Portable StallWatch Surveillance Will Now Offer Seasonal Rental Kits From Reichert Celebration Through Congress and World Shows
We first introduced our readers to StallWatch portable surveillance technology in the fall of 2012 following the product’s western discipline debut at the AQHA World Show and All American Quarter Horse Congress. Since that time, the company’s presence in the hunter-jumper circuits and racetrack community has exploded.
StallWatch was utilized to promote horse safety and fair competition at the Kentucky Derby, monitored all of the horses competing in the Belmont Stakes for ten days up to the event, and at Saratoga. StallWatch’s Darla Duncan confirmed that the company is planning to put a bid in for the Breeders’ Cup this fall at Santa Anita.
If you aren’t familiar with this state-of-the-art technology StallWatch is a completely wireless and portable surveillance system that utilizes a 3G phone signal to stream live video to a private account. With login information and a password, customers can keep an eye on their horses and barn via the StallWatch website or on their smartphone or tablet with the company’s apps.
Because the easy-to-use kit arrives all ready to go, it takes less than 15 minutes to mount the cameras and plug the router in to an electrical outlet. With a few simple steps customers can have instant security and peace of mind.
Caption: A standard four camera kit with router box. StallWatch photo
Up until now, StallWatch systems were offered with a minimum of a one-year contract. However, we were recently informed that for the very first time StallWatch will be offering a seasonal rental option for those in the breed show sector of the horse industry.
“We’re going to do a rental season that is shorter than one year,” Darla Duncan says. “We had so many interested people that we started putting together kits that could go out for a season. It would start at the Reichert and go right through the Congress and World Shows. After that, [customers] would get [the kits] back to me to get cleaned up and ready to go back out for the next season.”
“Then, if they want to keep it, we can apply a portion of what they’ve already paid in to a one-year or two-year contract. People kind of get hooked on it. It would really serve a need for those horse show people who may not show year-round or who don’t use the cameras at home. We’ve had some vendors asking if we will go to the NFR. We would certainly let them keep the cameras there as well.”
Since the introduction of the product in 2012, StallWatch continues to work on improving the connection speed of their live video and storage system on their internal servers.
“It is a never ending process on the back end,” she says. “As time goes on, it keeps getting better and better as we keep tweaking it. Every kit comes with a seven-day loop of storage. If they need more, we can go to 30 to 60 days.”
“I tell everyone who gets a kit that I would have a camera in the aisle for those customers who might be worried about a positive drug test, from someone walking by the front of a stall and feeding their horse something or by touching their horse with a topical steroid.”
“Two people, that we know of, have caught the culprit in their aisle,” she says. “One thief was going into tack stalls and stealing wallets out of purses. Ivan was in Kentucky, and his car was parked at the end of the stalls. The thief broke in and stole cash and came down the aisle and took tack and medication for horses. The police were able to go back through that video.”
“There are so many purposes for StallWatch. Whether you want to see what’s going on when you aren’t at the barn, if horses are turned out, fed at the right time, or if you’re wondering if someone is getting ready to come to the ring. You can pull it up right there and look to see if they are in the aisle getting ready. [You can use it for] night checks or if you want to keep a close eye on horses to catch colic early. It all depends on what you’re looking for.”
Kristy Starnes, of Starnes Quarter Horses, uses her StallWatch system while on the road at horse shows and at home.
“I use the StallWatch portable video at home and at the shows so I can check in on my horses, barn, and equipment from my smartphone, tablet, or laptop,” she says. “It gives me peace of mind.”
Caption: Starnes Quarter Horses at the 2013 Big A and Stars N Stripes horse show in Georgia. Shane Rux Photo.
Countless others, including those from the breed show sector like Heeley Pleasure Horses, Ty and Karen Hornick, Butch and Patty Campbell, Robin and Murray Griggs, Rusty Green Show Horses, and HighPoint Performance Horses, have also utilized the technology. On the other side of the horse industry, racehorse trainer and former Olympian Michael Matz, McLain Ward, Margie Engle, Debbie Stephens, and Josh Lyons are fans as well.
Caption: Heeley Pleasure Horses at the 2013 Tom Powers Futurity. Crystal Holman Photography.
“I’m a fan of StallWatch!” says Shug McGaughey, Hall of Fame Trainer and winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby. “With it we can monitor the barns from anywhere!”
Because of the increasing need for transparency in the racehorse industry, the racing commissions of certain states like Kentucky and New York are using StallWatch to monitor specific events.
“Each state has their own regulatory board for racing,” she says. “If you want to race in that state, you have to be approved by the board in that state. At the Kentucky Derby, there was one guy, that in order for him to race, they made it a requirement that he had security cameras put up and used for full access. It was kind of a trial run for both of us. They had a camera on that specific exhibitor and on the back gate to see everyone going in and out of the restricted area. They have insinuated to us that every horse that runs in the Derby next year will have a camera.”
“Then, they spread the word to New York. They wanted a bid to cover every horse in the Belmont. Every one of the owners and trainers had access [as well as] the official investigators. If there was ever a questionable time, they had the video leading right up to the Belmont. That went well, so they called for us to do Saratoga. We also will put in a bid for the Breeders Cup in the fall at Santa Anita. They indicated that more than likely every single horse that runs in every leg of the Triple Crown next year will have a camera. It’s opened up a whole new world.”
Caption: Breaking the starting gate at the Belmont Stakes. StallWatch photo
Duncan says this increased exposure has provided a whole new aspect of going in and setting up for specific events. StallWatch also did some coverage for the FEI Olympic Trials in all of the aisles that were in FEI regulated areas.
“Now that we are doing this, it’s kind of another arm of the business,” she says. “We can definitely set up for an event for an organization. It will be a premium price, because we come in and set up the cameras and provide pre-loaded iPads so they can watch 24/7. It’s another service we can talk to people about and make available.”
If you might be interested in renting a StallWatch system for the fall show season call Darla Duncan at 615-415-2977. For this special seasonal deal there is up front pricing with a deposit. When the kit is turned back in, customers will receive their deposit back. The price is $1,200 for a 3-4 month rental plus the $300 deposit for a four camera kit. To find out more about StallWatch visit their website at
www.stallwatch.com
