Filming on Horseback
In the spotlight, Life as a Globetrotter
Since the very beginning, we’ve been recording our Globetrotting adventures on film – often while riding a horse. As many of you know, getting steady, quality footage while staying in control of your mount is no easy feat! So we wanted to share our best advice and recommendations to help you capture those unforgettable moments on your horse riding holidays.
Oh, and be sure to check out our horseback photography tips, too!
Choosing the Right Equipment
Over the years, we’ve experimented with a number of filming cameras, and two clear favourites have emerged: the GoPro and the DJI Pocket Osmo. While the GoPro has long been the go-to for action sports, we’re now leaning more and more towards the Osmo for its simplicity, stabilisation, and user-friendly design – especially for horse riders.
DJI Pocket Osmo: Our New Favourite
If you’re after smooth, cinematic footage without the fuss, the DJI Pocket Osmo is brilliant. Unlike the GoPro, it’s a handheld device with a built-in gimbal (stabiliser) for incredibly steady shots – even when you’re cantering. It’s small enough to slip into your pocket or bumbag, has a wrist strap so you can’t drop it, and you can figure out how to use it effectively in a matter of minutes (or maybe an hour or two, for those less tech-savvy!). Not to mention it captures crisp, colourful footage.
Why we love it:
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Exceptional stabilisation – no shaky footage, even on rough trails.
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No need for mounts or accessories – just pull it out and start filming.
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Easy to use – learn it quickly, and start recording anytime at the touch of a button.
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Great for both on- and off-the-horse – capture intriguing angles and crisp details whether you’re galloping across a field or filming on your own two feet.
You can’t capture a full ride with the Osmo, since it’s not hands-free, but if you pull it out at opportune moments, you can piece together a truly beautiful visual story of your riding vacation.
GoPro: A Classic Choice for Action
GoPros are tough, weather-resistant, and offer brilliant wide-angle footage. They’re particularly suited to fast-paced rides, rugged terrain, and variable conditions. If you’d rather end up with more footage than less, and would rather sort through it all afterwards than focus too much on recording at all the right moments during your ride, a GoPro could be your best choice. If you already own one, it’s absolutely worth taking on a ride – just make sure you’ve got the right mount and accessories to go with it. GoPros can be fixed to a helmet, pole, wrist strap or chest harness to hold it steady and allow you to concentrate on riding (which is kind of important, after all!).
Mounting Options for GoPros:
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Helmet Mount: Offers a rider’s-eye view of the trail, your horse’s ears, and the path ahead. Angle it slightly down to catch the reins and neck.
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Chest Harness: Provides more stability, particularly at a trot and canter, and shows more of your horse in frame.
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Saddle/Pommel Mount: Great for capturing you in the saddle, but it can be a weird angle, and needs to be checked carefully so it doesn’t interfere with your horse.
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Wrist or Pole Mount: More flexible, but not ideal for filming while riding at speed.
We’d recommend bringing two mounts so that you can easily capture different angles of your ride. Add-ons like a remote control or voice-activated recording are also useful, especially when you don’t want to take your hands off the reins.
Honourable Mention: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
Lately, many globetrotters have been loving the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Like the Osmo, these stylish sunnies let you shoot first-person video and take photos completely hands-free – no mounts, no straps, no setup. While the battery life, resolution and stabilisation don’t match the GoPro or Osmo, they’re a fun and discreet way to capture candid moments on the trail, and we’ve seen some nice footage from our globetrotters. Plus, you’ll actually want to wear them!
Ultimately, the best camera is the one you feel confident using. Whether you go full tech-head or just grab a few casual clips along the way, filming your Globetrotting adventure is a fantastic way to relive the magic for years to come.
A Few Hot Tips
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Test your gear before heading off—check framing, battery life, and storage.
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Keep it secure: loose mounts and dangling straps can be hazardous in the saddle.
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Ride responsibly: Always prioritise safety—for you, your horse and your fellow riders. Filming should never compromise your control or awareness in the saddle.
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Power up: especially on our more intrepid horse riding holidays, we recommend bringing at least three batteries for your camera gear, and a large portable powerbank if you’re going off grid.
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Back it up: Bring extra memory cards, especially on longer rides. Better to have two 32GB memory cards than one 62GB card: what if you lose it? What if the card has an error? If you film on multiple cards, all is not lost.
The Final Cut
Once you’re home, it’s time for the moment of truth: downloading your footage and reliving the ride from a whole new perspective. Be warned: there will be wobbly bits, accidental shots of your saddlebag, and the odd horse’s bum. But somewhere in there are golden moments worth preserving.
If you’re planning to share your adventure with friends and family, do them a favour and trim it down. Unless someone’s being chased by an elephant or taking an unexpected swim, no one wants to sit through an hour of unedited trail footage. A short, punchy highlight reel (think five minutes or less) set to a favourite song is the way to go.
Yes, editing takes a bit of effort – but the payoff is a polished, personal keepsake that you can treasure and share however you like. Trust us: when it’s time for a trip down memory lane, you’ll appreciate having one polished piece rather than stacks of unedited footage.
If you’re using a Mac, iMovie is a great place to start. For something more advanced, Final Cut Pro is a solid choice. And for an easy, stylish editing option that works on both desktop and mobile, we also love CapCut – a free app packed with effects, music and templates to help bring your ride to life.
No matter your software choice, there are endless free tutorials online to walk you through the basics of editing, from trimming clips to syncing music.
Have fun, globetrotters, and remember – filming should help you stay in the moment, not take you out of it!
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