Impact of the technology to monitor horse behaviour and health: a scoping review.

Overview

• This review article explores recent advancements in technologies used to monitor horse behaviour and health, focusing on wearable sensors and non-contact methods.
• It highlights how these technologies can improve equine care by enabling continuous monitoring and early detection of health issues, while also discussing the challenges and limitations involved.

Technological Advances in Equine Monitoring

• Wearable Sensors:
  • Include devices that horses can wear, such as heart rate monitors and biometric sensors.
  • Heart rate monitors track cardiac autonomic regulation by measuring heart rate variability, helping optimize training and detect cardiac problems early.
  • Wearable biometric sensors measure vital signs like temperature and general activity levels, providing continuous health data.
  • Challenges with wearables include accuracy issues due to improper placement, signal interference, and device durability concerns.
  • Integration of wearable data with existing management systems can also be problematic.
• Non-Contact Technologies:
  • Include technologies such as computer vision which analyze images and video feeds without physically attaching devices to the horses.
  • This approach allows for non-invasive monitoring of horse behaviour, movement patterns, and social interactions.
  • These technologies help identify behavioural changes that signal health or welfare concerns.
  • Non-contact methods reduce stress on animals since no physical devices are required.

Benefits of Monitoring Technologies

• Support better equine welfare by enabling continuous and detailed tracking of health parameters and behaviour.
• Allow early identification of potential health problems, helping prevent more serious issues.
• Provide objective data to optimize training regimens and improve performance management.
• Help in understanding social dynamics and behavioural changes in stabled or free-ranging horses.

Limitations and Challenges

• Accuracy and Reliability:
  • Wearable sensor data accuracy can be compromised by poor sensor placement or environmental interference.
  • Non-contact methods such as computer vision depend heavily on image quality and computational algorithms which can sometimes misinterpret data.
• Device Durability and Integration:
  • Wearable devices need to withstand the horses’ dynamic environment, including movement, weather, and potential damage.
  • Integration with existing stable management systems may require technical expertise and infrastructure upgrades.
• Privacy and Ethical Concerns:
  • Monitoring raises questions about data privacy and the ethical use of continuous surveillance.
• Need for Scientific Validation:
  • Effectiveness of these technologies must be thoroughly validated through scientific studies to ensure reliability and usefulness in real-world settings.

Conclusion

• Wearable and remote monitoring technologies present promising tools to advance equine health care and management.
• They facilitate better welfare by detecting behavioural and physiological changes early.
• Ongoing improvements and rigorous validation are necessary to overcome current limitations in accuracy, reliability, and ethical considerations.
• Future development should focus on integrating these technologies seamlessly into daily equine management to maximize benefits for horse health and performance.