Dang! There's a computer program for everything

In the basic computer classes I teach for the local Parks and Rec., I discuss how computers should make our lives easier, not more difficult. I have often written on this site and talked on the show about how your computer should be a tool and you shouldn't feel obligated to learn features and programs that you don't have any interest in.

Anyone can use a computer to make their job or project easier. There are software programs for tracking finances, astronomy, bird watching, tracking trucking logs, and teaching horses to dance.

That's right. There are software programs for teaching horses to dance.

Today I visited with a client to in involved in choreography and training for dressage. You know, dressage - teaching horses to dance in front of an audience and judges.

Over the years I have helped teach her how to edit music for her shows. She used to video tape a routine then try to find music that would match up with the horses instinctive rhythm.

Today when I visited her she had a program that did it all for her. Here's generally how it works.

First, she spends time with the rider and the horse and a metronome. As she watches and works with the horse, she uses the metronome to gauge the natural rhythm of the horse.

Next, she finds music that matches the beats per minute. She uses music editing software to piece together different cuts from songs. She also slows songs down or speeds them up if they don't quite match up.

Last, she imports the songs into Dressage Divas [1] a 3D horse dancing choreography simulator to put the routine together.

As soon as I saw how the program worked, I knew what I would write about tonight in my article.

Can you get any more niche than software made for horse dancing choreography? It seems that you can. The company that publishes Dressage Divas makes a whole line of equestrian training and show software [2].

Hopefully someone who is looking to teach their horse to dance will discover this article before they spend tons of time trying to do all of the tough work in the field.

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