GoPro-ing My Riding

[pintsizedrider]

So I recently bought a GoPro Session, along with a chest mount. I'm planning on using these tomorrow to film my riding lesson.

I really want to be able to mount the camera to my helmet, however my hat is covered in that velvety suede material and so adhesive mounts won't work. I'm also worried about buying one of those mounts that strap around the helmet, again because of the material, and I don't know how secure my camera would be right that sort of mount. Bearing in mind, during my riding lessons I could be jumping or dealing with a tricky horse.

Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[LHIS]

Why don't you want to wear it on your chest harness? Is your horse too large for the footage to be just his ears?

 

[pintsizedrider]

I am going to, but my instructor has suggested mounting it on my helmet as I have a habit of looking down when I ride instead of forwards. By filming it from my hat, I'll be able to see where I'm going wrong and learn from my mistakes

 

[LHIS]

I understand that (I do it too!). One thing I found really useful was to have someone else film me riding, that way you get the full picture, and your new go pro could definitely do this.
Also, not to be too negative on the subject but I'd be concerned about safety in a fall with your go pro mounted on your hat.
I'm hoping to get one for my birthday in a couple of weeks and would use a chest harness for it

 

[pintsizedrider]

I suppose you do make a good point about the safety aspect of it.
Have fun with your GoPro though, they're really good for taking unusual or unique photos or videos in everyday life as well as things like horse riding thanks!

 

[LibbyL]

IME chest harness footage looks really odd. I put a strap over my head, just a cheapy one off amazon, which has little gelly grip things on the inside so sticks on to the hat really easily. However once got it caught on tree branch and it came off so think if you fell off it would come off relatively easily and not cause damage.

They are great fun, enjoy them!

 

[neddy man]

it strikes me as strange that no one thinks you will be injured if you a) fall on your chest, b)roll on your chest after a fall while it is mountedon a chest harness. If i had one it would be on my hat but able to be dislodged upon contact with ground, tree ,wall,etc.

 

[pintsizedrider]

Thank you!

 

[LHIS]

A head injury would be worse. It's the pressure the unit would put on your helmet, it's not designed to take such a concentrated load. Michael Schmacher had one mounted on his ski helmet when he had his accident and it was a contributory factor to the fact that he is how he is now.
Of course it also depends on what else you have on, for example i'd have my body protector on then a chest harness.
Each to their own, I just wanted to highlight that point of OP hadn't considered it.

 

[pintsizedrider]

I would also have my body protector beneath the chest mount, as I never ride without my body protector, due to my bad luck. The ONLY time I forgot to wear it was the first time I'd fallen off in years! Luckily it wasn't a bad fall though

 

[neddy man]

A head injury would be worse. It's the pressure the unit would put on your helmet, it's not designed to take such a concentrated load. Michael Schmacher had one mounted on his ski helmet when he had his accident and it was a contributory factor to the fact that he is how he is now.
Of course it also depends on what else you have on, for example i'd have my body protector on then a chest harness.
Each to their own, I just wanted to highlight that point of OP hadn't considered it.

Michaels camera was secured to his helmet so that it would not come of in a tumble on the slopes, and i think (i dont ski so am not possitive) that ski helmets are probably not as strong as riding hats. But i wont take offence if a skier/ rider corrects me on this , there was a thread a short while ago asking if riders always wore their protector/air jacket, a majority said yes when jumping/ competing etc. i see more riders with them on hats than on chest mounts, and only a small percentage of riders hacking with a body protector on (well over 200 liveries within a 5 mile radius of my home)

 

[LHIS]

Michaels camera was secured to his helmet so that it would not come of in a tumble on the slopes, and i think (i dont ski so am not possitive) that ski helmets are probably not as strong as riding hats. But i wont take offence if a skier/ rider corrects me on this , there was a thread a short while ago asking if riders always wore their protector/air jacket, a majority said yes when jumping/ competing etc. i see more riders with them on hats than on chest mounts, and only a small percentage of riders hacking with a body protector on (well over 200 liveries within a 5 mile radius of my home)

I'm not sure which is stronger I'd hope they were both as good as they could be though. Each to their own, but I wouldn't take any chances with my head when there's an alternative.

 

[neddy man]

Fair comment.

 

[Red-1]

I had my trainer attach the camera to her head, so I could see what she saw, and also could hear what she said. I am not sure why you would want it on you, to see the trainer?

She had an elastic strap, and had to remember to take it off when she went to the loo. LOL!!!

 

[Barlow]

My GoPro has been used on my velvet riding hat and my trainers head using the miners lamp type head attachment it comes with-no problems at all.

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

I have ridden with both a chest harness and a hat cam and I have to say the chest harness gives a far better video. It's a lot less wobbly, more steady and makes you feel less motion sick to watch it back. Plus I second what others have said about the head injury bit, my GoPro on my hat makes it feel heavy so wouldn't like to think what it would do if I fell on my head, would worry it wouldn't make my helmet as strong or protective. I use the chest harness over the top of my body protector.

I have a 14:2hh pony with a short neck, my friend has a 16:2hh horse with a very long neck and we both say the same- a lot better using the chest harness than the hat one. You can tilt the chest one slightly as well to get different angles.

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Here's a video of mine filmed on a GoPro on a chest mount on two different sized horses: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=hcsgZK8bKio

Please forgive the cheesy soundtrack!!

 

[LHIS]

Here's a video of mine filmed on a GoPro on a chest mount on two different sized horses: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=hcsgZK8bKio

Please forgive the cheesy soundtrack!!

Ahh I love that cheesy soundtrack! Footage of chest cam is great thanks for sharing.

 

[teapot]

I'm a bit confused to why you want to be wearing it to film your lesson? If you want to see what's going on with your position and the horse, ie what your instructor is seeing, a view from your chest or hat won't achieve that in any way. To get an idea of when/why you're looking down, you need a view of the whole horse/rider combination imho, not just the horse's ears...

Someone filming your lesson will. Or your instructor wearing it so you can see what they're directly seeing.

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Ahh I love that cheesy soundtrack! Footage of chest cam is great thanks for sharing.

No problem. I only go to jump the little ones but it's fun all the same!

 

[MileAMinute]

No problem. I only go to jump the little ones but it's fun all the same!

L, that looks amazing! Hadley was one I never got round to. Looks very inviting

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

L, that looks amazing! Hadley was one I never got round to. Looks very inviting

It's fab there, I love it