Irish Equine Industry Stakeholder Perspectives of Objective Technology for Biomechanical Analyses in the Field.
Authors: Egan Sonja, Brama Pieter, McGrath Denise
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Wearable Technology Adoption in Equine Practice Wearable biomechanical sensors offer promising opportunities for objective gait analysis in horses, yet their uptake within the Irish equine industry remains unclear. Egan and colleagues conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 elite-level stakeholders (six from sport horse and six from thoroughbred sectors) to explore attitudes towards field-based motion analysis technologies, analysing responses using thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged: practitioners heavily valued tacit knowledge and clinical experience in holistic horse assessment; they recognised the inherent complexity of managing athletic horses, requiring multifaceted problem-solving beyond single metrics; awareness of available technologies existed, but scepticism about their practical utility was widespread; and critically, economic barriers—both the high value of individual horses and the prohibitive cost of herd-wide implementation—substantially limited adoption. These findings underscore a significant gap between technology developers and end-users in equine practice, suggesting that future device design must prioritise user-centred approaches and closer collaboration with farriers, veterinarians, physiotherapists and coaches to create tools that integrate with, rather than replace, professional expertise and deliver demonstrable return on investment.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •New biomechanical monitoring technologies will only gain traction in equine practice if developers consult directly with industry professionals about real-world needs and cost-benefit analysis
- •Your clinical judgment and experience remain invaluable—objective tools should complement rather than replace your expertise in assessing individual horse performance and health
- •Before investing in new technology, carefully evaluate the return on investment relative to herd size and the specific problems you're trying to solve
Key Findings
- •Equine industry stakeholders value tacit knowledge and experience alongside objective analysis tools for holistic horse assessment
- •Despite awareness of biomechanical monitoring technologies, industry professionals remain skeptical of their practical value in field settings
- •Economic factors and herd-wide implementation costs represent major barriers to adoption of wearable sensing technologies in equine practice
- •User-centered design and improved collaboration between technology developers and equine stakeholders is essential for developing fit-for-purpose monitoring tools