I will freely admit that I’m a bit of a technology geek, and when it comes to the combination of horses and nerdy stuff, you can be guaranteed I’ll be there. Therefore, I’m bringing you my very own techno-review of the newest App on the market, HorseHub. HorseHub is the brainchild of Monty from The Talking Horse and Paul Tapner, and it just debuted in the App Store, so let’s have a look!
So what is this app all about? This is what the creators have to say:
“You’ll find training material from some of the world’s most authoritative riders and trainers, so if you’re looking for that little extra help with your BE dressage test, assistance with getting your horse over those ditches, or you’re feeling a bit nervous before entering the arena, you’ll find professional help at your fingertips in the HorseHub iPhone & iPad App. On top of all this you’ll find some fun and entertaining content from some of the best authors from around the horse world, and we’ll continue adding a mixture of video, audio, and text based content.”
Sounds cool, right? So I went ahead and downloaded it (it’s free!) and decided to check it out myself. I found it easy to navigate, and I was quickly able to find content in audio, video and text media. Because it is a new app, there are not so many contributors as there will be in the future, but our favorite Boyd Martin has his own series of videos, including “Managing a Nervous Horse in the Dressage Phase” and “Creating Cross Country Ride -Ability for Novice & Training Level”. Just like having an Olympian in your back pocket!
Of course, co-creator Paul Tapner has a wonderfully full library of both audio and video, called Training with TAPERZ. His titles are “Walking Distances for Jumping with TAPERZ” as well as including a guided tour to each and every dressage test for all the levels.
There is also a series of audio books by Sharon Shinwell, who claims to be able to use hypnotherapy for nervous riders. Her clips are labeled “Jumping with Confidence” and “Dressage with Confidence”, as well as many more. There is an equine scientist named Dr David Marlin who has audio clips about the stresses of travel, advice on how and when to cool horses, and science through supplements.
While the app itself is free, the videos and audio clips do cost money to download, much the same as anything from your iTunes store. They vary in price, according to length and media type. For example, all of Paul Tapner’s guided dressage tests are $1.99, while a full video lesson about cross country from Boyd is $4.99. I would gladly pay five bucks for a full lesson with Boyd, talk about a steal!
Overall, I think in this day and age of completely ridiculous technology, it’s best to embrace the opportunities that this presents. For those of us who can’t go up and have a lesson with Boyd, or don’t have time on a weekly basis to work out problems with our horses, the convenience of a video tutorial about your precise problem is wonderful. I am of the school of thought that learning is possible from wherever, whenever, and I fully intend to take advantage of this app.
I’ve already posted this video this summer, but I find it hilarious, and completely pertinent. I give you, Training With TAPERZ – The Outtakes
