We live in times where our lives are infused with technology and we rely on data on day to day basis.

Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian or just a casual horse enthusiast, there’s nothing quite like the bond between rider and horse. 

But guess what? Technology has saddled up and joined the party. Now even though horseback riding is all about going primal, absorbing nature, and enjoying the ride, it doesn’t hurt to include some technology. 

In this article, we’re going to canter through the best fitness wearables tailor-made for horse riders. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to add a dose of high-tech wizardry to your equestrian adventures, you’re in for a treat.

Are Fitness Trackers Actually Useful for Horse Riders?

In other sports, fitness trackers have become a must-have device that will measure your calorie burn, running distance, heart rate, and more. But what about horseback riding?

Well, let’s see all the data that the fitness wearables are tracking and find out whether it is useful or not for horseback riding.

Counting Steps

The most basic feature that fitness wearables have is counting steps, where you can set a goal of 10,000 steps per day and try to reach it. Now this feature won’t do you any good since you are on horseback and you are not moving, but you are still active.

Although some fitness trackers have options for swimming and cycling, none of them include horseback riding.

Heart Rate Measurement

This is an important feature that might be useful for horse riders. Riding a horse is a tough exercise and measuring your heart rate during this activity is really important. 

Speed and Distance

It is quite fun to know the distance you’ve traveled with your horse and the top speed you achieved, therefore this feature will be useful for horse riders. Even if you are not training to compete in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, it is still interesting to know how fast you are riding.

Most fitness trackers use GPS to accurately get your location and the distance you’ve traveled.

You can also check out the calories you’ve burned with horseback riding, which is great.

So, wearing a smart fitness wearable device while horseback riding turns out to be quite useful.

Best Fitness Wearables for Horse Riders

1. Garmin Instinct: Your Trail Companion on Steroids

Ever wished you had a personal GPS navigator during your trail rides? Well, the Garmin Instinct is here to grant your wish. It’s a rugged, horse-friendly smartwatch packed with GPS-tracking superpowers. 

This smartwatch is equipped with a heart rate monitor, barometric altimeter, activity tracker, and GPS. It is also water and shock resistant making it perfect for a rugged activity like horseback riding.

No more worrying about getting lost in the woods; this watch will have you navigating trails like a pro.

2. Fitbit Versa 3: More Than Just a Pretty Face

Your horse’s health matters, but so does yours. The Fitbit Versa 3 is the ultimate health and fitness sidekick for riders. 

It monitors your heart rate, sleep patterns, and activity levels. It’s like having a personal wellness coach, ensuring you’re fit as a fiddle for your next ride. And it’s not bad in the style department either.

This is not as rugged as the Garmin smartwatch and might not have many features, but it is a good all-rounder even if you are not riding a horse.

3. Apple Watch Series 8: Stylish Meets Savvy

For riders who demand both fashion and function, the Apple Watch Series 8 is your knight in shining armor. It’s sleek, it’s stylish, and it’s smarter than a whip-wielding jockey. 

With equestrian-friendly apps galore, you can check messages, track workouts, and monitor your heart rate—all while looking effortlessly chic.

This smartwatch can be personalized by adding equestrian-themed apps, which can measure different things like speed, calories burned, and more.

4. Polar Vantage M2: Precision Meets Performance

Horse riding is about precision and control, and the Polar Vantage M2 gets that. Designed with athletes in mind, it offers detailed insights into your performance, from heart rate zones to recovery time. 

It’s like having a personal trainer in the saddle with you, minus the saddle sores.

5. Coros Apex Pro 2: Endurance Meets Elegance

If you’re a rider who loves long-distance treks, the Coros Apex Pro is your perfect match. It boasts an impressive battery life to keep up with your lengthy trail rides. With advanced fitness metrics and a sleek design, it’s the epitome of durability and performance. 

On top of that, the Coros Apex Pro 2 also has free global offline maps strapped on your wrist, Bluetooth, smartphone compatibility, and a battery life of 75 hours. It is also quite durable made with Grade 5 titanium and sapphire glass.

6. Equestic SaddleClip

Last but not least, we have something different and it doesn’t come in the form of a smartwatch. This is a professional horse riding tracker that gives you much more insights than a smartwatch. Basically,  it is designed with horse riding in mind. 

SaddleClip can be strapped to your horse’s saddle and it actually analyzes the horse’s movement during training it is designed to help you improve your performance and minimize injury.

With that said, the SaddleClip is aimed at horse riders who are quite serious about their hobby or for racehorse owners since it is quite expensive.