Abi Lyle Backs Bestie Button: Why Every Female Rider Should Know About It

Olympian Abi Lyle has thrown her support behind Bestie Button, a discreet personal safety device she believes could make a real difference to women – including female riders.

Lyle, who has spoken publicly about surviving domestic abuse, shared a video today explaining why she wanted to support the product. Reflecting on her own experience, she said there were times when her phone had been taken from her, leaving her without a way to reach out for help.

"When the team behind Bestie Button got in touch with me," she said, "I jumped at the chance to be involved."

While the product was developed with women's personal safety in mind, Lyle also highlighted how it could prove valuable for female riders, alongside a range of everyday situations many women experience.

Whether we're hacking alone, schooling in a quiet arena, loading horses before daylight or finishing at the yard long after everyone else has gone home, equestrian life often means spending hours alone.

Many riders keep their phone in a jacket pocket, saddle bag or elsewhere on their person. Following a fall, or in any situation where they can't safely reach or unlock it, calling for help isn't always straightforward.

Bestie Button connects to the user's phone via Bluetooth, with a range of up to 50 metres. As long as the phone is switched on, within range and connected, pressing the button can send a pre-written distress message and the user's location to trusted contacts without needing to physically access or unlock the phone itself.

Of course, no safety device is a substitute for sensible precautions, riding with others where possible or carrying a mobile phone. But for situations where someone cannot safely or quickly access their phone, it offers another way to discreetly alert people they trust.

At Equitas, we've spent years covering stories around safeguarding, violence against women, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and creating safer environments across the equestrian industry.

Those conversations have never been about telling women they are responsible for preventing abuse.

They have always been about ensuring women have information, support, practical resources and, where possible, more options.

This is one of those options.

It won't prevent abuse.

It won't stop accidents.

It won't replace better safeguarding or meaningful action across our industry.

But if it gives us another way to reach trusted contacts when we need help, then it's a conversation worth having.