When I started jumping, I knew I wanted to get a helmet camera. When I was jumping before, helmet cameras weren't really a thing. I mean I'm sure they existed but they weren't on my radar. Now though, just know that if your blog has helmet cam footage, I have probably watched it. A lot. I LOVE helmet cam footage but have never really had a reason to get one.
I though hard a few years ago about getting one to video my long lining. Then I thought hard about getting one to take video on trail rides. But now that I'm jumping again, it didn't take long to justify all those previous thoughts. I can not only use it to video long lining or trail rides, but I can video my jumping lessons and be able to take better notes on what Kate was telling me (she tells me a lot of things that I find really profound in those lessons and then I forget them when I get home lol) and I get to see Flounder's cute little ears over fences!
 |
| These ears are also cute |
I did some research and landed on the CamBox V4 as they were having a bit of a sale. I thought I ordered it well before eventing camp but it just arrived last week so that was bad timing on my part. I guess it was coming from France and I do remember hemming and hawing a little bit too much. Oh well!
I sent it directly to the ranch and I'm glad I did because it basically comes straight out of the box ready to use. I unboxed it before getting on TC, set it up to charge, then when I got back from riding TC, it was fully charged.
I turned it on and fuddled around trying to figure out the app without reading the manual (I don't know why I am like this, I act like reading the manual is cheating or something). I finally read the manual and realized I didn't need the app and that the camera was actually recording my stubbornness. I pushed the button to pause it and then figured I'd just use it and take it home to mess with later.
 |
| Baby cow getting up from a nap! |
I rode Sunny with it and tried out all the camera positions while I was riding. At that point I was just hoping it was recording something!
It's pretty low profile but I could definitely see it and it was a little distracting. I figure it'll take me a few rides to get used to it, so I'm honestly glad it didn't come the day before eventing camp because I might have stared at it too much while jumping!
 |
| Look at this naughty dog I caught out on the road lol she's so funny! |
When I got home, I put the SD card in my computer and there I was, upside down as I fiddled with the app until I paused the video.
I had SO much fun watching the video. I had unpaused it when I started bridling Sunny and even that part of the video was adorable. Then we walked down the road and it was so cool! Everything I looked at (including my phone at one point when the camera was pointed down lol), I could see. The baby cows, the other cows, a truck passing us on the road, TC and Rico out in their pastures. Everything!
Then I did a little bit of flat work in the arena and that was kind of boring to see. When the camera is as low as it can go though, I could see Sunny's entire neck, so that is good, I really want to use that on TC and then watch that video and the Pivo video at the same time so that I can hone in on what to look for in his neck when his posture is correct (or I could invest in some mirrors but I think I'll just try this first).
For trail rides, the camera will be one click below the highest setting so that I can take in as much of the scenery as possible with adorable ears at the very bottom of the frame.
 |
| She seemed so embarrassed that I caught her lol |
I'll have to figure out how to set it up for jumping at my next jumping lesson, I'm excited! And now I can just enjoy my trail rides rather than feeling like I want to take pictures of everything. I can just look over at something and take a screenshot later!
If anyone has any advice on using the app, definitely let me know lol it'd be nice to figure that out but at this point, I've got it working well enough for me!
