Evaluation of a Commercial Activity Monitor for Determining Step Counts in Horses.

The article presents the results of a study evaluating the accuracy of a widely used commercial activity monitor, the FitBit Zip, in counting steps of horses. The research found that while the device does not accurately count the number of steps, it can still provide useful information on the overall activity level of horses.

Objective and Methodology

• The goal of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a commercial activity monitor (FitBit Zip) in providing accurate step counts for horses. It aimed to determine if such devices might be utilized not only for detecting disease but also for monitoring post-surgery limb loading and aid in rehabilitation courses in horses.
• The researchers conducted the experiment in three parts, each with a varying number of horses and different placement positions for the activity monitors. In each part, the device’s step-count data were compared with those from video recordings.

Findings

• In the first part of the experiment, the researchers found that the movement of the activity monitors was considerable when they were placed at the chest and withers of the horse. However, when they were mounted on the head and limbs, the devices were more stable.
• In the second stage of the experiment, the team found moderate to high correlation between the video and the activity monitor data for the forelimb and hindlimbs, with R values of 0.82 and 0.74 respectively, indicating a reasonably accurate count comparison.
• The third part of the experiment showed that the activity monitor placed on either the forelimb or hindlimbs approximately doubled the step counts compared to the video. This indicated a high level of inaccuracy in the step count recorded by the monitors.
• Despite the inaccurate step count, the researchers concluded that the device might still be useful in providing general information regarding the overall activity level of horses when they are stalled.