9 Tech Tools for the Modern Equestrian
Guest Blog Post
From the mythical tales of Pegasus to the Bucephalus of Alexander the great or a modern-day war horse Sergeant Reckless, the horse has forever been our ally at work, entertainment, war, or travel.
While some cultures still see horses as a source of travel or work, others have changed their perspective on the direction of sports or enjoyment. If you own a horse, we have some good news for you. Since technology began to have a grip on everything in the world, equestrians are experiencing the advantages.
Technology is slowly transforming the horse world - by introducing solutions that will make your life easier, from blankets to safety to health and wellness; technology covers it all.
Tech Innovations
Technology is changing the way horse performances are judged on the ground rather than depending on others' opinions. Today, countless devices are available that help improves the horse-riding experience, along with taking care of them.
But, if you're entirely new to the equestrian industry, it might be hard work. Nevertheless, you can always adopt dogs if you're looking for a partner that's not so hard to take care of. We curated a list of hypoallergenic dogs for adoption, which can be your best friends and low maintenance.
For those who are horse lovers, let’s look at the innovative tech tools that can help the way we take care of our horses:
1. Manage Horse Health
Can't keep track of the last time your horse went to the vet? Need to keep a check on their health but feel impossible? Apps like Hippovibe can make your life easy. Own a single horse or a herd, and keep up with their health together in a single place.
You can now remember who needs an extra special feed or who is next for foot trimming. You can set a reminder to never miss out on vet appointments or shoe shopping for your horse.
Similarly, an app that can help you with every query you have. Horse Side Vet Guide is an app that will help you with anything you want to know anytime and anywhere! See something unusual about your horse? Ask the handy app, and get answers from an experienced equine vet. Managing your horse's health has never been this easy.
2. Personal Safety
Going for a ride alone and want to make sure someone knows if anything happens? Use any of these:
The Horse rider SOS app scans your movements. In case of no motion, it sends an emergency signal with your location information to a prearranged contact to rescue you.
ICEdot device was first made for bicycle riders but can also be mounted to rider helmets. It needs to be paired with the smartphone app. This app can detect motion and forceful impacts. Suppose you fall from the horse; the ICEdot app will begin a countdown.
If you fail to respond to stop this countdown, the app will send out an emergency alert to your listed contacts. It can provide your name, health information, and geo location to get help faster.
3. Eyes on Your Horse
If your horse is in a stall at night, this device will monitor for any potential problem and sends you a report within minutes. StallWatch is a system and app that provides video surveillance for your horse WITHOUT THE INTERNET.
Yes, you read it right, you only need electricity to power the system so you can keep an eye on your horse anytime/anywhere.
4. Training Coach
Equisense is a device that analyzes a horse's movement for any lameness or injury, then sends a report to your smartphone app. The device is attached to your horse's girth to calculate its movement, speed, stride length, and jump trajectory.
You can send this information to your trainer or anyone who takes care of your horse, as this data is necessary for horse training and disciplines. This app records the workload and helps improve horse activity.
5. A New Kind of Horse Shoe
3D printing has taken the world in awe. Initially, from printing small plastic items to being used for printing human tissues, Australia now uses 3D printing to get a customized horseshoe. It can also be used to create casts or prosthetic legs for injured animals.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia came up with the idea of using a scanner to get a custom Horseshoe. This 3D Horseshoe Printing Technology uses imaging software to analyze the hoof and provide a perfect fit!
6. Solving the Blanket Dilemma
We've all been there where we had to determine if the horse requires more blankets or not. The Horsepal wearable device is attached underneath the blanket to monitor the horse's temperature, sweating, and activity.
It also sends out your location's weather forecast. So, if it's too humid today or your horse is moving a lot, you might want to skip the blanket for the day. It also sends a warning if your horse needs a blanket.
7. Infrared Tech for the Horse
Infrared technology is now in your hands in the form of Thermal Cameras. This allows you to take a picture of your horse and view it using infrared technology, that are light frequencies not visible to the naked eye.
This technology can detect infrared waves on your horse's body. If your horse is too hot or if there's any inflammation. It is used to detect any issue within the horse's muscles, nerves, or bones before they show any symptoms. Suspect your barn wiring is overheating? Thermal cameras to the rescue!
Wrapping Up
The advancement of technology is enhancing the traditional horse business models. But these improvements are just starting.
We have only listed 9 here, but there are numerous products and solutions that showcase how technology meets the equestrian world. The equestrian industry will only ascent in the coming years, reimaging a completely different future.