Did I Finally Find the Perfect Camera for Filming While Riding?

After years of shaky phone footage and unstable rides, I think I finally found the camera that lets you properly film yourself riding fast, without distracting from the ride.

Hey fellow equestrian creators! As a horse lover and videography enthusiast, I’ve always wanted to capture my rides without sacrificing the joy of being in the saddle. After years of struggling with shaky phone footage and clunky cameras, I’ve finally found a solution worth sharing.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the journey that led me to the Insta360 GO 3S, how it performs on real trail rides, and what setup I use — with links to all the gear at the end if you want to try it yourself.

The Struggle of Filming on Horseback

When I started riding in 2020, I wanted to share my adventures, from bonding with my horse Pegaso to exploring breathtaking trails. But filming was always a challenge. My iPhone Pro was okay, but holding it felt unsafe and distracted me from the ride. I tried 360 cameras (too much editing), GoPros (too heavy), and phone mounts (weird angles). I needed a camera that let me focus on my horse while still getting great footage.

Finding the Insta360 GO 3S

A friend’s Instagram reel stopped me in my tracks: she was filming herself shooting arrows on horseback, and the footage felt so immersive. She was using the Insta360 GO 3S, a thumb-sized camera that pops out of its case and sticks anywhere with a magnet. I wanted a new camera for a 70 km trail ride in southern Spain, and it was exactly what I’d been searching for.

Testing It on the trail

I took the GO 3S for testing on a ride near Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps, and the results were amazing.

📹 Watch the footage: Instagram Reel

The footage is smooth, even through rough trots and gallops, with vibrant colors that barely needed editing. I clipped it to my helmet with a third-party mount, checked the angle using the camera’s detachable screen case, and started recording with a quick tap. It allowed me to keep both hands on the reins.

Why It’s Perfect for Equestrian Content

This camera is a dream for riders creating social media content. Here’s why I love it:

  • Stunning Quality and Stabilization: FlowState technology delivers buttery-smooth footage, even on bumpy rides, with vibrant colors perfect for Instagram Reels.
  • Tiny and Safe: It’s so light and small you forget it’s there, letting you ride with both hands on the reins for safety.
  • First-Person POV: Clip it to your helmet for a “third eye” view that captures exactly what you see.
  • Portrait Filming: It supports portrait orientation, ideal for Instagram and TikTok.
  • Versatile Mounting: Attach it to your helmet, boot, or backpack strap for unique angles.
  • Durable: It’s water- and dust-proof, handling rain, mud, and even a few falls.
  • Useful Case: The detachable Action Pod doubles as a screen for framing shots and a charger, making setup a breeze.
  • Easy Controls: Start or stop recording with one hand or voice commands. The Insta360 app makes editing and transferring clips super simple.
  • Find My Feature: If you drop it on a trail, Apple’s Find My can help you track it down.
  • Fair Price: It’s priced similarly to a GoPro but offers unique features like its tiny size and magnetic mounting.

A Few Things to Know

It’s not flawless, but the drawbacks are easy to work around:

  • Battery Life: You get about 30 minutes per charge, so stick to short clips. It’s not ideal for time-lapse or hyper-lapse videos.
  • Charging: You need the Action Pod case to charge, which is a bit bulky for riding, so I use it for setup or recharging between clips.
  • Storage: No SD card slot, but the 64 GB version covers most rides.
  • Audio: Wind noise can overpower hoofbeats at high speeds, so plan to add music or voiceovers.
  • Head Movement: Quick head turns show up in the footage, so keep your head steady and use your eyes to look around.

My Setup Recommendation

Here’s what I suggest to get started:

  • Insta360 GO 3S (64 GB) — Plenty of storage for most rides.
  • Rotatable Clip Mount — Much better than the original for portrait videos.
  • Lens Protection Glass — Affordable protection for peace of mind.

▶️ I’ve added links to the gear I use at the end of this article.

For multi-angle shots, a second camera is handy so one can charge while the other films.

My Final Thoughts

If you’re an equestrian creator or business owner looking to share authentic, engaging content, this camera is a fantastic tool.

Got questions? Send me a message. Want to share your footage? Tag me! I’d love to see your rides!

Happy filming,

Benedikt

@costacaballo & founder of maneframe

The camera itself: Insta360 GO 3GS

This main package will get you started, want it in white? Links are below!

Consider the other mount for your helmet, it will help a lot!

The same camera, but in white!

The very same but in white, it will get you started! Consider the other mount for your helmet!

The key to great social media content:
The rotatable clip mount for the helmet!

Without this, you only can record portrait wit the chest magnet mount. This works, but might lead to weird angles or the camera falling down while galloping. This clip is really worth the investment!

Better save than sorry, replacement lens guards.

The camera lens itself is protected behind glass. You can replace this glass cover in case your camera falls down or something else stupid happens. With these somewhere hidden in your bags, or even car, can save you a day of recording! Never run the cam with horses and without protection!