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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(8); 539; doi: 10.3390/ani9080539

Irish Equine Industry Stakeholder Perspectives of Objective Technology for Biomechanical Analyses in the Field.

Abstract: Wearable sensing technologies are increasingly used in human and equine gait research to improve ecological validity of research findings. It is unclear how these tools have penetrated the equine industry or what perspectives industry stakeholders' hold in relation to these relatively new devices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Irish equine industry stakeholders to understand their perception of objective tools for biomechanical analysis in the field. The study participants came from professional/elite backgrounds in both the sport horse ( = 6) and thoroughbred ( = 6) sectors. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, resulting in four analytical themes. The first theme conveys the importance of tacit knowledge and experience in the holistic analysis of a horse. Theme two highlights that the perfect horse does not exist therefore, equine athlete management is complex and requires a multi-layered problem-solving approach. Theme three describes an awareness among stakeholders of technologies, however they are sceptical of their value. The final theme identified that one of the key barriers to technology adoption is the economic value of the horse and the cost of implementing technology herd-wide. Our findings highlight the need for a user-centred design in this domain, which requires greater consultation and learning between technology developers and equine stakeholders to develop fit-for-purpose analysis and monitoring tools.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-08 PubMed ID: 31398822PubMed Central: PMC6720583DOI: 10.3390/ani9080539Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focused on a study on the perspectives of Irish equine industry stakeholders towards the use of wearable sensor technologies for biomechanical analysis of horses in the field. The research highlighted the stakeholders’ emphasis on traditional expertise, the uniqueness of each horse, their skepticism towards technologies, and the cost as the main barriers to technology adoption.

Study Design and Participants

  • The study employed a qualitative investigation method using semi-structured interviews to collect primary data on the perceived value and barriers of using sensing technologies in the equine industry.
  • The participants of the study were from professional and elite backgrounds in the sport horse and thoroughbred sectors of the Irish equine industry.

Findings and Themes

  • The study identified four main themes derived from the interview data. These themes reflected the stakeholders’ insight on the use of sensing technology in the equine industry.
  • The first theme emphasized the importance of experiential or tacit knowledge in the holistic analysis of horses. The respondents asserted that knowledge and experience cannot be fully replaced by technology in understanding the health and performance of horses.
  • The second theme underscored the complexity of managing equine athletes due to their individual uniqueness. This suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach using technology might not appropriately address the needs of each horse.
  • The third theme revealed an awareness of the available wearable sensing technologies among the participants, but they also expressed skepticism about their usefulness and reliability.
  • The fourth theme pointed to the economic concerns as one of the biggest barriers towards the adoption of sensing technology in the equine industry. The cost of implementing this technology on a larger scale across herds could be prohibitive.

Implications and Recommendations

  • The study findings highlighted a need for technology developers to engage more with industry stakeholders. This engagement could ensure that the design and development of wearable technology for biomechanical analysis is user-centered.
  • More insights could be drawn through consultations and learning sessions between technology developers and industry stakeholders to create tools that are appropriate for individual horse needs and the realities of the equine industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Egan S, Brama P, McGrath D. (2019). Irish Equine Industry Stakeholder Perspectives of Objective Technology for Biomechanical Analyses in the Field. Animals (Basel), 9(8), 539. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080539

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
PII: 539

Researcher Affiliations

Egan, Sonja
  • Institute for Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. sonja.egan@ucdconnect.ie.
Brama, Pieter
  • Section Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
McGrath, Denise
  • Institute for Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Grant Funding

  • (GOIPG/2017/1611) / Irish Research Council

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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