Horses to Sport Heart Rate Monitors in BHA Pilot Program

In the bustling world of British horse racing, technology and data science are galloping ahead, playing pivotal roles in enhancing horse welfare, boosting safety, and maximizing performance. Recently, at the season’s final curtain call at Plumpton, an equine named Ted’s Friend donned a heart rate monitor, marking the first time such a device was used during a competitive race under the British Rules of Racing.

As Ted’s Friend thundered down the track with jockey Max Kendrick at the helm and trained under the watchful eye of Fergal O’Brien, this horse bore a tailored Arioneo Equimetre device. This groundbreaking move is part of a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) pilot scheme aiming to test this technology’s viability under race conditions.

Wearable technology has already found its stride among racehorse trainers who use it diligently to keep tabs on heart rate, stride length, and speed during exercise at home. This real-time treasure trove of data offers rich insights into each horse’s health and performance, enabling trainers to fine-tune their operational strategies concerning training regimens, rest periods, and race preparedness.

Since hanging up his saddle, Max Kendrick has become an assistant trainer at Ravenswell, eagerly broadening his horizons on wearable technology’s role in equine sports science.

Data-Driven Decisions

“From the performance angle and equine welfare perspective, expanding the use of monitoring and data analysis is fantastic,” he shared. “Although we’ve been savvy users of data analysis to monitor horses during training at Fergal’s, there was always a missing piece: extending this data collection to the actual races.”

Working over several months, O’Brien’s team collaborated closely with the BHA to prepare and execute this pilot. Initially, 10 horses from his yard will sport the Arioneo Equimetre device as they traverse diverse courses and obstacles.

Before hitting the racecourse, thorough testing ensured the equipment’s safety. The device, snugly fitted via surcingle using a custom pad, integrates as part of the horse’s required weight and stays secured postrace to monitor heart rates seamlessly from start to finish.

Pioneering Study on Equine Health

This pilot isn’t just about technology integration but is also a corridor towards equine health enrichment. Data from these initial 10 races will be indispensable for the O’Brien team to augment their existing horse health database. However, the information’s true appeal lies in its use by researchers at the University of Surrey to deepen studies aimed at reducing risks of preventable injuries and fatalities.

Over the past 25 years, British racing has been championing such investments, with over £56 million funneled into improving equine health and research. Innovative projects like applying artificial intelligence to foresee irregular heart rhythms or understanding exercise-linked sudden deaths are coursing through the industry. It’s also believed that a horse with an undetected injury, potentially leading to fractures, might exhibit noticeable prelude changes in their stride pattern.

An Auspicious Beginning

The buzz around the pilot has been nothing short of positive. “All signs are encouraging,” affirmed Sally Taylor, the BHA’s Head of Equine Regulation, Safety, and Welfare. Although day one emphasized managing practicalities such as regulatory adherence and equipment placement, the collaborative support from race officials ensured everything trotted along smoothly.

Preliminary data analysis showed the device functioning effectively, yielding intriguing insights into equine conditions and performance. Even as the pilot team notes areas for improvement in data quality, the progress remains promisingly satisfying.

Moving forward, the device will continue its course circuit trials, with constant data review leading to a more comprehensive analysis post-pilot.

Gazing Ahead

Interest in this technology is already flourishing among other trainers, keen to explore participation in future iterations. Sally Taylor envisions a future where this technology proves just as effective in races as on training grounds, identifying possible regulatory and procedural finetunings.

Max Kendrick remains hopeful for the transformative impact this could have on training. “While you can’t train horses from behind a screen, having access to critical data—whether in the yard or on the track—allows for a deeper understanding of their unique needs and enables us to tweak training techniques effectively.”

With the pilot still in its infancy, the excitement is palpable. The equine industry eagerly anticipates the deeper insights and broader applications this technology could offer, with ultimate decisions anchored in the horses’ best interests, accounting for their welfare and well-being.

As more data trickles in and the pilot reaches its destined conclusion, additional information and next steps will shine through, hopefully paving the path for widespread adoption across the realm of racing.