The equestrian world is evolving — and with it, the way riders train, connect, and compete.
As online competitions continue to grow in popularity, riders are increasingly looking for safe, flexible, and accessible ways to stay engaged in the sport they love. Now, there’s one central place to discover and participate in these opportunities: all SpotlightHorseShows.com online competitions are now listed directly on Pivo’s website.
This partnership brings together the best of both worlds, a trusted show organizer and the world’s leading equestrian video technology, making it easier than ever for riders to find competitions, submit entries, and prepare with confidence.
Why Online Competitions Are Booming
Online horse shows have seen tremendous growth over the past few years, and not just for convenience. One major factor driving this shift has been the ongoing concern around EHV-1 outbreaks, which have highlighted the importance of biosecurity, reduced travel, and responsible participation in the equestrian community.
For many riders, online competitions offer a way to:
- Compete safely without exposing horses to unnecessary health risks
- Avoid long-distance hauling and travel stress
- Reduce costs associated with shows (stabling, fuel, lodging)
- Fit competition into busy schedules
- Participate from rural or remote areas
- Maintain momentum even when in-person shows are limited
Online competitions don’t replace traditional shows, they complement them. They provide continuity, opportunity, and accessibility when riders need it most.
Safety, Accessibility, and Progress — Without Compromise
Online competitions allow riders to stay connected to the sport while prioritizing horse welfare, rider safety, and responsible participation during times of increased health concern, like EHV-1 outbreaks.
They reduce travel stress, support biosecurity, and make competition accessible to riders who might not otherwise be able to attend traditional shows, without sacrificing quality, learning, or excitement.
With Pivo and Spotlight Horse Shows working together, riders now have a safe, professional, and inspiring way to stay engaged, keep improving, and continue competing, no matter where they are.
Why Spotlight Horse Shows Leads the Way
Spotlight Horse Shows has become a leader in online competition by offering professionally judged, well-organized virtual shows that maintain the plethora and excitement of in-person competition.
With clear rules, qualified judges, and a strong focus on education and rider development, Spotlight’s online competitions allow riders to compete meaningfully while staying home, and now, they’re easier than ever to discover through Pivo.
Read More: Pivo Meets: Gail Matheus — Dressage Rider & Founder of Spotlight Horse Shows
How Pivo Helps You Enter and Excel in Online Competitions
Pivo plays a key role in every step of the online competition journey, from preparation to submission.
Record Your Competition Video with Confidence
Pivo’s AI Horse Tracking automatically follows you and your horse through the arena, ensuring your ride stays perfectly framed for judges to review. There’s no need for a helper and no missed movements, just a clean, consistent competition-quality video.
This is especially important for online competitions, where your video is your performance. For online competitions you can also try the preset on the Pivo Track App that is the best set of settings suggested for filming your entry.
Train Smarter Before You Compete
Before submitting your entry, Pivo also helps you prepare more effectively by allowing you to:
- Practice full test run-throughs
- Review accuracy, geometry, and transitions
- Identify small mistakes before the big test
- Share practice videos with your coach for feedback
- Track improvement across multiple sessions
This means riders enter competitions more confident, more prepared, and more polished.
Improve Faster Through Video Feedback
One of the biggest benefits of online competitions is that they naturally encourage riders to review their own riding. Pivo strengthens this learning loop by making it easy to record, watch, and learn from every ride, whether it’s a schooling session or a judged performance.
Over time, riders develop stronger awareness, better feel, and clearer understanding, leading to consistent improvement both in competition and everyday riding.
Smarter Preparation with Pivo’s Coach Directory & Annotation Tools
Preparing for an online competition is about more than just filming a good ride, it’s about understanding it. With Pivo’s new Coach Directory inside the Pivo Track app, riders can easily discover qualified trainers who specialize in their discipline and level, making it simple to find the right support when preparing for a test. Riders can also share their recorded competition and receive structured feedback without needing to coordinate schedules with Pivo’s new Annotation feature. Coaches can review the video to highlight geometry, posture, accuracy, and key moments, by leaving written comments or voice notes. This makes it easier for riders to truly see what the judge will see, understand corrections more clearly, and refine their test rides with precision before submitting their official entry.
A New Era of Equestrian Competition
The future of equestrian sport is not just physical or digital, it’s a blend of both. Online competitions are here to stay, not as a replacement, but as a powerful complement to traditional shows. By bringing Spotlight Horse Shows’ online competitions to PivoEquestrian.com, riders can now find competitions to participate in while shopping for Pivo, their trusted training partner. So whether you’re preparing your first virtual test or adding online shows to your competitive calendar, your journey just became easier to navigate and more rewarding to ride.
Read More: The Smartest Gift in the Saddle: Why Pivo Is the Perfect Holiday Present for Every Rider