Page 107 - January 2021

The Blue Infinite Smart Saddle by Voltaire Design offers all the comforts and safety of a normal saddle, but the inside allows for tracking measurables: the gait of the horse, the direction it’s running, the degree of symmetry when it runs, the length of its stride, etc.
PERFORMANCE
For owners and trainers looking for a data- driven approach to getting their charges ready for race day, there’s now “smart saddle” technol-
ogy. The Blue Infinite Smart Saddle by Voltaire Design offers all the comforts and safety of a normal saddle. On the inside, though, the saddle allows for all kinds of tracking measurables: the gait of the horse, the direction it’s running, the degree of symmetry when it runs, the length of its stride, etc. The Blue Infinite is actually the second generation of Voltaire’s smart saddles (the Blue Wing was the first). Performance can be monitored in real time via the Voltaire app, avail- able on Android or iPhone.
Arioneo, a company based in France, offers The Equimetre, which uses sensors to measure performance and provide data analysis on care and management, as well. Through a sensor attached to the saddle flap, the device gathers a wide array of data including vitals, heart rate, speed, and more. Such tracking also is touted as a means of early diagnosis of a potential injury long before it becomes problematic.
APPS
Whether for a Champion racehorse or a trail pony, Trackener can monitor a wide variety of aspects in the day-to-day life of a horse. The app also provides information on the nearest veteri- nary office, where to buy high-quality feed, and even measures the horse’s grazing.
If you’re transporting a horse and run into a mishap on the road, you can’t call Uber or Lyft, but you can call Equo. This app connects horse owners in need with nearby individuals who have the means to provide horse transportation.
RACING
Technology has even impacted photo fin- ishes—and, with it, sometimes the winner of a race. Digital cameras take clearer, more precise images, allowing track officials to zoom in and make an accurate determination of the victor. Sometimes, you may not even need a camera. Spectrum News 1 in Louisville, Kentucky, reported earlier this year on the use of 1-dimensional array sensors at the finish line, which when triggered automatically take an image of the race finish.
Digital cameras can take clearer, more precise images, allowing track officials to zoom in and make an accurate determination of the victor.
SPEEDHORSE January 2021 105