Tell me about headsets /earpieces for lessons.

[Annagain]

Wiggy’s sharer has been utterly wonderful while I’ve been off games with my back and I’d like to get her something to show my appreciation.

She’s deaf in one ear and struggles in lessons so I was wondering about getting her a headset and earpiece arrangement.

Instructors - would you object to wearing a headset that a rider provided?

Riders with hearing problems, do they help or an I barking up the wrong tree? She has full hearing in her left ear, but only 5% in her right. She doesn’t wear a hearing aid.

Anyone else have any advice /knowledge/experience they could share please?

Any ideas where to buy one? I’ve googled but I’m not understanding much of what’s coming up, I’m not sure I’m googling the right thing.

I’m thinking one way would be best, particularly as she’s often in a group lesson and I would think it would be very distracting for the instructor to hear her back.

 

[Reacher]

Sounds like a good idea for your sharer. I’m afraid I can’t help with what / where to buy .

One of my RIs uses one to save her voice when she is teaching all day.

( I don’t much like using it as I find it a faff to put in and the volume is generally too high , as it is shared, but your friend would have it adjusted to her level and could put it in at leisure)

 

[rara007]

sounds sensible. My instructors provide their own but I’ve one too. I got mine from dressage deluxe I think it was.

 

[Annagain]

Thanks. I’ve just thought that maybe using it in a group lesson might not work as the trainer might be shouting (or speaking loudly at least) for others and it might be too loud for her?

Any experiences that can shed any light on whether it’s viable would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rara007]

You can turn the volume up and down.

 

[VRIN]

WHIS headsets are used a lot for training. They are sold by classic dressage

 

[CazD]

Hubby and I used 2 way headpieces for hacking. They're a complete godsend as I'm partially deaf so hubs can let me know when cars etc are coming up from behind us. The volume can be adjusted but I don't think ours can be set on one way only. They weren't expensive as we weren't sure they would work for us but they've been brilliant.

 

[Merry neddy man]

Google or Amazon, 2 way motorcycle radios ( or something similar.) Theres a big choice that I'm sure would work.

 

[JGC]

I have partial hearing loss in one ear and a headset makes such a difference (I realised how often I'd actually been guessing at what is said), however my hearing is good enough to have it on my bad ear, because otherwise I can't hear at all what's going on around me and certainly could not ride in a school with another horse as I cannot tell where the other horse is if I can't see it directly, so I don't know if that would be an issue? Don't know if I've explained that well.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Gs equestrian

 

[Annagain]

A quick update. I ended up buying something else for my sharer last year but after she dealt with an emergency vet visit for my old boy (not even the horse she rides and luckily he’s fine) when I was away, I had cause to buy her another gift!

I started searching again but the horsey ones were far too expensive (she’s great but I can’t justify £150+). I was convinced there must be a non equine version but the motorcycle ones are two way and I didn’t think that would be appropriate. While browsing on Amazon, I stumbled across a “tour guide wireless audio system”. There were only sets with 12 headsets on there but at last, I had something to google.

After a bit more searching, I found an individual transmitter and a compatible individual receiver here:

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/rondleidingsystemen/retekess-t131-vhf-tour-guide-receiver-for-t130-transmitter?_gl=1*8p3wsj*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItPv7g4aIhQMVKphQBh2T8gxXEAQYESABEgLDRfD_BwE

They were sold separately but worked out at £75, which is a bargain compared to the horsey versions. The only slight downside is the receiver is on a lanyard (as is the transmitter but that’s not a problem) so would bounce about a bit. I tried to find a belt clip but couldn’t. In the end we worked out that an old arm phone holder would be perfect, and it is! It also means the wire to the earpiece has less distance to get in the way

There are receivers that have an integral earpiece so no wire at all but I couldn’t find an individual one of those and the bit that goes behind the ear looks very bulky, I’m not sure it would fit under a hat.

It’s not perfect but it’s a great cheaper option.