It has been proven that athletes improve fastest when they can see what happened, analyze the truth of their performance, reflect on it, and measure their progress over time. While professional athletes can watch replays of their game or competition, amateurs—especially equestrians—haven’t had the benefit of being able to watch themselves perform … until now. Pivo Equestrian features 360-degree rotation that tracks your horse’s movement as you go around the arena to create dynamic footage of your entire ride.
Whether you are a junior preparing for your first show, or a professional training to compete at the Grand Prix level, all US Equestrian members can benefit from the training tool that has been named the Official Technology Training Partner of USEF, and an official partner and supplier of US Equestrian Teams.
No matter what the level of riding experience, from a nervous beginner to a veteran Olympian, Pivo brings insight, instruction, and perspective to take your ride to new heights. Pivo offers more than just video capture—it is an example of USEF utilizing a technological innovation that makes equestrian sport stronger, more inclusive, and more future-focused.
The Dual-Coach Model: You Are Never Alone
Just as in every other modern sport, technology has become a second coach for equestrian athletes. A rider’s technology coach (their Pivo device) can show them exactly what happened; reveal straightness, rhythm, balance, timing, drift, and alignment; track changes over time; and provide objective feedback that riding alone can’t provide.
Meanwhile, the rider’s human coach (their trainer) can interpret what the data means; prioritize what matters most for the rider and horse; offer insight, timing, emotional support, and discipline expertise; turn analysis into action; and guide the rider through the “why,” not just the “what.”
This is why pairing a technology coach and a human coach is an unbeatable combination, and a recipe for success.
With Pivo, a rider is never alone as they are always being recorded. The technology coach shows them what happened and how they responded, and then their human coach shows them what to do next and how to grow from it.
Communication and visibility have long been obstacles in equestrian development. Riders rely on memory and interpretation, and the coaches rely on verbal cues and descriptions. This can lead to misunderstandings, slow progress, a decline in confidence, and even safety issues. However, Pivo can bridge that gap by offering a way to see the ride like never before, and therefore the ability to understand and grow from it.
Two Athletes, One Sport
Equestrian is the only Olympic sport with two athletes performing as one. We aim to work in perfect harmony with our equine partners to give them the best opportunity for success and to make the experience enjoyable for all. Pivo helps to visually portray the interaction between horse and rider, which allows you to become attuned to your horse and read subtle changes in posture, rhythm, tension and expression, and then adjust accordingly.
Benefits of Filming Your Ride
Pivo autotracks your face, body, and horse using RideSync AI motion tracking to create hands-free video recordings and photos. It automatically follows and frames you and your horse for maximum clarity. Whether it is placed in the center of the arena or along the edge, the technology adapts to your movement so you can stay focused on your ride—not on the camera. Pivo adapts to you as a rider rather than you having to adapt to it, offering complete flexibility to fit in with your riding or lesson plan. With your smartphone secured on the Pivo mount or tripod, you can record your ride handsfree even when riding alone.
How we think we are riding is often very different to how we are actually riding. Even if you have a good feel for your horse and body awareness, you may not be conscious that your right shoulder dips lower than your left, or your circles are not even until you can see the full picture of every ride. This then allows you to identify bad habits, break patterns and make real progress.
Studies show that we learn faster when information is presented both visually and verbally—a concept known as Dual Coding Theory. This approach creates two memory traces, making it easier to understand and recall information. It’s seen in everything from teachers writing on a blackboard while explaining a math problem, to students watching tutorials on YouTube. Watching videos of your rides is a form of active learning, which helps you to retain information for longer, and therefore allows you to act on what you have learned in future rides.
We’ve all had those rides where your trainer has given you life-changing advice that clicked at the time, then by your next ride, you have forgotten exactly what they said. With Pivo, you can record the lesson, download it, and then rewatch it to memorize the valuable instruction you were given.
If used during each training session or lesson, Pivo allows you to track progress by week, month and year to develop true symmetry with your horse.
Simple Setup
We all have plenty of tasks to do at the barn before we can get on to ride, from grooming and tacking up, to setting poles and jumps. A complicated video set up process is the last thing that we need, which is why Pivo offers easy-to-follow guidelines explaining how to place the pod in the optimal position for full coverage.
Once the tripod is placed in the desired position in the arena and set at the correct height for your horse, simply screw in the Pivo Pod to the top of the tripod then open your phone to pair it. Select “horse” in the modes to track, secure your phone to the pod and hit “record,” then walk in front of the camera until it starts tracking your horse. Pivo is the ultimate “set it and forget it” technology—it does the hard work from the ground as you concentrate on the hard work in the saddle.
Remote Training
Pivo has the power to connect riders with independent equestrian coaches who offer remote lessons using the Pivo technology. This marks one of the biggest benefits of Pivo over other video devices as engaged riders with motivated coaches are connected through a shared ecosystem of tools, content, and technology.
You no longer have to be in the same barn, city, state, or even country as your trainer. Now you can receive real-time instruction in a remote lesson that is tracked and recorded—no matter how great the distance between you. Pivo is redefining remote instruction and allowing users to connect with their trainer across the miles.
Pivo’s Trainer Feedback opens up a whole world of opportunities for equestrians of all disciplines and eliminates geographical constraints. Whether you compete in Western Dressage, Saddle Seat Equitation, or Combined Driving, you can work with an expert coach who specializes in your discipline no matter where they are located.
If you usually take in-person lessons, Pivo also allows you to stay connected with your trainer when either of you are on the road. Say goodbye to show season or vacation stress when you and your trainer might be separated for days or weeks at time. Now you can connect remotely and without losing any ground or momentum in your training.
In addition to live remote lessons, Pivo allows you to send your trainer recordings of your solo rides to get detailed feedback. You can also share sessions with your peers, barn mates, or other instructors to benefit from group learning.
Coach’s Toolbox
Pivo has expanded its platform with the addition of tools for coaches that allow real-time annotation, allowing your trainer to draw and comment directly on your video while reviewing it. Therefore, you can see exactly what your trainers sees in order to create a powerful shared learning experience. Such innovation causes a shift from passive video to interactive feedback and represents a major leap in how instruction can be delivered now and in the future.
Riders can send and record videos at any time, eliminating the need to cancel or reschedule lessons especially when weather forces rainchecks. Trainers are also able to add more students to their lesson programs as they have much more flexibility regarding scheduling.
Visual repetition reinforces neural pathways, the more often that pathway is activated, the faster automatic recall becomes. Therefore, when a rider watches their lesson video over and over, they are much more likely to retain the information long-term and make faster progress.
Pivo is currently developing a network of coaches that will be available on the Pivo app, making it easier than ever for riders to connect with suitable trainers for remote lessons. The directory will create a trusted forum where riders can improve their skills, coaches can expand their businesses, and both will be connected in a like-minded community.
Impact on USEF Members
The use of Pivo creates an infrastructure connecting members and trainers of all disciplines, and thus deepening the USEF community. It enables pre-test video evaluations; allows officials and discipline managers to understand training trends; gives amateurs the opportunity to learn with the same principles used in elite programs; and lets trainers expand business opportunities through remote instruction. Perhaps most importantly, it amplifies the joy of seeing real progress.
These are meaningful, practical tools that directly support how USEF educates, develops, and elevates riders across the country.
Growing Equestrian Sport Beyond the Arena
Much of what we do in our daily lives as equestrians is experienced only by us, our horse and our trainer. However, Pivo has opened doors to increase visibility across the board. Now families can watch lessons remotely; barns can broadcast events; programs can highlight student progress; riders can share their journeys; and new fans can discover the sport organically.
Visibility builds connection. Connection builds engagement. Engagement builds fans.
Strong horsemanship and a solid connection with our horse continues to be the paramount goal. Pivo can help strengthen that partnership, encourage growth and progress, and allow all riders reach their full potential.
Elite Partnerships
Pivo is revolutionizing the equestrian world, from young riders in the United States Pony Club, to adult amateur members of the US Equestrian Federation, to international professionals competing in FEI events. As the Pony Club develops virtual competition programs and online educational platforms, Pivo adds a new dimension of training tools and video-powered learning for their youth community.
USEF is committed to furthering the evolution of equestrian sport to aid athlete development and improve horse welfare. Pivo’s affordability, ease of use, and adaptability make it a natural fit for the USEF’s mission to expand access and elevate performance across disciplines, which led to Pivo becoming the Official Technology Training Partner of USEF, and an official partner and supplier of US Equestrian Teams
Even top riders need feedback and instruction to put them ahead of the game, and their constant travel schedules require adaptability and flexibility. With Pivo, FEI riders can communicate with their trainers and support staff no matter where in the world they are. Alternatively, professional equestrian athletes can monitor their other horses’ training back at their home barn, even when competing on the other side of the globe.
Pivo is not limited to English riding disciplines. All of the benefits transition to the western world, which is why Pivo has partnered with the Western Dressage Association of America and Cowboy Dressage World to educate, inform and unite their equestrian communities.
USEF members can now experience the same technology trusted by our national teams and Olympic athletes. Visit pivoequestrian.com/USEF to make Pivo part of your training routine.