Haltered's AI review analyzes your horse's movement quality, jump form, and physical conformation to give buyers objective, data-driven insight. The quality of the AI output depends entirely on the quality of the footage you provide. This guide tells you exactly what to capture.
5 required video clips4 conformation photos15–25 minutes to capture
Section 01
Before You Film
Setting matters as much as technique. The AI needs clean visual data — a cluttered background, poor footing, or inconsistent lighting will degrade the analysis quality. Spend five minutes on setup and it will show in the results.
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Location
Flat, level footing with good traction. An arena or grass paddock is ideal. Avoid deep sand, slopes, or rocky ground — uneven footing alters the horse's natural movement and skews analysis.
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Lighting
Film in natural daylight — mid-morning or late afternoon is ideal. Avoid harsh midday overhead sun that creates shadow blotches on the horse. Avoid indoor arenas unless lighting is very even and bright.
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Background
Plain is best. A solid fence line, hedge, or arena wall behind the horse gives the AI clean contrast. Avoid busy backgrounds with vehicles, equipment, or multiple horses in frame.
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Camera
Any modern smartphone (iPhone or Android) filmed in landscape orientation is sufficient. Do not use portrait/vertical mode. Minimum 1080p resolution. Clean the lens first — smudges scatter light and blur limb tracking.
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Tack
For movement clips, the horse may be filmed in-hand or under saddle. For conformation photos, remove all boots and wraps. A simple halter or bridle is fine — no ear bonnets that obscure the head profile.
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Horse preparation
Film after a light warm-up — not cold out of the stall. The horse should be forward and rhythmic, not tired or resistant. Bathing or grooming beforehand improves coat contrast for the conformation photos.
What the AI Is Analyzing
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Gait Rhythm & Tempo
Beat consistency, stride length symmetry, regularity scores per gait
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Limb Symmetry
Left/right balance, hoof flight arc, overtrack distance at trot
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Jump Bascule & Form
Arc quality, knee fold, back looseness, eye position over the fence
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Body Tension Flags
Tail carriage, head tilt, resistance moments, back tightness indicators
Section 02
Movement Video Clips
Five clips are required. Each has a specific camera position, duration, and content requirement. Film them in the order listed — the AI processes them as a sequence.
1
Trot — Straight Line, Both Directions
In-hand or under saddle · 45–60 seconds · Camera: straight-on front then straight-on rear
Required
What to capture
Horse trots directly toward the camera for 20–25 meters, filling the full frame from nose to tail
Pause, turn around, and trot directly away from camera for the same distance
Camera stays completely still — do not pan or follow
Handler walks at the horse's shoulder, not in front of or behind the horse
Common mistakes to avoid
Handler blocking the horse's limbs from the front or rear view
Horse drifting left/right instead of tracking straight
Clip too short — the AI needs at least 8 complete trot strides in frame
Camera angled sideways — must be directly in front of or behind the horse
💡 This is the most diagnostically important clip. Front and rear views allow the AI to score limb tracking symmetry, toe flick, and hoof landing. If you can only film one clip perfectly, make it this one.
Camera Positions — Clip 1
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Camera position 1: Directly in front
✓ Correct
→
Horse trots toward then away
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Camera position 2: Directly behind
✓ Correct
→
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Camera from the side
✗ Wrong for this clip
2
Trot — True Side Profile, Both Reins
In-hand or under saddle · 45–60 seconds · Camera: true 90° side view
Required
What to capture
Horse trots past the camera at a true 90° side view — left rein first, then right rein
Camera height: approximately at the horse's elbow or mid-barrel — not filming from ground level or above
The entire horse should be in frame including all four hooves and the poll
Pan smoothly to keep the horse centered — slow, steady pan only
At least 10–12 complete strides visible per rein
Common mistakes to avoid
Filming at an angle — even a 15° angle skews stride length measurements
Hooves cut off at the bottom of frame
Jerky or fast panning that blurs limbs mid-stride
Horse too far away — limbs should be clearly visible, not tiny
📈 The side view allows the AI to measure stride length, overtrack distance, hock engagement, and suspension quality. Left and right rein comparison detects asymmetries that may not be visible to the naked eye.
3
Canter — Side Profile, Both Leads
Under saddle preferred, longe acceptable · 30–45 seconds per lead · Camera: true 90° side view
Required
What to capture
Left lead canter first — minimum 8 complete strides in side view
Right lead canter — same duration and camera position
Working canter — not collected, not lengthened. Natural rhythm.
Straight line or very large circle — tight circles compress the gait and skew results
If on the longe, camera should be outside the circle filming the horse from the side
Common mistakes to avoid
Only filming one lead — both leads are required for symmetry comparison
Canter too fast — gallop-pace canter compresses the footfall sequence
Horse breaking to trot mid-clip — re-film if this happens
Tight longe circle under 15m — this forces the horse to compensate laterally
⚠️ If the horse shows a notable difference between leads under analysis, the AI will flag it. This is useful information for buyers — do not re-film to hide an asymmetry. Buyers who discover undisclosed movement issues after purchase are far more likely to dispute the transaction.
4
Jump — Single Fence, True Side Profile
Under saddle · 3–4 jumps minimum · Camera: side view, perpendicular to fence
Required
What to capture
Single vertical or small oxer at a comfortable schooling height — do not over-face the horse for the camera
Camera at a true 90° to the fence — directly to the side of the jump, not at an angle
Camera height: at the top rail of the fence, or slightly below
Capture 3 strides before the fence and 3 strides after the landing in every jump
Film at least 3–4 complete efforts so the AI can average across jumps
Approach from both left and right rein if possible
What the AI scores
Bascule: arc quality over the fence — round vs. flat back
Knee fold: symmetry and tightness of front limb fold
Hind end: whether the hind legs trail, are equal, or cross
Scope: margin between fence height and lowest point of jump arc
Eye: head position and expression at the base of the fence
💡 The jump clip is the most compelling content for buyers. A horse with a naturally good bascule and tight knees will score extremely well and build immediate confidence. Film at a height where the horse is comfortable enough to show off — not so high that he gets tense.
5
Free Movement — Turnout or Longe Without Side Reins
Horse at liberty or on longe without draw reins/side reins · 60–90 seconds · Camera: side view
Recommended
What to capture
Horse moving freely without a rider — natural self-carriage and expression
Ideally includes walk, trot, and canter in the same clip
Expressions of natural energy — tail carriage, neck freedom, ears forward
Small paddock or arena is fine — enough room to move forward naturally
Why this matters
Shows the horse's natural movement without rider influence or equipment restriction
Buyers can see his personality — many buyers decide based on this clip
Compares to the ridden clips to identify any movement differences under saddle
Often the most shareable content for social media reach
📷 If you have existing competition video (not just schooling), you can substitute one or two clips with show footage. Competition footage under pressure often shows the horse's real form better than schooling.
Section 03
Conformation Photos
Four photos are required for the AI conformation review. Each is taken from a specific angle and distance. The horse should be clean, on flat level ground, and standing square — or as close to square as he will stand naturally.
⚠️ Important — standing square: The horse should have all four legs visible and as evenly placed as possible. One leg camped out or parked significantly ahead will skew the AI's assessment of topline, hindquarter angle, and balance. If the horse won't stand square, take multiple shots and submit the best one. Do not attempt to digitally straighten the image.
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True Left Side Profile
Required
Camera at shoulder height — approximately at the horse's wither or elbow
True 90° side view — not angled toward head or haunches
Full horse in frame: nose to tail, poll to hoof
Distance: approximately 4–5 horse-lengths from the horse
All four legs visible — near legs not hidden behind off legs
No boots, wraps, or quarter marks — clean leg lines only
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True Right Side Profile
Required
Same specifications as the left side profile
Both sides required — AI compares left vs. right for symmetry
Asymmetries in muscling or stance are noted but contextualized
The two side profiles together allow topline, underline, and shoulder angle measurements
⬇️
Head-On Front View
Required
Camera directly in front, centered on the horse's face and chest
Camera height: at the horse's chest or slightly below — not photographed from above
Both front legs clearly visible and in frame to the hoof
Horse looking at or near the camera — not turned away
Assesses chest width, leg straightness, toe-in/toe-out, and neck set
⬆️
Rear View
Required
Camera directly behind the horse, centered
Camera height: at the point of hip or slightly below
Both hind legs clearly visible to the hoof
Assesses hindquarter development, symmetry, hock alignment, and cannon bone straightness
Tail relaxed and natural — not held up or clamped
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Optional: Detail Photos
Optional
Legs & Hooves
Front legs from the side — cannon bone and fetlock angle
Hind cannon and hock from the side
Front and hind hooves from the front and side
Head & Neck
Head profile showing eye, nostril, and jaw
Neck-to-shoulder connection
Face-on portrait for expression and eye quality
Topline
Slightly elevated angle showing wither, back, and croup
Useful for assessing muscle development and back length
Section 04
Quick Reference
The most common errors that cause AI analysis to fail or produce low-confidence results.
DO
DO NOT
Film in landscape / horizontal mode
Film vertically — portrait mode cannot be analyzed correctly
Film in natural daylight on flat ground
Film in dim indoor arenas with uneven overhead lighting
Keep the camera still for straight-line clips
Pan, zoom, or reframe during a clip
Capture at least 8–10 complete strides per clip
Submit 10-second clips — minimum is 30 seconds per movement clip
Film from a true front, rear, or side angle
Film from a diagonal angle — perspective distortion breaks limb tracking
Remove boots and wraps for conformation photos
Photograph with polo wraps, sport boots, or standing wraps on
Let the horse move freely at a natural rhythm
Over-push for extra impulsion — tense, chased movement scores poorly
Submit all flagged results to the trainer for review before publishing
Delete re-filmed clips to hide asymmetries — disclose all findings
Label each clip file clearly: HorseName_Clip1_TrotStraight.mp4
Submit files named IMG_4821.mov — unlabeled files delay processing
Film the jump from the side, perpendicular to the fence
Film jumps head-on or from the approach angle — this blocks limb visibility
Section 05
File Specifications
Haltered accepts standard smartphone formats. No special equipment or editing software is needed.
🎥 Video Requirements
✓Format: MP4 or MOV
✓Minimum 1080p (1920×1080)
✓4K preferred if available
✓30fps or 60fps
✓Landscape / horizontal only
✓Max 500MB per clip
✗No portrait / vertical video
✗No heavily compressed clips
📷 Photo Requirements
✓Format: JPG or PNG
✓Minimum 2MP (1600×1200)
✓12MP+ preferred
✓Natural daylight, no flash
✓Landscape orientation
✓Max 20MB per photo
✗No heavy filters or edits
✗No screenshot from video
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Ready to submit your media?
Upload your clips and photos directly through the Haltered listing dashboard. Label each file as described in Section 05. Once uploaded, the AI analysis typically completes within 2–4 hours. You will receive an email when results are ready to review and approve before publishing to buyers.