Warmblood D
By Summer Stoffel Why Technology Will Bring You the Competitive Edge
ata. It has long been an ugly four-letter word to many in the horse industry, only known as a by- product of horse registration and competition
results. But times are changing. Data and the technologies that create it are becom-
ing more and more integrated into our daily horse management and training. With every year that goes by, technical advances are being made that will help us gain a competitive advantage and know our horses on a deeper level. Embracing these technologies and using them to improve the condition of our horses and quality of our training will not only give us a competitive edge, it will define the future of our sport. The first step is understanding this ever-changing
technological landscape. ‘Tech’ can often seem compli- cated, confusing and overwhelming. To some, it may even seem unnecessary. Our sport is steeped in tradition and a long-standing physical and emotional connection between horse and human. Many even feel that the in- troduction of technology into our sport can distance us from our equine partners. That is far from the truth. By breaking it down into simple, easy to understand terms, new technology can more easily be understood and implemented. Below are five categories you should be aware of that will be instrumental in shaping the future of our sport.
Sensors Many companies have now launched sensor products to help us know our equine partners better. Vital signs, performance analysis and symmetry are among a few of the areas that can be analyzed. This is done through wearable sensors that are built into halters, girths, blan- kets, boots or saddles, or can be attached to existing equipment. These devices can monitor heart rate, blood pres-
sure, respiration and recovery period. They also provide feedback about the symmetry of the training sessions. One can even measure the height, width and angle of your horse’s jump, along with the number of strides between jumps. All are designed to give insight into the efficiency of your training sessions and the physical conditioning needs of your horse in order to improve performance in the ring and mitigate injury.
Internet of Things The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next step. It is the network of devices, sensors, electronics, software and other items that allow the exchange of data through the internet. The day is coming when riders will be able to wear sensors or smart clothing to know if they are balanced when riding and using the correct muscles. The informa- tion from those sensors will then be combined with the data generated from the sensors on the horse, making it possible to report how the movements of the rider are affecting the performance of the horse. When that data is combined with actual competition results, riders and trainers will have great information from which to draw insights on where the rider and horse need to improve to achieve better results. Human athletes have used this type of data to increase fitness and performance results for decades. Better fitness not only leads to better performance, but also prevents injuries. The Internet of Things will make it possible for us to visibly track the health of our horses and see the metrics that prove our training is working.
Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. Using processes and algo- rithms, an AI system can use the data and information that has been gathered through various sources to learn, reason and provide suggestions. Through AI, we will be able to take the information from devices, such as sensors and data from platforms (like competition results and ancestral history) to produce recommend- ed breeding, training or management plans. When you add this to the ever-growing area of genomic selection and the data that it generates, the possibilities are endless. You won’t have to be a data scientist to understand what all of it means; the artificial intelligence will do this for you and provide suggestions in user-friendly ways that are easy to understand. This will help take the guess work out of our daily decisions and maximize results of our efforts, whether in the breeding shed or the competitive arena.
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