How to Film Your Ride
Judges can only score what they can see. Ten minutes of setup makes the difference between a scorecard full of useful feedback and a "couldn't evaluate" note. A phone and a helper are all you need.
Camera position
- Have a helper film from the rail at the midpoint of the long side, or from the centerline for pattern classes.
- Stand still and pan smoothly. Follow the horse, don’t chase it.
- A tripod at chest height works well if you’re filming alone in a small arena.
- Stay far enough back to keep the whole arena working area in view.
Framing
- Keep the entire horse and rider in frame for the whole ride, hooves to helmet.
- Keep the full arena or working space in the shot so judges can see your geometry.
- Avoid zooming in so tight that transitions or the rail disappear from view.
- Show your entry placard clearly on camera at the start of the ride.
One continuous, unedited clip
- Record each class as a single continuous take, from before your first movement to after your last.
- No cuts, splices, speed changes, filters, or overlays. Edited videos can’t be judged.
- If something goes wrong mid-ride, stop and re-film the whole class before the deadline.
Lighting
- Daylight is best. Film outdoors or in a bright, evenly lit arena.
- Keep the sun (or the brightest light) behind the camera, not behind the horse.
- Avoid dusk, heavy shadows, and backlit doorways that turn horse and rider into silhouettes.
Orientation & quality
- Film in landscape (horizontal). Vertical videos crop out half the arena.
- 1080p at 30fps or better is ideal; most phones default to this.
- Clean the lens, lock focus/exposure on the horse if your phone allows it, and check your storage space before you start.
- Watch the clip before uploading: can you see the whole horse the whole time?