walk, trot, and canter buttons at the bottom of the main screen. Touch the add (+) and subtract (-) buttons to fine tune the appropriate bpm for your horse. This app will automatically save the changes you make. Should you wish to reset the default bpm settings, select the RESET button on the INFO screen.
Cool, huh?
Several blogger friends have written recently about settling into work on transitions and breathing. I wonder if this nifty application would help. I don’t do dressage myself (couldn’t ride a 20-meter circle if my life depended on it–they come out more like trapezoids), but transitions and circles and all that sort of stuff can all benefit from having a pace to match. In Linda’s post, I read that horses will match the pace of the ticks if they can hear them. What a wonderful way to increase communication between horse and rider. This way, both are listening and working to match the same thing, working toward a common goal.
EquiApps has two additional applications.
EquiCalc, for weighing the horse, and EquiList for those all-important lists of things we have to remember when setting out for a show or a foxhunt. If only the thing would prod me when I forget an extra hairnet!
For more information, visit the iTunes Store on your computer or your iPhone or iPod Touch or go to EquiApps.com.
© 2009 enlightened horsemanship through touch
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blogposts
Just a quick update. EquiApps.com has just launched the first two in a series of apps for learning FEI dressage tests. Ideal for riders, trainers or even spectators. Study dressage tests with a more visual and auditory learning approach. FEI dressage, eventing and para-equestrian tests will be covered.
Tanya
Thanks for the update. This is a boon for riders of all levels.
Also check out Equestrius. A comprehensive Horse health tracking and management tool for your iPhone.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/equestrius/id364909340?mt=8
Disclaimer: I am the author, so pardon the spam. I still think its a pretty neat app, if I may say so
Bob
That is a great app!