As we embark on a wild March ride of weather changes and global forces we haven’t encountered that often (Coronavirus) we wanted to find out from the Advisory Board their thoughts on how technology (although at first it may seem complicated) can bring more clarity and simply your life with horses. Read on and I hope you all stay healthy and focus on the positive of being able to de-stress with our equine companions.

March question:

How have equestrian lives become more complicated (i.e. in regards to the challenge associated with moving between the physical and digital worlds) and how can horse tech help simplify their lives?

Technology has carved so many pathways for equestrians. However, with expanded access to information, opportunities, and data, horse enthusiasts are constantly inundated with messages and assertions. It’s an incredible challenge to reconcile all of those messages and calls to action with the physical experience of being present with your horse.

It’s so important for equestrians to seek out and engage with technology that will enhance their experiences. There are so many tech tools that can enhance the day-to-day life with horses. There are tools to help you stay focused and enhance safety measures, automations of everything from water and feeding to email reminders to help make a day go more smoothly, or certain data can help you better understand your horse. A truly simplified experience comes from getting to know those tools and using them in a way that best suits your goals. Because horses require us to be present when handling them, the physical nature of life with horses provides a great checks and balance system for the digital realm.
- Natasha, Event Clinics

Equestrians typically think of technology as something that separates them from their horses because we see youngsters glued to screens but discreet wearable tech offers the potential for us to expand our equestrian skills: Imagine what you would do if you had tech that empowered you to be capable of always sensing what your horse was feeling even when you weren’t with them. Imagine you had data captured continuously from your horse and processed by scientifically developed algorithms so that you knew that your horses’ heart was beating normally, that your horse was breathing normally, that your horse was sleeping & eating normally and that your horse wasn’t stressed. AND when it wasn’t you were notified and given advice on what you can do to correct it.

Technology is coming to aid our horses and provide invaluable reassurance to owners. Seamless collection of highly accurate data from our horses opens up a whole new opportunity to evolve the reactive design of today’s equine medicine model into a preventative model of care.
- Alan, Steed

Approximately 1% of students graduating veterinary school today go on to specialize in horses, and approximately 50% of those students will leave within 5 years. As such, the future of equine veterinary medicine needs to change to accomodate a diminishing number of equine veterinarians, who are also predominantly female and increasingly ambulatory. This is where technology can help bridge the gap by allowing vets to prospectively monitor a larger number of animals and get ahead of problems vs reacting to them, all while reducing the need to haul horses to the clinic which only induces further stress on the animal.

- Jeff, NightWatch

Equestrian's lives have been extensively impacted by technology, despite the industry's overall slow adoption. The move over the last 20 years to the cell phone and then the smart phone allows professional equestrians to have information at their fingertips that used to only be available in large binders and require looking up online after hours. However, this influx of information throughout the day can be challenging instead of compartmentalizing their work with the horses and their administrative tasks.  

Horse tech can help with the complications increased from technology when systems that help simplify processes are utilized to minimize administrative tasks in their day.  For example, HorseLinc was started to help reduce the administrative burden of invoicing and paying service providers, along with finding and scheduling with them. I don't think equestrians realize how much time is spent just coordinating the services and payment for those services in this industry. By embracing technology that reduces this burden, equestrians can get more time back to focus on other parts of their business, or actually have some free time!

-  Misty, HorseLinc