Biometric screening to identify ‘at risk’ horses and dogs
The StrideMASTER system captures data from a highly-sensitive device placed on the animal, just prior to the race.
Data is generated from sensors and combined with GPS and timing data to create a unique and extremely accurate picture of an individual animal’s movement and performance. Devices are lightweight, do not impede performance and have gained relevant safety approvals from operating jurisdictions.
The data is used to generate a biometric profile for each animal. The biometric profile reflects the stride characteristics of the individual captured during the running of a race, trial or in training.
Stride characteristics are highly repeatable and once the profile is built, variations in stride compared to the profile, can be detected and flagged for investigation. The profile is strengthened by repeated data sets (training workouts and races).
The biometric profile is a powerful tool to improve welfare management, in that it helps to identify animals at risk, before a serious injury occurs.
The highly sensitive data capture technologies can detect minor variations in stride pattern. A horse or dog may suffer a minor injury which may not be detected clinically but may cause sub-clinical anomalies which can be detected in the stride pattern.