Choosing a Surveillance Camera for your Horse Barn

You know how important it is to monitor your animals. That’s why surveillance cameras are such a vital part of any horse owner’s or barn manager’s toolkit. But with so many different options on the market, it’s tough to know which camera is right for your needs. In this blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about choosing a surveillance camera for your horse barn.

There are three main things you need to consider when choosing a surveillance camera for your barn: image quality, storage capacity, and price. Let’s inspect each of these factors.

Image Quality

The first thing you need to think about is image quality. After all, what’s the point of having a surveillance camera if the images it captures are too blurry or grainy to be of any use? When it comes to image quality, you’ll want to look for two things: resolution and frame rate. We measure resolution in megapixels (MP), and the higher the resolution, the sharper the image will be. We measure frame rate in frames per second (FPS), and the higher the frame rate, the smoother the image will be. For example, a 1080p camera with a 30fps frame rate will produce clearer and smoother images than a 720p camera with a 15fps frame rate. The quality of your images can make the difference! Do you want to see the true health and color of your newborn foal? Perhaps you want the best image of a stranger who entered your barn? Image quality is your ticket.

Storage Capacity

The next thing you need to consider is storage capacity. Most surveillance cameras come with some kind of internal storage (usually either an SD card or built-in flash memory), but that might not be enough if you’re planning on storing a lot of footage. If you think you’ll need more storage than what’s available internally, look for a camera that supports external storage via USB or network attached storage (NAS). It may not matter if you are just trying to get snapshots of students entering your schooling barn. It could matter a great deal if you are watching your mare who has been due for 72 hours. If you are traveling, it will matter. Think about your needs before buying.

General Features

When you are concerned about the wellness of your horses, potential for camera sabotage, or how long you need to watch a sick horse – camera features will help you decide what to do. There are cameras to fit every need. Some cameras are more durable to prevent theft or damage, some cameras are less expensive, and some have features for storage or battery life.

Price

Last but not least, you’ll need to think about price. Surveillance cameras can range in price from around $75 to $1000 or more, so it’s important to set a budget before you start shopping. Once you’ve set a budget, you can start looking at cameras that fall within your price range. Keep in mind that price isn’t always indicative of quality—you can find some great cameras at lower price points if you’re willing to sacrifice features like resolution and storage capacity. 

Choosing the right surveillance camera for your horse barn doesn’t have to be difficult—just keep these three factors in mind and you’ll be sure to find a camera that’s perfect for your needs. For more information about the best camera for horse barns, please don’t hesitate to contact us or request an estimate.