Accelerometer activity tracking in horses and the effect of pasture management on time budget.
Authors: Maisonpierre I N, Sutton M A, Harris P, Menzies-Gow N, Weller R, Pfau T
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Accelerometer Activity Tracking in Horses and Pasture Management Effects Poll-mounted accelerometers (ActiGraph devices) can reliably distinguish between standing, grazing and ambulating in horses, with optimised cut-off thresholds achieving sensitivity and specificity values exceeding 94%, according to this 2019 validation study by Maisonpierre and colleagues. The researchers established these activity classification thresholds through five-minute direct observation in controlled conditions, then assessed between-day repeatability and real-world application over a 20-day period in six horses managed under different pasture regimes. Paddock size significantly altered activity patterns: horses in small paddocks spent 1.6 additional hours standing daily and ambulated 16 minutes less than those in standard paddocks (P=0.002), whilst grazing duration remained unchanged; marked diurnal differences also emerged, with horses standing for 50.97% of night-time hours compared to 32.95% during the day. The practical value of this technology lies in its potential to objectively quantify movement patterns relevant to obesity management and metabolic disease prevention—variables traditionally estimated through subjective observation—though the authors acknowledge the small sample size and lack of independent cross-validation limits confidence in the generalisability of their cut-off values. For equine professionals involved in condition management and rehabilitation assessment, this work provides a framework for more systematic activity monitoring, though further validation on larger, diverse populations would strengthen clinical application.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Accelerometers can reliably monitor horse activity patterns, enabling objective assessment of pasture management strategies for obesity control
- •Increasing paddock size encourages movement and reduces standing time, which may support weight management programmes
- •Activity monitoring via accelerometry provides quantifiable data for evaluating whether pasture modifications are achieving desired behavioural changes
Key Findings
- •Accelerometer cut-off values established: <127.6 counts for standing, 127.6-702.7 for grazing, >702.7 for ambulating, with 94.7-97.7% sensitivity and 94.7-96.8% specificity
- •Small paddocks significantly increased standing time (10.3 vs 8.7 hours) and reduced ambulation (39.6 vs 55.7 minutes) compared to standard paddocks
- •Grazing time did not differ between paddock sizes, but significant day/night variation existed: grazing 60.81% day vs 46.77% night
- •Between-day repeatability showed median differences of 46.9 minutes standing, 77.3 minutes grazing, and 15.6 minutes ambulating