Horseflix!

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Note: I no longer use Horseflix, but instead use a service called giddyupflix. Click here to read why I switched.

What happens when you combine the concept of Netflix with over 500 horse training and instructional DVDs (as well as a handful of fictional movies, some documentaries and other fun horse-related DVDs)?

You get Horseflix!

Horseflix is a fairly new website with quite a few horse-related DVDs (over 500 at this point, and they’re adding more daily). The site works like netflix—you pay a monthly fee (membership plans start at $9.99), create a queue of movies you want to watch, and then they send you the movies and you get to watch them. I joined yesterday. Check it out if you are a horseperson. I have quite a few friends who are members and they’ve all given it rave reviews so far.

I think horseflix is a great idea—and it fills a niche in the horse community that we’ve needed for awhile now. Most training and instructional DVDs cost big bucks and it’s often hard to know before hand if you’re going to end up liking it or not (much less whether you’re going to want to watch it multiple times). I usually end up not buying DVDs that I’d like to watch just because I’m unwilling to invest $50 in a DVD that I might not even end up liking. But paying ten bucks a month to watch a few new DVDs is an excellent idea, in my opinion. Plus, if I end up really liking a DVD, I can always buy myself a copy, or just rent it again at a later date!

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Tags: horseflix, training

Chrissy

I think its great I think some of the trainers especially the not as known yet ones are happy to get there name out their.

If you are the filmmaker not sure about the legal aspects of it all but what if you put a warning page before the video begins stating the video is not to be rented out for profit. Put that on the DVD label too.
Make a commercial about what you do or advertise before video starts. I don't know... Just trying to help.

David

As a film maker who produces films about rodeo, horses, etc, I am trying to find out how you get Giddyupflix to stop renting my DVD, they did not get my permission to use the DVD to rent, I don't rent for the very reason I lose money it cost me to make the film. Please use someone else. They are using these films illegally and I know of several other film makers who are trying to sue them.

Mary Hunter

Hi David,

I understand your concern. However, I am under the impression that these services are legal.

I believe that rental services will actually help trainers and film makers that are creating high-quality products. I hardly ever buy training videos because they are so expensive. However, if I rent something and like it, I am likely to buy it so I can rewatch it or buy other products from the same trainer. Rentals are beneficial for trainers because they (if they are good quality) increase brand recognition, increase trust/respect for the trainer and potentially increase sales.

Mary

Lily

I would not recommend Horseflix for the following reasons:
their service is slow, they charge late fees, if a dvd you mailed back to them in good conscience does not get back to them they charge you 39.99, they have poor customer service response and do not treat you like they value you as a customer.

I used Horseflix service for over a year. I found their service slow (it would take over two weeks from the time i mailed the dvd til i rec'd a new one) but was nontheless patient. When a dvd i mailed back to them was not received, they charged me for a late fee , then said they would charge me 39.99 to replace it. You take this risk with them, if it doesn't get back to them , the customer is held liable. Doesn't matter if you had been a good customer for over a year. Also during the time that they were waiting for this dvd, they charged me my full month's fees, even though i had emailed them back weeks prior that i had mailed back the dvd.

So overall i would not recomment this service.
I contacted GiddyUp and they seemed to have a much larger selection. They also don't charge late fees and they said if a dvd was sent back and lost in the mail thru no fault of customer that the customer would not be held accountable. They seem like they have a much more responsible approach toward treating their customers right.

Mary Hunter

Thanks for sharing your experiences Lily. If you switch to another service, I'd love to hear a comparison.

Mary

Pat

Did you know that there is also another site for horse training dvd rentals? www,BarnSweetBarnDVDs.com rents horse training videos with more focus on the english disciplines of dressage, show hunters, show jumpers, eventing and a large number of the European trainers. Great service too!

Mary Hunter

Thanks Pat!

I've recently switched from Horseflix to giddyupflix.

giddyupflix has a lot wider selection than horseflix and no late fees. So far I'm much happier with it than with horseflix.

But if I get frustrated with it, I'll have to look into barnsweetbarnDVDs.

cheers,

Mary H.

Susan

Yeah, GiddyUp is a couple bucks more, but their selection, especially western riding, is WAY better! Also, take into consideration that there is no time limit on rentals like Horseflix and Horseflix only allows you to have 2 items in your queue where GiddyUpFlix allows you to have unlimited items. Based on that and I get the titles I want most without long wait times (which is important when you pay a monthly membership fee and not per rental), it's definitely worth the extra couple bucks to go with GiddyUpFlix!

It also looks like they changed their price plan and their monthly rates are now the same as Horseflix, I think. Maybe even a few cents less.

Thanks y'all! Glad I found this site, it's been fun!

Susan

Mary Hunter

Hi Susan,

Thanks for the tip! I hadn't heard of giddyupflix.

So far, I've been really happy with horseflix. It's a bit cheaper than giddyupflix. Also, I haven't had to wait for either of the DVDs I've requested so far.

I like to buy DVDs from trainers I really like in order to support the trainer. However, for trainers I just want to check out or who I'm not sure about, renting is definitely a good way to go!

As for DVDs on ebay, I haven't come across illegal copies so far, but I'm sure that they're out there.

Mary

Susan

There are actually a couple Horse DVD rental sites on the internet. My favorite is actually GiddyUpFlix.com. They have lots more titles than the others to choose from. They also have more multiple titles in stock as I noticed I had to a long wait time when I rented from HorseFlix. GiddyUpFlix had very short to no wait times and that was for the major ones like Chris Cox, Parelli and Clinton Anderson. I really like their service too.

I rent because I can't afford to pay $175 for a DVD set by Clinton Anderson or Parelli. If they made their prices a bit more affordable, I would pay it.

I dont like to buy DVDs on eBay because most of them are illegal copies and I dont want to condone that type of activity. Renting HOrse DVDs is perfectly legal and no different than any other DVD rental business. It also might be beneficial to the trainers, especially the lesser known, because if someone likes their DVD they might go and buy it once they've rented it.

Anyhow, that my 2 cents.

GiddyUpFlix's web site it at http://www.giddyupflix.com

I bought a 3 month gift membership for my niece for her graduation too and she's loving it.

Thanks y'all!

Mary Hunter

I think it should help the trainers and clinicians that are good at what they do and only hurt the ones who aren't.

I think many people (including myself) do not buy many training DVDs because of the cost. Why spend $50 on a DVD that might end up being a waste of your money?

If I rent a DVD that is really well done, it will increase my respect for that clinician. I'll be more likely to purchase that DVD or other DVDs by that trainer. I'll also be more likely to recommend that trainer to friends or go to any clinics or workshops they have near me.

If I rent a DVD from a trainer and its poorly done or I don't think the trainer has good training principles, I've saved myself some money and I can stay away from him or her and let my friends know to stay away as well.

I don't see how this is any different from other video rental services or from borrowing videos from friends. I'm a member of the Parelli SavvyClub and members regularly pass around, lend and exchange training materials with each other.

My old video watching plan was buying DVDs off ebay, watching them and then reselling them for usually almost the same price I paid for them. The trainer doesn't make any money that way either, but if I find something I really like, I'm likely to buy books or other materials from that trainer.

I know of people who never would have given clicker training a second thought who are now becoming interested in it due to being able to rent DVDs or borrow materials from friends.

Kim

While I appreciate this service, is it fair to the producers of the DVD? Are they getting any income from the rental of the DVD's they created. The hardwork and money they put into knowing the info and then giving it out to the public.

Think carefully before doing this. Remember we want the clinicians to make more DVDs if they aren't making money, why would they?

Horseflix!

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