Education

Wearable biometric sensors may detect injury

Wearable biometric sensors may enable the detection of musculoskeletal injury in racehorses and can serve as an effective complement to the existing oversight provided by veterinarians and trainers, according to findings from the Wearable Biometric Sensor Research Project.

The project followed 2-year-old Thoroughbreds over 1 year, capturing data in real time as they entered training. By analyzing high-speed exercise sessions (breezes), sensors worn by the racehorses in the study provided 1 of 3 status levels: green, yellow or red.

Highlights from the data analysis include:

• Increased risk detection: Horses flagged with a yellow or red sensor reading were about twice as likely to sustain a musculoskeletal issue compared to those with green readings.
• Cumulative credibility: The likelihood of a documented musculoskeletal issue increased progressively for horses that received multiple red or yellow designations.
• Training management: Using wearable sensors did not appear to interfere with the training regimen of study participants. Half of the 2-year-olds participating in the study raced in 2025, compared with the industry average of 39.6% of eligible 2-year-olds making a start in 2025.

While the AAEP said the sensors require further refinement before becoming a mandated device in Thoroughbred racing, the information they provide could be useful to those making decisions regarding a horse’s health and welfare.

“This study was not intended to validate the use of sensors as a tool to scratch horses from competition on race day, but rather to validate if sensors can provide more information about a racehorse’s physical condition prior to a horse being entered to race,” explained Sara Langsam, VMD, AAEP project coordinator for the study and chair of the AAEP Racing Committee. MeV