Bestie Button: Silent, Discreet, Safety, Peace of Mind

Stephen Larmour set out to design a safety device his teenage nieces would happily wear. In this Equitas livestream, we learn about what it does, what it cannot do, and why the conversation belongs on the yard.

When Stephen went looking for a personal safety device for his nieces, he did not like what he found. He did not like the alarms, and he did not like how the devices looked. His nieces are, in his words, "a TikTok generation", and he wanted something their friends would not make fun of. So he started to build his own: Bestie Button, a small Bluetooth button that he describes as silent and discreet.

(Some context, added by Equitas and not said in the episode)
The Police Service of Northern Ireland recorded 29,751 domestic abuse incidents in 2024/25 and reports that, on average, police attend a domestic abuse incident every 17 minutes. Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland says 30 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020, as reported by RTÉ on 24 March 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this article.

In this episode, Sarah begins where the idea began, then asks the practical question. What is the problem that a phone is not already solving? Stephen's answer is about thresholds. Unlocking a phone, finding the right message and explaining what has happened is a lot to ask in the moment, and a button press asks very little.
He talks Sarah through how the button works, from the first pairing to the contacts you choose, and he is careful about the details that matter. He says it works alongside your phone, that the app needs to stay open in the background, and that it is one option among many.

Abi joins the conversation

Olympic dressage rider and a supporter of Bestie Button, Abi speaks briefly, in her own words, about why she wanted to get behind it, drawing on her own past experience of an abusive relationship.

The conversation then turns to something many women in this sport will recognise. Yards late at night, rural areas, hacking out and running for fitness all mean time spent alone, and it is pointed out how normal being in a vulnerable environment has become for horse people.

Looking ahead

Stephen shares what he hopes to improve in the product and what he would like it to do for the people who use it. Both Abi and Stephen share what success looks like for the Bestie Button, and it's well worth a listen.

To find out more or to purchase a Bestie Button, go to mybestiebutton.com, and we have been permitted to share code "ABI10" for a discount.
Don't forget to follow @MyBestieButton to keep up to date on features.

If you have been affected by any of the topics mentioned in this episode, support is available.
EQUISS is Equitas's named safeguarding partner for the UK and Ireland, offering free, confidential and independent support to anyone in the equestrian community who has experienced, witnessed, or wants to report abuse or misconduct.

You can contact them on 08000 308 800 (from Ireland or abroad: +44 8000 308 800), Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, or by email at helpcentre@equiss.org.uk.
In an emergency, contact 999, or Samaritans on 116 123.

#EyesUp

Sources

• Police Service of Northern Ireland, domestic abuse statistics, 2024/25: https://www.psni.police.uk/about-us/our-publications-and-reports/official-statistics/domestic-abuse-statistics
• RTÉ News, 24 March 2026, reporting Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland: https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0324/1564905-femicide-womens-aid/