AMA: I Ride Alone. Is A SmartWatch With Fall Detection Worth it?

I ride alone most of the time and am considering a smartwatch with fall detection. Most are pretty expensive. Is it worth it? 

There are several options out there, from apps to wearable tech, that will track your location and can even detect a fall in an emergency situation, that are applicable to horseback riders. Probably the most common is the Apple Watch, which is a touchscreen smartwatch that will sync with your other Apple products (iPhone, iMac, iPad, etc). Newer versions of the Apple Watch have fall detection capabilities, which means if it detects a fall, it can be programmed to ping specific people or call for emergency help. If you ride alone quite a bit, this is something to consider seriously.

Users can also answer phone calls, send texts, check notifications and track fitness goals from the Apple Watch. It has flashlight capability. Riders can set alarms (say while you’re in the warm-up at a show to remind you of your test time) and track gallop sets with the timer. An Apple Watch also measures your heart rate and has an “Equestrian” sport designation in the health/fitness tracking app. Riders can share their location with others, too.

But the Apple Watch isn’t the only option out there. Equilab is a smartphone app compatible with iPhone and Android that allows users to track their training rides and can share location. It requires an annual subscription. It was designed specifically for equestrians and that certainly shows in the tailored features. There’s also a Fall Safety app users can download. There are several GPS-based products riders can try too, from Garmin smartwatches to the Gaia map app. 

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