It’s repeatedly been said that necessity is the mother of all great inventions. That is certainly true of Eponaire’s first and most famous product, the Astride. A patented training aid that was designed to simulate the weight of rider, Eponaire founder Krista Towns, developed the Astride after her talented Trakhener contracted EPM and suffered serious back muscle atrophy as a result.
“I am a designer by trade, and have been a horse person all my life,” says Krista. “After treatment, he was still very weak and had difficulty carrying my weight. I looked for a way to slowly start reintroducing weight to his back.” For Krista, that way was the Astride. Since launching the Astride, which has been embraced by the racing industry, dressage enthusiasts, rehabilitation centers and colt starters, Krista has continued to search out products that would be beneficial to the horse community.



Eponaire specializes in items that both condition horses and help improve their health. One such product is the Polar Horse Heart Monitor. “The Polar Horse Heart Monitor was a perfect fit with the Astride. People wanted a way to gauge how much work was enough when using the Astride to condition their horses. With the Polar Horse Heart Monitor, you can see what your horse’s heart rate is and develop an interval training program for your horse based on heart rate, which is a very reliable indicator of a horse’s condition.”
The heart monitor is also perfect to use in tandem with eurocisers and when ponying horses. One of the many things Krista likes about the Polar Horse Heart Monitor is how easy it is to use. Simply place the polar transmitter in the correct position against a horse’s coat, and it will instantly send a wireless reading to a wristwatch or handheld display panel.

Communication Is a Two-Way Street
Though Krista is passionate about all the products featured or created by Eponaire, one of her favorite recent additions is the Eponaire Comm Systems; an affordable, two-way communication system, the Eponaire Comm Systems was designed specifically for equestrians.
“My husband is part of a company that makes surveillance and communication systems for Federal agencies. So together we set about combining top quality consumer and commercial grade two-way radios with OTTO Engineering’s professional headsets. These systems allow instructors to talk all day with their students without straining their voice. And many of our customers have difficulty hearing their instructors across a crowded ring, so the radios help them get the maximum benefit from their lessons. These radios will work when used miles apart, so you can also use them on the trail or for cross country schooling.”
The headsets are lightweight and flexible and designed to work with a helmet, and the most popular model is currently being used by mounted police patrols. Eponaire also offers a clear ear loop as an option for those riders looking for a more discreet look and a hand held mic is also available for instructors who prefer not to wear a headset.
The radios offered with the headsets are a choice of a high quality, family style, Uniden radio or a commercially popular Kenwood business radio. Eponaire pre-charges the batteries, and sets up the radios to the customer’s liking. “We try to customize the systems individually for each customer. We install privacy codes for less chance of interference from other radios, and we offer full technical support for our customers too. We encourage customers to call us before placing their order so we can help them in making the right purchase to suit their needs.”
Krista recently found out just how well they worked when she had to rush a newborn foal to a neonatal clinic. “My husband suggested taking the radios. Here I am sitting on the floor of the trailer, with a very sick, hours old foal in my lap. It was so reassuring to be able to communicate with my husband who was driving the rig during the harrowing three hour ride!”
All Eponaire Audio System kits include: two Professional headsets, two radios, two rechargeable NIMH batteries with separate desktop chargers, two nylon case belt attachments with a horizontal placement option and two nylon belts as well as a convenient Cordura carrying pouch. Like all of Eponaire’s products, all of the components are covered by a two-year warranty.
For more information on Eponaire visit www.eponaire.com or call toll free, 866-513-7700.