Top apps for horse lovers
Whether you want to check the weather, contact a friend or order a takeaway pizza, the chances are, you are likely to reach for your trusty smartphone and call up the appropriate app. The phrase “there’s an app for everything” is easily said, but when you think about it, it’s absolutely true. From morning till night, we use phone apps without really thinking about it.
So what about those of us whose lives revolve around horses? Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of apps for us too. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and useful.
Racing apps
The area of equestrianism that has seen the biggest technological impact is probably the world of racing. Even if you are more of a happy hacker, or you interests lie in eventing, nobody can resist getting drawn into big racing events like the Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot. The online betting age has led to the release of hundreds of betting apps, which is why the Gambling App Store is such a handy resource, setting out all the free horse racing apps that are available, and running through the pros and cons of each.
Hacking apps
We all love going out for a hack, and at the same time we know that those left at home can get a little bit nervy while we’re out. Hacking apps are a great innovation to make hacks safer and stop people worrying. There are plenty out there that offer different types of functionality, but Horse Rider SOS is particularly worth a mention. Start the app when you set off and leave it to quietly do its thing. If all goes well, nothing will happen, but if the app detects that you have fallen, it will summon help and send details of your exact location.
Training apps
This is the information age, and there is more information and tips about all aspects of equestrianism available online than you might have realised. Horsehub is a very handy resource that gathers a range of training videos, with a particular focus on dressage and eventing. For more general training needs, for example bringing a horse back to fitness after injury, the horsing app is one to watch out for – it is still in development at the moment, but trial versions should be available soon.
Games
It’s not all work, work, work. After hours in the stable, you might want to simply relax on the sofa and tune out for the rest of the day with a game. There are plenty of equine mobile games out there to choose from, so have a look through the different options in the app store. One you might want to look out for is Star Stable Horses. An established success on desktop, the mobile app is just as immersive, as you take care of your foal and gradually train him or her up into a world champion. It’s all good fun, and quite addictive. Before you know it, it will be time to get back out there and look after the real one again!
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.