Artificial Intelligence Arrives at the Stable

Integrated smart devices are now commonplace in stables, utilizing sensors in halters, girths, and blankets to monitor vital signs and movement in real time. This technology helps trainers predict injuries, optimize training, and refine feeding plans. Recent reports indicate a growing adoption of AI-driven analytics and wearable technology within equestrian sports. These tools detect subtle changes in a horse's movement patterns, heart rate, and gait rhythm, enabling the early identification of potential health issues.

The Range of Wearable Technology

Wearable technology for horses has expanded significantly, offering a variety of forms and functions. Devices range from smart halters and tail wraps to specialized blankets, all designed to measure biometrics, monitor sick animals, or alert owners to signs of distress.

While not a replacement for hands-on knowledge or veterinary care, this technology provides valuable data to support decision-making. Applications include tracking general health, monitoring exercise and rehabilitation, and supplying information to trainers and veterinarians.

Measuring Rider Impact

Technology also extends to the rider. The Estride Steady, worn like a watch, measures the steadiness of a rider's hands and vibrates to alert them when their hands are not in a neutral position. The same company produces the Estride Harmony, a saddle pressure mat with 900 sensors that fits under the saddle. It analyzes saddle fit and rider position by mapping pressure points on the horse’s back.

Biometric Sensors

Biometric sensors are among the most common wearables. Devices like the Horsepal and Polar heart rate monitors attach near the girth to track cardiac activity during exercise, rest, and recovery, aiding in training optimization.

Other sensors offer different placements and metrics. The Garmin Blaze fits around the base of the tail, tracking heart rate, skin temperature, strides, and distance. It also provides a heat score based on local weather to inform blanketing decisions. The Equimo tracker is a lightweight device that can be clipped to a saddle pad to monitor tempo, jumps, pace, speed, elevation, and balance. All devices sync with corresponding apps for data review.

Specialized Monitoring Devices

The Equisense Motion One is a smart monitor that attaches to a girth to track movement and jump details. It provides locomotion analysis for symmetry and cadence, GPS data for distance and speed, and analysis of jumping courses. Access to the full data history requires a paid subscription.

For gait analysis and lameness detection, technologies like StrideSAFE and Horseteq are emerging. These wearable sensors analyze gait features such as step length, strike impact, and swing time to identify musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Smart Halters

Halters have likewise been enhanced with sensors. The EquiWatch chewing halter records data on eating time, chew count, and head position; it was adapted from the RumiWatch halter, originally created to monitor cattle behavior.

The NightWatch smart halter, first created in 2013, functions as an equine distress and wellness monitor. Its built-in sensors tracked heart rate and respiration, sending alerts to owners if a horse showed early signs of distress. While the original version is currently unavailable, the company is developing next-generation technology.

Location Tracking

GPS technology provides location security. Devices like those from Equilab or Steed offer real-time tracking via a wearable or smartphone. Passive trackers and RFID tags can also be used during turnout to help locate a loose or stolen horse, with microchipping becoming an increasingly common practice.

The Future: Monitoring Blankets

The smart horse blanket is an upcoming innovation. Students at Western University have founded StableInsights to develop a blanket that continuously tracks vitals like temperature, heart rate, and gut sounds. After creating prototypes, they aim to begin beta testing soon and hope to launch the product by summer 2027.

Garmin Enters the Equestrian Market

The wearable technology giant Garmin has entered the equine market with the Garmin Blaze Equine Wellness System. This launch aligns with a growing research focus on using biometric sensors for early injury detection.

The Garmin Blaze consists of a removable tail sensor and an adjustable wrap. It tracks activity, heart rate, skin temperature, gait, speed, and strides, syncing data to a smartwatch or phone via an app. The system provides alerts for elevated heart rate, temperature changes, and severe heat scores.

Heart rate monitoring is a particularly established practice. A horse's beats per minute indicate workload effort, aiding in conditioning and fitness assessment. Over time, this data can reveal changes in athletic capacity. Sharp, unexplained increases in heart rate can also signal sudden pain or stress, enabling early intervention.

Industry Endorsement

The US Equestrian Federation (USEF) has formally acknowledged the role of this technology. A July 2025 white paper, Optimizing Equine Health, states that wearable technology can “provide valuable safety and health information” and recommends its expansion across all competitive levels.

What the Technology Measures

Equine wearables are typically small sensors placed on the saddle, girth, leg, or bridle. They capture key metrics such as heart rate variability, acceleration, stride symmetry, ground contact time, and fatigue measures.

Training yards use this data to monitor workload and recovery. Sudden changes in stride length or heart rate recovery can indicate discomfort or an impending injury. Industry estimates suggest that over 40% of high-end race studs in Europe and Australia now use some form of biometric monitoring during training—a figure that has doubled in less than five years.

The Case for Wearable Tech

The primary advantage cited for wearable technology is injury prevention. In disciplines like racing, where musculoskeletal injuries are a leading cause of downtime, sensors can detect unusual movement patterns before they fully manifest.

Beyond welfare, the technology offers a competitive edge. Precise performance data allows trainers to oversee preparation with unprecedented detail, where minor changes in recovery or efficiency can make a major difference. This data-driven approach is also changing how the sport is analyzed. Enthusiasts and analysts increasingly incorporate performance statistics and condition monitoring into a broader understanding of form and fitness, valuing this context alongside traditional outcomes.