From shows to portraits, the right horse riding camera can make or break your shot.
Few things go together better than horses and cameras (except maybe chocolate and peanut butter). Equestrians love taking pictures of majestic steeds, filming and rewatching rides, and keeping watch for that new foal that’s due any day now.
You don’t want to miss any magic moments, and that means choosing the best horse camera for the job.
Best Horse Camera Comparison Table
| Camera | Category | Key Features |
| Move N See Pixio Robotic Cameraman | Best action camera for horse riding (motion tracking) |
|
| Canon Power Shot G7 X Mark II
| Best camera for equestrian vlogging |
|
| Cambox | Best horse riding helmet camera |
|
| Panasonic HC-V770K | Best video camera for horse shows |
|
| Tadibrothers Horse Trailer Monitor | Best horse trailer camera |
|
| Nest Cam | Best barn/foaling camera |
|
| DJI Mavic Pro | Best drone for horse riding |
|
| Canon 7D Mark II | Best horse photography camera |
|
In addition to our top picks for each category, we also include several honorable mentions. That means you have great options for every job — and every budget.
Best Action Camera for Horse Riding
Move N See Pixio (Motion Tracking)
We’ve all been there: you want to see videos of your rides, but you don’t always have someone available to stand there for an hour filming you.
Thanks to motion tracking cameras, you can ride alone and get an amazing video of your adventures.
Click to see it on Pixio
The most popular motion-tracking camera for equestrians is the Move N See Pixio. It can both be used indoors AND outdoors, has a range of 330 feet (100 meters), has an automatic zoom, and can live stream.
Note: You need to buy a camera separately, or buy one of the bundles that includes a third-party camera. Also, keep in mind that the warranty does NOT cover damage if the robot gets knocked over or dropped!
Read more about Pixio in our article 5 Soloshot Alternatives to Record Your Ride (Inside & Out).
Pros
- Motion tracking robot works with multiple cameras
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
- Can track up to 300 feet
- Excellent tracking capabilities
Cons
- You need to attach your own camera
- Can be tricky to set up initially
- The subject may get close to the screen edges at times
Pixem
Prefer to your use smartphone or tablet instead of a camera? Now, you can with Pixem!
- Attaches to your existing smartphones or tablet
- Films up to 24 hours
- Includes 3 tracking beacons
Click to learn more about Pixem
See Our Top Pick on PixioHonorable Mentions
SoloShot
Yes, there have been issues with customer service and product innovation delays, Soloshot was the first on the scene.
The biggest problem is that it does NOT work indoors. (Read our article about 5 Soloshot alternatives.)
It uses GPS to track the rider, which doesn’t work well (or at all) inside buildings. Still, outdoor video is very nice, and the tracking is pretty smooth.
Swivl
Swivl was designed for K-12 teachers, corporate training, and presentations.
It only has a range of 0.5 to 10 meters (1.64-32.81 feet), so you’ll need multiple “markers” to widen your tracking area. It works well indoors, but outdoor recording isn’t what it’s really made for.
Read more about Swivl in our 5 Soloshot Alternatives for Recording Your Ride (Inside & Out).
Mevo
You can livestream! Mevo produces really nice video, good sound, can attach to a tripod, and it’s TINY. It does track movement automatically if you want and can find human faces.
You can also set it free to edit the video for you by choosing the most interesting” shots.
With accessories, it can work outdoors safely. (It just needs a little protection from the elements.)
The problem that it works best when it’s five feet away from the subject. It was designed to be closer to a subject than normal cameras, which is great for filming an interview, but not so great to record your
Read more about Mevo in our 5 Soloshot Alternatives for Recording Your Ride (Inside & Out).
Best Camera for Equestrian Vlogging
Canon Power Shot G7 X Mark II
Click to see it on Amazon
If you’re an active vlogger who films at horse shows, lessons, or around your property, this small-yet-mighty camera is the perfect choice.
You can flip the screen around to watch yourself, frame shots, and check focus. Plus, it also takes beautiful still pictures so you can create high-quality photos for social media and YouTube thumbnails.
Pros
- Takes high-quality still pictures and HD videos
- Flip screen makes framing and focusing easy
- Portable and lightweight
Cons
- No external mic port
- Autofocus can lag a little bit
Click to Read Customer Reviews
Honorable Mentions
GoPro HERO7
The GoPro HERO7 is a useful little camera for vloggers who are just starting out. It takes amazing 4K video and has a neat feature called “HyperSmooth” that provides great stabilization.
You can even livestream your video!
This GoPro is small and waterproof. Plus, you can hold it by hand or mount it to your helmet or chest with attachments.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330
If you’re on a tight budget, try the Canon PowerShot ELPH 330.
It captures HD video, has wifi for uploading your videos, zooms, and has image stabilization.
Nikon COOLPIX A900
The Nikon COOLPIX A900 is a great, inexpensive camera that is perfect for photos and vlogging.
It takes brilliant 4K videos, even in lower light situations, and has image stabilization.
Cons? There are some reported issues with stabilization when zoomed, and autofocus can be a bit off.
Sony AX33 4K
Looking for a more traditional camcorder? Try the Sony AX33 4K.
This camera takes amazing 4K video, has epic stabilization for high-movement filming, features night vision, and has wifi.
The cons? It’s a bit heavy and expensive.
Best Horse Riding Helmet Camera
Cambox
Cambox is a helmet camera that was designed specifically with the horse rider in mind. It fits under your visor, so you don’t need to worry about strapping a big device to your head.
In fact, it’s super lightweight and so discreet that other people won’t even notice you have a helmet camera!
Pros
- It can be adjusted to fit to pretty much any visor shape (attaches with Velcro)
- Can record up to 80 minutes of HD video
- Discreet and lightweight
- Wirelessly transmits to your smartphone
- Easily change the angle or view or your ride
- Comes in many different colors
Cons
- Doesn’t have image stabilization
- Doesn’t do 4K video
Click to Read Customer Reviews
Honorable Mentions
GoPro HERO7 Black
GoPro brought the first action cameras to life for equestrians, and they are staying competitive. If you want super smooth stabilized video, live-streaming, voice controls, and extreme ruggedness, you may enjoy the GoPro HERO7.
Lots of other helmet cams can give you motion sickness when you try to view footage later, but the new GoPro is as smooth as silk. And if that isn’t enough, the 4K video is beautifully crisp and clear.
Note: You will need additional accessories, like a helmet or chest mount, to use it for riding. Extreme cold weather can also significantly affect the battery life.
Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000
You can’t talk about action cameras without talking about Sony. The Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000 takes great 4K video, has fantastic stabilization, and you can get a bundle full of all sorts of accessories – like helmet and chest mounts!
Note: Live-streaming is a bit more difficult than some of the other cameras on the market.
Yi 4K+ Action Camera
This camera is a bit cheaper than the GoPro, but still does beautiful 4K video, has voice commands, and stabilizes the video for you. Like the GoPro, you’ll need accessories to mount the Yi 4K+ Action Camera for riding.
Note: The audio isn’t the best, it requires a USB port to connect to your computer, and the camera struggles in cold weather.
SJCAM SJ8 Pro
This action camera is one of a series that SJCAM has been making. Like the other newer action cameras on the market it has stabilized 4K video.
There is a lot of value to this camera, because it includes all sorts of accessories so that you can mount it to your helmet. The battery lasts ~2 hours and it supports huge memory cards, so you can record a lot of video.
Note: If you want good audio, you need to buy a special proprietary external mic.
Best Video Camera for Horse Shows
Panasonic HC-V770K
Click to see it on Amazon
While there are some amazing DSLRs available, there is a steeper learning curve to be able to use them well.
If you want a simpler handheld camcorder with zoom and decent video, you can’t go wrong with the Panasonic HC-V770K.
Pros
- 20x optical zoom
- 1080p HD video (including slow-motion videos)
- Stabilizes your video
- Live stream video via USTREAM
- Smartphone app control
- Automatically levels the video when you tilt the camera
- Shield blocks the wind to help you record the best sound
Cons
- Some issues with breaking down over time
- Some issues with a noisy picture in less-than-ideal lighting
Honorable Mentions
Nikon D3300
Looking for something with more pizazz for filming horse shows? Try the Nikon D3300. This
camera is SUPER popular for a good reason.
It’s surprisingly affordable, shoots HD video, and it adapts well to indoor OR outdoor events. It is a DSLR camera, so it also takes amazing pictures. Win-win!
Note: If you’re trying to follow the action and not just mount a camera on a tripod to film, it’ll get a bit tricky. It’s doable, but there are other cameras on the market that are better for motion tracking. See this section of our camera guide.
Canon VIXIA HF R700
It isn’t a bulky, 1980s-1990s camcorder that your parents had. It’s comparatively cheap, great for zooming and following the action, shoots HD video, and is nice and compact so you don’t need to start lifting weights to carry it around.
Oh, and it has some image stabilization built in, which is a must-have for handheld cameras.
Note: It’s not a DSLR camera. Most people gravitate toward DSLRs these days due to the superior image quality, but if that’s not a deal breaker you’ll love this one.
Sony NEX-VG30H
Okay, let’s say you want to take some GREAT videos at horse shows, but you’re not quite in the market to spend a fortune on a video camera? The Sony NEX-VG30H is a great option.
This is absolutely fantastic for tracking horses that are moving quickly (e.g.
Note: The microphone captures a lot of ambient sound, and you can only fit one SD card in it.
Best Horse Trailer Camera
Tadibrothers Horse Trailer Monitor
Having a second set of eyes is great, but sometimes you’re alone or you can’t interpret your helper’s arm flailing.
Click to see it on Amazon
Check out You CAN Do This: Trailering a Horse for the First Time if you’re new to hauling horses.
Additionally, imagine how much peace of mind you’d have being able to see what’s going on inside your trailer during a long (or short) trip. Is everyone happily munching hay? Do you need to pull over?
We’ve got you covered with the Tadibrothers Horse Trailer Monitor.
The LCD screen can show you one camera, or you can split the screen and view both. Tadibrothers also makes systems that support more than two cameras on screen.
The cameras can connect to reverse lights or any other standard trailer power source. The monitor can connect to a cigarette lighter or any other standard 12V power source.
Pros
- Easy to install – you can use bolts or magnets
- Wide angle makes backing and hooking up a breeze
- Weatherproof, has a sun visor, and can withstand typical rock impact
- Automatic night vision
- “Wireless” in the sense that you don’t need to run a wire from the monitor screen to the camera, but both the screen and camera do need to be wired into a power source
- Signal connects via wifi and has a range of 70 feet
Cons
- The picture can be a bit grainy
- Camera signal can be spotty at times
Honorable Mentions
Swifthitch SH04 Wireless Camera
The Swifthitch SH04 is a great option for trailer owners. It doesn’t require internet access or a data plan, but it links to your smartphone or tablet so that you can watch the live video. You can watch your trailer hitch OR set it up inside your horse trailer so that you can keep an eye on equine shenanigans.
The camera is solidly made and has good video and even has night vision. The camera angle is 65, which might not be a wide enough angle if you’re using it as a backup camera.
Another neat thing: NO WIRES. It uses wifi! Don’t have wifi? No worries, because it generates its own signal.
Rear View Safety Backup Camera System
Don’t want to use your smartphone? The Rear View system comes with a camera and 7” monitor. It can handle up to 3 cameras (the other two sold separately), is waterproof, has distance gridlines to help you back up, has a wide 130 viewing angle, and includes lots of other fun features.
The only catch: you need to hard wire the camera(s) and monitor together. It comes with 66 feet of cable, but if you want to wire it to the back of a trailer you’ll need to find someone who installs after-market radios. The silver lining is that you don’t have to worry about the wifi signal going out.
You get superior image quality, but installation is intensive. People use this camera to both back up a trailer and monitor the horses inside the trailer.
Trailer Eyes TE-0115 Digital Trailer Monitor
Trailer Eyes makes yet another great option for trailering. The TE-0115 system includes a 7” screen, a camera with night vision, and two wireless transmitters. It plugs in to your standard automotive 12V power supply, so you don’t need to mess with dying batteries.
Speaking of dying battteries – the camera can work off of a 9V battery, but it only lasts about 30-40 minutes. Sure you can convert it to run off another battery source, but that’s an extra step you probably don’t want to deal with. Just run off your truck’s power and you won’t have any problems.
It has a range of up to 450 feet, which makes it useful for more than just your trailer. In fact, you can plug it in with the 110V AC adapter and use it for your barn. The camera can also transmit sound to the monitor, but you can’t send sound from the monitor to the camera.
If you chose to record you can either start it manually, set a time, OR have it record when it senses motion.
ZEROXCLUB Digital Wireless Backup Camera
The ZEROXCLUB Digital Wireless Backup Camera is super easy to install and also comes with a camera and monitor screen. Like most other vehicle cameras it uses the built in power sources to run. The video is crystal clear and works great even at night.
The wireless signal works well beyond 75 feet, so you don’t need to worry if you have a long trailer and truck. They make multi-camera systems so that you can watch the horses AND the trailer’s exterior at the same time.
Best Horse Barn/Foaling Camera
Nest Camera
Horse owners love knowing what’s going on in the barn, especially at night. This is even more so the case when you’re expecting a foal to drop at any moment!
The good news: a favorite smart thermostat company also has home security cameras that can work for your barn, too.
Click to see it on Amazon
You can listen through the cameras and even talk between devices. It’s great for yelling at your kids (Joking, but not really…) or scaring off intruders.
They have multiple options for indoors and outdoors and they all have night vision. The video quality is great and it can even tell if you’re at home or away and alerts can be adjusted accordingly.
If you’re waiting on a mare to foal, you can actually share a link to the camera. That way your friends and followers can help you keep an eye on the activity.
Here’s what it looked like as I watched for my friend’s new foal!
Pros
- Both indoor and outdoor cameras available
- Night vision
- HD video
- Record 24/7 and store that data on the cloud
- View your feed on your smartphone or tablet
- Create clips to share with friends and family
Cons
- Have to pay for storing video on the cloud
- Needs to be connected to power and have adequate internet access
Click to Read Customer Reviews
Honorable Mentions
REOlink
REOlink makes a great selection of security cameras for your home, business, and even barn. They have a few different options, depending on what sort of utilities you have.
If you have ethernet at your barn, they have PoE (Power over Ethernet) cameras. You don’t need to run extra power cables or adapters. They have fantastic 4K video along with audio and night vision.
You can set it up to send push notifications to your smart phone if it senses motion. They are waterproof, can handle all sorts of weather, and work indoors and outdoors. You will need to buy a REOlink 4K PoE surveillance system for the cameras to work.
Another really great option for horse people are their rechargeable battery powered or solar-powered cameras. If you don’t have any wires running out to your barn you can still keep an eye on everything. You don’t need ethernet OR electricity. It doesn’t do 4K video, but it still gives you great HD. Other features include night vision, live-streaming, push notifications, and low battery warnings!
Finally, REOlink also makes wifi security cameras. If you have power, but limited ethernet you might want to take a look at these! They’re weatherproof, so again you can use these indoors or out. They have the option of an SD card for onsite recording, or you can use it with the Reolink NVR for around-the-clock recording.
StallWatch
If you want something that’s designed just for horses you can’t go wrong with the original StallWatch system. This system is entirely portable, so you can take it to horse shows or use it at the barn. Monitor foaling or horses with injuries by watching the video feed on your smartphone or tablet.
The catch is you pay per month, either via an annual plan or a month-to-month plan. This does not include the cost of a data plan either.
What you DO get are the cameras, wireless router, carrying case, 24/7 streamed video, 15 days of stored video, the Apple or Android apps, and 24/7 tech support.
Riverwind
Riverwind Surveillance Supply makes cameras that are oriented toward the horse owner. They have two different setups, but neither need internet at the barn.
The cameras are all wired to a control unit, which needs to be plugged in to power. This unit can then transmit the data to a receiver and then you can view the video on your TV.
This is a bit more complex than some of the newer systems that have popped up on the market, but seems to be better for more remote, rural areas.
Saddlebrook
Another option for horse people is the Saddlebrook BarnCam. They offer both wireless and wired camera systems that can be transmitted to your TV as well as a webcam version.
Again, there’s more set up involved in these cameras, but there are more options for those with internet access.
Click to see it on Saddlebrook
Best Drone for Horse Riding
DJI Mavic Pro
Thinking of filming your rides with a drone? Want to see aerial videos of you and your horse galloping across fields of grain or down a beach at sunset?
Click to see it on Amazon
Note: Drones can be scary to horses. Be sure to desensitize your horse to these devices slowly.
Pros
- Amazing 4K video
- Fantastic auto-tracking
- Easy to fly from your smartphone
Cons
- Drone fly times are really short (~20 minutes) between charges
- Noise and movement may spook horses (true for all drones)
Precautions
There are a couple of things to consider before taking the leap into drones.
- Drones can be scary to horses. They make a lot of a very weird noise (think of a can of angry hornets), produce copious amounts of wind, and hover around like a tiny, malicious UFOs!
- If you have a sensitive horse, they might never accept a drone’s presence.
- Your super chill, bomb-proof horse will likely still need to be desensitized.
- Never film around other horses (e.g. trails) that may not be comfortable with drones. You don’t want to spook anyone else’s horse!
- You need to register your drone with the FAA and pay close attention to the rules in your area.
- Do your homework and look up the local drone laws where you’re planning on flying.
Click to Read Customer Reviews
Honorable Mentions
GoPro Karma
Have a GoPro? Want a drone? Try the GoPro Karma. It’s excellent for starters and has an easy to use gamepad-like controller for simple flying.
You can buy the drone, or the full package that includes the GoPro camera and stabilizer stick.
Note: It’s heavy and doesn’t have sensors to avoid crashing into things.
HEXO+
When you think of a drone, you may think of a completely autonomous flying device. That’s pretty much what the HEXO+ is. It flies itself. It takes off alone, flies around, and films you riding all by itself, and then lands.
Note: You have to buy a GoPro camera separately, and you need a compatible smart phone.
DJI Spark
The DJI Spark is a little mini-drone. It’s cheap, easy to fly, has sensors to avoid collisions, includes built-in camera with stabilization, understands certain hand gestures, and recognizes your face.
It does use a controller, but also has different autopilot settings and can even follow a target.
Note: It can be tricky flying with your smart phone. If you want a controller those are sold separately.
Airdog ADII
If you’re doing more extreme riding and want a drone to follow you around, it might be time to get yourself the Airdog ADII. This drone was built with sports in mind.
It’s durable, waterproof, and has epic tracking even in intense terrain. People that use it (successfully) are usually thrilled with the results. You will need to buy a camera, but luckily it’s set up to work the best with a GoPro.
Note: People have complained about defective batteries and sub-par customer service.
Best Horse Photography Camera
Canon 7D Mark II
Click to see it at amazon
This camera was made with sports and wildlife photography in mind, which is a good way of thinking of horse shows.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Can take up to 10 photos a second
- Slots for both SD and CF cards
- Great image quality
Cons
- Minor issues with GPS and wifi
Honorable Mentions
Nikon D500
You can’t go wrong with the Nikon D500 for horse photography. This camera is fast, Fast, FAST. It’s also super quiet. No more spooking those sensitive ponies as they trot around the ring.
Also handles high ISO well in low-light situations like indoor arenas.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
If you’re looking for a full-frame camera, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is show-stopper (though not literally, thank goodness). It has super-fast autofocus, lots of focus points to work with, can record RAW images, has a quieter shutter than its predecessors (great for those spooky horses), and has super sharp images (ultimately depending on the lens you choose.)
Like the 7D Mark II, it has slots for both SD and CF cards.
Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera
Nikon also has a really great full frame camera for you to take to your next horse show. It has been described as “almost perfect” and, judging by the photos it produces, it is. Autofocus is lightning fast, and the images are oh-so beautiful and crisp. Across the board everyone agrees: absolutely breathtaking photos.
Nikon D3500
The Nikon D3500 is as easy to use as a point and shoot, but with much more photography power. It’s compact, easy to use, and takes great pictures.
Note: It has limited extra features, but you should expect that with a cheaper DSLR.
Canon EOS Rebel T6
Love Canon? The EOS Rebel T6 a budget Canon camera for you. It takes nice pictures (for the price) and has enough features to make it worth it.
Like the Nikon D3500, you won’t be doing any professional photography gigs, but it’s a great way to get your feet wet and start learning how to use a DSLR.
Get pro tips about how to bring your horse photography skills into focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the best GoPro for horse riding?
The GoPro HERO7 takes stellar 4K video and includes a handy feature called “HyperSmooth” for superior stabilization.
And you can livestream your video! Now your friends can watch your jumping show in action.
This camera is small and waterproof, plus it can be handheld or mounted to your helmet or chest with accessories.
Q: What’s the best body camera for horse riding?
Give the GoPro HERO7 a try. It produces crisp 4K video, offers “HyperSmooth” image stabilization, and allows equestrians to livestream their rides.
In addition, the GoPro is small, waterproof, and able to be handheld or mounted to your helmet or chest using accessories.
Q: What’s the best camera for inside a horse trailer?
You can’t go wrong with the Tadibrothers Horse Trailer Monitor. It’s simple to install, is weatherproof, and includes automatic night vision.
The LCD screen shows one camera or split-screen between two. Plus, it connects to your reverse lights!
Q: What’s the best horse riding helmet camera mount?
Cambox is definitely the easiest camera to mount on your helmet. With simple velcro strips, you’ll be up and running within seconds.
Plus, it fits under your visor, so you don’t need to worry about strapping a big device to your head.
Q: What’s the best overall video camera for horse riding?
The Move N See Pixio is the leading motion tracking camera for horse riders, and it can film indoors AND outdoors
The range is 330 feet (100 meters), it has an automatic zoom, and you can even live stream.
Learn why many riders prefer Pixio over Soloshot.
P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:
- 5 Soloshot Alternatives to Record Your Ride (Inside & Out)
- Horse Photography (Pro Tips, Settings, Editing, Examples)
- 5 Best Helmet Mounted Cameras to Record Your Ride
- Peace of Mind Horse Trailering (Tadi Brothers Camera Review)
- How to Film Yourself Riding a Horse (A Helpful Guide)
- Safety-Savvy Horse Stable Smoke Detectors
- 7 Simple Tips For Taking Better Photos of Horses in Action
- Soloshot vs. Pixio: Which Best Records Your Ride?
- 7 Tips to Prepare Your Horse for a Perfect Photo Shoot
- Packed to Perfection: The Ultimate Horse Show Packing List
- 18 Gifts for Horse Owners Who Seems to Have Everything
