Horse movement monitoring system and related methods

Abstract

A horse movement monitoring system includes at least one motion sensor adapted to monitor movement of the horse from a position adjacent to the lumbar spine of the horse.

Description

HORSE MOVEMENT MONITORING SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODSRelated Applications

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 612,124, filed December 19, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Technical Field

[0002] This document relates generally to systems and methods for assessing the physical welfare of a horse by monitoring its movements during physical activity.

[0003] The systems rely upon collecting multi-directional accelerations through the use of an Internal Measurement Unit (IMU) also referred to as a “sensor” held in place close to the horse’s lumbar spine and effectively “worn” by the horse. To ensure accuracy in the final analysis then for collection purposes the horse must run at or close to racing speed, generally between 50 to 60 feet per second. Data must be collected at a very high rate, greater than 300Hz, and can then be used as follows: i) For welfare, that is prediction the possibility of a catastrophic injury including death. ii) For wellness, that is assessing the overall soundness and wellbeing of the horse. iii) For performance measurement and predictions of ability and future performances.Background

[0004] For a large animal like a horse to run at speeds up to and around 50-60 feet per second it must employ an energy source other than just muscle power. That energy source is elastic energy stored throughout the body in elastic tissues such as tendons, ligaments and fibrous tissue within the muscles. The energy is first stored when momentum is applied to joints held firmly in place by muscles. Under weight bearing, flexion in these joints is possible only by stretching all the associated connective tissue (elastic) elements. When the loading force is withdrawn or released then the elastic recoil is sufficient to drive fast forward movement.

[0005] The sequence of events in a fast moving horse are as follows.

[0006] Assuming the horse is already moving at high speed so his body has velocity and momentum then the start of a stride could be taken as the moment the first hind leg hits the ground. At this moment the horse will be standing on just that one hind leg. The momentum and gravity forcing the horse down is resisted by the muscles. In the way previously described flexion now causes stretching and hence the production of stored elastic energy. When the second hind limb makes ground contact then the process is repeated. As the two hind legs release their stored elastic energy the horse is propelled forwards.

[0007] Next in the progression of the stride is first one then the second front leg contact. These limbs catch the forward momentum and in so doing stretch their own springs. While the front legs are loading the hind legs are off the ground, the back is bending and the hind legs are being thrown forward under the horse in readiness for the next stride. The release of the front limb springs elevate the body and throw the front legs forward thereby making room for the hind legs to extend underneath.

[0008] The horse is now in the airborne or suspension phase and has no ground contact. This is the time during which the hind quarters can flex, bend, or rotate in such a way as to redirect the forward trajectory of the horse and so more perfectly align the body for the next stride. In effect the horse is steering from behind in a way similar to that by which a rudder steers a ship.

[0009] The drive and all the steering movements must go through the lumbar spine so by placing our sensor in the right location we have discovered a way to measure all of these forces. The sensor must be in a very specific position if it is to pick up the forces from the hind legs, the front legs, and the steering action created by the pelvis as it twists and turns during the airborne phase to correct and direct the trajectory of the horse.

[0010] We have discovered that the nature and style by which a specific horse fulfills all the necessary components of a stride is unique to that particular horse. This discovery we have named the “Stride Fingerprint”.

[0011] Figure 1A and Figure IB show the data from two different horses both breezing and racing. Considered together, these figures illustrate:i) The similarity or “fingerprint” of each horse even under different circumstances. ii) The dissimilarity between two different horses.

[0012] The data in each case is selected from three different events, namely two breezes and one race.

[0013] These figures illustrate the consistency and reproducibility of the “fingerprint” and how the stride fingerprint is quite different one horse to another.

[0014] For each of Figure 1A and FigurelB the data is collected and displayed in the same manner. The data in each graph is for the duration of one complete stride starting when the first hind foot contacts the ground and finishing when, at the end of the stride, that same foot hits the ground once again. In each graph five strides are overlaid one upon the other. For each event there are three graphs displayed vertically. Each is for a different axis so the top graph is dorsoventral data (DV), the middle is longitudinal data (LG), and the bottom graph is mediolateral data (ML).

[0015] The graphs clearly show the “fingerprints” for Horse Example 1 (a three year old colt) and for Horse Example 2 (a two year old colt) and illustrate that the fingerprints for the two horses differ. As further shown by Horse Example 1, under ideal circumstances, horses show the same characteristics all the time: that is, the strides from a breeze and a race look basically the same with only minor differences. The graph “fingerprint” for Horse Example 2 clearly shows more stride variation than that shown by Horse Example 1 but that is normal and can be expected for two year olds in July.

[0016] We have discovered that if a sensor system is placed in a precisely defined area alongside or on top of the lumbar spine LS of the horse under study, then the sensor system can measure the dimensional force components of the “fingerprint”. Experiments were undertaken in which sensors were placed in multiple locations on either side of the horse and it was discovered that the data was only useful if the sensor was in the specific area described and claimed in this document.

[0017] This critical location is defined in Figure 2. It is neither obvious or intuitive that a sensor positioned within this area along the lumbar spine LS would be capable of picking up data whichwould be able to predict career ending or fatal injury in any of the four limbs. In most cases changes in that data precede the fatal injury by many months.

[0018] In the past, any attempt to measure injury in the leg of a horse has involved attaching instrumentation (e.g. accelerometers, electrogonimetry) to the lower part of the leg or to the specific site of potential injury. Instrumentation attached in these positions are difficult and time consuming to attach properly and are prone to shaking loose under the large forces that instrumentation is subjected to at the lower leg location. Such lower leg placement also risks injury to both horse and rider during fast galloping and racing: risks substantially avoided when the instrumentation is secured to the horse as set forth in this document.

[0019] Both horses and jockeys have died when a horse breaks a leg and falls. Being able to predict these events in advance and so move to put protocols in place to prevent these fatalities is not only useful but critical to the survival of racing as a spectator sport.Summary

[0020] In accordance with the purposes and benefits set forth herein, a horse movement monitoring system, comprises, consists of or consists essentially of at least one motion sensor adapted to monitor movement of the horse from a position adjacent to the lumbar spine of the horse. In at least some of the many possible embodiments, the at least one motion sensor comprises a sensor system capable of collecting data in up to nine axes where the data is used to produce algorithms and models capable of predicting injury, including catastrophic and even fatal injury, to one, two, three or even all four legs of the horse.

[0021] More specifically, the sensor system may comprise: i) a triaxial accelerometer measuring accelerations in dorso-ventral, medio-lateral, and longitudinal planes; ii) a magnetometer measuring direction in each of the dorso-ventral, the medio-lateral, and the longitudinal planes; and iii) a multiaxis gyroscope measuring pitch, yaw, and roll: that is rotation about the dorso- ventral, the medio-lateral and the longitudinal planes.

[0022] The horse movement monitoring system may also include a saddle cloth including a pocket adapted to hold the sensor system at a midline location extending from the lumbosacral joint of the horse forwards to the first lumbar vertebra of the horse and laterally a distance of 10 inches (25.4 cm) down both the left and right sides of the horse from the midline location.

[0023] The sensor system may be adapted to collect data at at least 200Hz (200 times per second) in all directions and does so throughout an entire stride of the horse.

[0024] The horse movement monitoring system may further include a controller adapted to receive motion data from the sensor system generated when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) the pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground.

[0025] The horse movement monitoring system may further include a GPS locator connected to the controller. The horse movement monitoring system may further include a data memory device adapted to store the motion data received by the controller from the sensor system. The horse monitoring system may further include a power source adapted to power the sensor system, the controller, and the data memory device. The horse movement monitoring system may further include a transmitter to transmit motion data from the horse movement monitoring system to a remote location.

[0026] In accordance with yet another aspect, a method of monitoring the physical welfare of a horse, comprises, consists of or consists essentially of: (a) positioning a horse movement monitoring system, including at least one motion sensor, adjacent to the lumbar spine of the horse whereby force is measured in a forward direction, a rearward direction, an upward direction, a downward direction, a rightward direction, a leftward direction, along with yaw, pitch and roll; (b) collecting, with the at least one motion sensor adjacent to the lumbar spine, motion data indicative of when (1) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (2) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (3) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (4) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (5) the pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground, and (c) analyzing the collected data, with a controller, to identify an anomaly indicative of an injury the horse.

[0027] The method may further include comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with motion sensor data previously collected for the horse. The method may further include comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profde of healthy horses. The method may further include providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profde of healthy horses.

[0028] The method may further include comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses. The method may further include providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profile of healthy horses. The method may further include analyzing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor and determining which leg or legs of the horse are injured.

[0029] In the following description, there are shown and described several different embodiments of the new and improved horse movement monitoring system and the related method of monitoring the physical welfare of the horse. As it should be realized, the system and method are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the system and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

[0030] The accompanying drawings and figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate certain aspects of the system and method and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the system and method may be employed without departing from the principles described below.

[0031] Figure 1 A is a series of data graphs illustrating the stride fingerprint of a three year old colt wherein the first column represents the colt breezing on a first day, the second columnrepresents the colt breezing on a second day and the third column represents the colt racing on a third day. The top graph in each column is dorso-ventral data (DV), the middle graph in each column is longitudinal data (LG), and the bottom graph in each column is medio-lateral data (ML).

[0032] Figure IB is a series of data graphs illustrating the stride fingerprint of a two year old colt wherein the first column represents the colt breezing on a first day, the second column represents the colt breezing on a second day and the third column represents the colt racing on a third day. The top graph in each column is dorso-ventral data (DV), the middle graph in each column is longitudinal data (LG), and the bottom graph in each column is medio-lateral data (ML).

[0033] Figure 2 is a top plan skeletal view of a horse illustrating the lumbar spine LS of the horse H where the sensor system of the horse movement monitoring system is positioned and held during use as well as the dorso-ventral axis, the longitudinal axis and the medio-lateral axis for data collection.

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the horse movement monitoring system.

[0035] Figure 4A illustrates three pockets on a saddle cloth that are adapted to receive and hold the horse movement monitoring system adjacent to the lumbar spine of the horse to be monitored. The left pocket holds the system within ten inches (25.4 cm) to the left side of the lumbar spine. The middle pocket holds the system above and along the lumbar spine. The right pocket holds the system within ten inches (25.4 cm) to the right side of the lumbar spine.

[0036] Figure 4B the horse movement monitoring system held in the middle pocket of the saddle cloth on a horse where the system overlies the lumbar spine of the horse to be monitored.

[0037] Figure 5 is a graph showing data from the sensor plotted over four strides where the x- axis is time in seconds and the y-axis is g force.

[0038] Figure 6A is a graph showing a normal, healthy stride fingerprint of a particular horse while Figure 6B is a graph showing the same horse compensating for an injury to the horse’s right front leg.

[0039] Figures 7 A through 7D show stride data collected by the horse movement monitoring system placed on the lumbar spine with (a) Figure 7A illustrating a left front leg injury, (b) Figure7B illustrating a right front leg injury, (c) Figure 7C illustrating a left hind leg injury and (d) Figure 7D illustrating a right hind leg injury.

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the system and method.Detailed Description

[0041] Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates the horse movement monitoring system 10. That system 10 includes a housing 12 that holds or carries (a) a sensor system 14, (b) a controller 16, in the form of a processor, (c) a data memory device 18, such as a data storage SIM card, (d) a global positioning satellite (GPS) locator 20, and (e) a power source 22 such as a rechargeable battery. The system 10 may be held in a pocket 30 of a saddlecloth 32 adjacent (within about 10 inches or 25.4 centimeters) of the lumbar spine LS of the horse H to be monitored and, more specifically at a midline location extending from the lumbosacral joint of the horse forwards to the first lumbar vertebra of the horse and laterally a distance of 10 inches (25.4 cm) down both the left and right sides of the horse from the midline location. See Figure 2 showing the AREA in which the system 10, 14 may be held and Figures 4A and 4B showing the saddle cloth 32.

[0042] More specifically, the sensor system 14 is capable of collecting data in up to nine axes where the data is used to produce algorithms and models capable of predicting injury, including catastrophic and even fatal injury, to any one, two, three or four legs of the horse. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor system 14 includes a triaxial accelerometer 24 (for measuring accelerations in dorso-ventral, medio-lateral, and longitudinal axes / planes), a magnometer 26 (measuring direction in each of the dorso-ventral, the medio-lateral, and the longitudinal planes) and a multiaxis gyroscope 28 (for measuring pitch, yaw, and roll: that is rotation about the respective medio-lateral, dorso-ventral and longitudinal planes). See Figure 2.

[0043] More specifically, the sensor system 14 records at greater than 200 Hz (and in some embodiments, greater than 300 Hz, greater than 500 Hz, greater than 800 Hz and greater than 1 ,000 Hz) making it possible to monitor all aspects of the movement of the horse as that movement is translated along the lumbar spine LS of the horse H. The controller 16 is adapted to receive the motion data from the sensor system 14 generated when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feetof the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet of the horse push off the ground and (e) the pelvis, neck, and head of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground. The data memory device 18 is adapted to store the motion data received by the controller 16 from the sensor system 14. The GPS locator 20 is adapted to provide data respecting the location of the horse during movement monitoring. The magnetometer 26 is adapted to monitor horse movement direction. The multi-axis gyroscope 28 is adapted to monitor pitch, yaw and roll of the horse as it moves. The power source 22 is adapted to power the motion sensor system 14 (including the accelerometer 24, the magnetometer 26 and the gyroscope 28), the controller 16, the data memory device 18, and the GPS locator 20.

[0044] The horse movement monitoring system 10 measures when speed (velocity) changes, either faster or slower. The rate of change of velocity is called acceleration and hence the term accelerometer. It can measure accelerations forwards or backwards, (the longitudinal plane LG), side-to-side (the medio-lateral plane ML), or up and down (the dorso-ventral plane DV). The accelerometer 24 in the DV plane can detect the ever-present force due to gravity, g, which is known to create an acceleration of 32 ft / sec / sec. Therefore the system is calibrated continuously against gravity, 1g, so any acceleration in any plane can be converted to a number of “g’s”. For example if the medio-lateral sensor measures an acceleration of 64 ft / sec / sec then that is twice the acceleration due to gravity so it records “2g”. Due to the continuous calibration against the everpresent force of gravity which remains a constant, even if the position of the sensor system 14 is jostled while the horse is running, the accuracy of the measurements along the dorso-ventral (DV), longitudinal (LG), and medio-lateral (ML) planes is maintained. Calibration for direction is also constantly maintained by the magnetometer 26.

[0045] These accelerations are created by forces generated by the horse and measured by the sensor system 14 on the lumbar spine LS. They are picked up and more normally at 200-1000Hz throughout the stride, as described above. The sensor system 14 collects data at least 200 times per second (200Hz) and does so in each of the 3 planes. In one possible embodiment, the sensor system 14 collects data at 800Hz so in total that is 2,400 data points per second. As previously noted, the magnetometer 26 measures direction and the gyroscope 28 measures pitch, yaw, and roll.

[0046] Alternative embodiments of the horse movement monitoring system 10 may further include a transmitter 34, carried in or on the housing 12, that is adapted to transmit the sensor collected data from the motion sensor to a remote location such as to a controller 16 for data analysis. The system 10 may include a remote control activation switch 36, carried on or in the housing 12, that is adapted to activate or deactivate the electronic components of the system (e.g. the sensor system 14, the controller 16 and the GPS locator 20).

[0047] Reference is now made to Figure 5 which is a graph showing in a general way data from the sensor plotted over four strides from a horse being monitored. The x-axis is time in seconds and the y-axis is g force.

[0048] As part of the analysis the data is smoothed mathematically. Figures 6A and 6B are graphs showing smoothed data for 3 strides of the same horse on two different occasions. The dorso-ventral (DV) data (up and down forces), the medio-lateral data (left-right forces), and the longitudinal data (forward and rearward forces) are plotted together. The x axis is time and the y axis is g force. The graph of Figure 6 A is a normal stride “fingerprint” for this horse when healthy. In the graph of Figure 6B there is a 5g positive peak at the time in the stride associated with front leg stance. Note action arrow A pointing to the peak. In this case clinicians were directed to the right front quadrant to analyze for injury. Thus, Figures 6A and 6B are representative of how the motion data collected by the horse movement monitoring system 10 may be used to monitor the physical wellness of a horse. This positive peak A, such as shown, means a movement left and this is occurring as the horse avoids pain on the right.

[0049] Reference is now made to Figures 7A-7D which further illustrate the invention. Figure 7A illustrates a peak in the medio-lateral data that is indicative of a movement to the right which is an effort by the horse to avoid pain from a left front leg injury (note arrow pointing to peak). Figure 7B, is similar to Figure 6B and illustrates a peak in the medio-lateral data that is indicative of a right front leg injury (note arrow pointing to peak).

[0050] Figure 7C illustrates medio-lateral data generated during a series of five strides illustrated one on the other. The X-axis is percent of the stride and the y-axis is G-forces measured at the sensor. The data begins when the first hind leg makes ground contact. This data is from the turn so the first leg down is the right hind leg. At around 20% of the stride (see arrow), the lefthind leg is on the ground and at this point there are negative G forces on every stride. In the ML plane, negative means "to the right" so at this point the horse is avoiding his left hind leg and moving over to the right. Such action taken by the horse is indicative of a left hind leg injury.

[0051] In contrast, in Figure 7D, at about 18% of the stride (see arrow), the horse is showing positive G forces. This indicates that the horse is leaning to the left to avoid pain on the right, which is indicative of a right hind leg injury.

[0052] The horse movement monitoring system 10, described above, is useful in a new and improved method of monitoring the physical welfare of a horse. That method includes the step of positioning the horse movement monitoring system 10, including at least one motion sensor 14, adjacent to the lumbar spine LS of the horse H whereby force is measured in a forward direction, a rearward direction, an upward direction, a downward direction, a rightward direction, a leftward direction, along with yaw, pitch and roll. The method also includes the step of collecting, with the at least one motion sensor 14 adjacent to the lumbar spine LS, motion data indicative of when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground. In addition, the method includes the step of analyzing the collected data, with a controller 16, to identify an anomaly indicative of an injury the horse.

[0053] The method may further include the step of comparing, by the controller 16, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with motion sensor data previously collected for the horse. In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of comparing, by the controller 16, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor 14 with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses. In some embodiments, the method may further include providing, by the controller 16, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor 14 is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profile of healthy horses. The method may include analyzing, by the controller 16, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor 14 and determining which leg or legs of the horse are injured.

[0054] This disclosure may be said to relate to the following items:1. A horse movement monitoring system, comprising: at least one motion sensor adapted to monitor movement of the horse from a position adjacent to the lumbar spine of the horse.2. The horse movement monitoring system of item 1 , wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises a sensor system capable of collecting data in up to 9 axis where the data is used to produce algorithms and models capable of predicting injury, including catastrophic and even fatal injury, to any one, two, three or four legs of the horse.3. The horse movement monitoring system of item 2, wherein the sensor system comprises: a triaxial accelerometer measuring accelerations in dorso-ventral, medio-lateral, and longitudinal planes; a magnetometer measuring direction in each of the dorso-ventral, the medio-lateral, and the longitudinal planes; and a multiaxis gyroscope measuring pitch, yaw, and roll.4. The horse movement monitoring system of item 3, further including a saddle cloth including a pocket adapted to hold the sensor system at a midline location extending from the lumbosacral joint of the horse forwards to the first lumbar vertebra of the horse and laterally a distance of 25.4 cm down both the left and right sides of the horse from the midline location.5. The horse movement monitoring system of item 3, wherein the sensor system is adapted to collect data at at least 200Hz (200 times per second) in all directions and does so throughout an entire stride of the horse.6. The horse movement monitoring system of item 5, further including a controller adapted to receive motion data from the sensor system generated when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground.7. The horse movement monitoring system of item 6, further including a GPS locator connected to the controller.8. The horse movement monitoring system of item 7, further including: a data memory device adapted to store the motion data received by the controller from the sensor system; and a power source adapted to power the sensor system, the controller, and the data memory device.9. The horse movement monitoring system of item 8, further including a transmitter to transmit motion data from the horse movement monitoring system to a remote location.10. The horse movement monitoring system of 9, further including a connection to a computer to download.11. The horse movement monitoring system of 10, further including a telecommunication connection to a remote controller to download in real time.12. A method of monitoring physical welfare of a horse, comprising: positioning a horse movement monitoring system, including at least one motion sensor and a magnetometer, adjacent to a lumbar spine of the horse whereby force is measured in a forward direction, a rearward direction, an upward direction, a downward direction, a rightward direction, a leftward direction, along with yaw, pitch and roll; collecting, with the at least one motion sensor adjacent to the lumbar spine, motion data indicative of when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground; and analyzing the collected data, with a controller, to identify an anomaly indicative of an injury the horse.13. The method of item 12, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with motion sensor data previously collected for the horse.14. The method of item 13, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses.15. The method of item 14, further including providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profde of healthy horses.16. The method of item 12, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses.17. The method of item 16, further including providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profile of healthy horses.18. The method of item 12, further including analyzing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor and determining which leg or legs of the horse are injured.

[0055] Each of the following terms written in singular grammatical form: “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used herein, means “at least one”, or “one or more”. Use of the phrase “One or more” herein does not alter this intended meaning of “a”, “an”, or “the”. Accordingly, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality of the stated entity or object, unless otherwise specifically defined or stated herein, or, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase: “a motion sensor”, as used herein, may also refer to, and encompass, a plurality of motion sensors.

[0056] Each of the following terms: “includes”, “including”, “has”, “having”, “comprises”, and “comprising”, and, their linguistic / grammatical variants, derivatives, or / and conjugates, as used herein, means “including, but not limited to”, and is to be taken as specifying the stated component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), or step(s), and does not preclude addition of one or more additional component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), step(s), or groups thereof.

[0057] The phrase “consisting of’, as used herein, is closed-ended and excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specifically mentioned. The phrase “consisting essentially of’, as used herein, is a semi-closed term indicating that an item is limited to the components specified and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of what is specified.

[0058] Terms of approximation, such as the terms about, substantially, approximately, etc., as used herein, refers to ± 10 % of the stated numerical value.

[0059] Although the horse movement monitoring system 10 and the method of monitoring the physical welfare of a horse set forth in this disclosure have been illustratively described and presented by way of specific exemplary embodiments, and examples thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, or / and variations, thereof, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the controller 16 may comprise one controller for the sensor system 14 that is carried on the horse H and a separate controller for the data analysis that is at a remote location. Multiple sensors on one horse may communicate with each other, to sensors on other horses and to a base station transmitting to other locations. This communication may be through Bluetooth, radio frequencies, or by 3G, 4G or 5G connection with telecommunication networks. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alternatives, modifications, or / and variations, fall within the spirit of, and are encompassed by, the broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A horse movement monitoring system, comprising: at least one motion sensor adapted to monitor movement of the horse from a position adjacent to a lumbar spine of the horse.

2. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises a sensor system capable of collecting data in up to 9 axis where the data is used to produce algorithms and models capable of predicting injury, including catastrophic and even fatal injury, to any one, two, three or four legs of the horse.

3. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the sensor system comprises: a triaxial accelerometer measuring accelerations in dorso-ventral, medio-lateral, and longitudinal planes; a magnetometer measuring direction in each of the dorso-ventral, the medio-lateral, and the longitudinal planes; and a multiaxis gyroscope measuring pitch, yaw, and roll.

4. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 3, further including a saddle cloth including a pocket adapted to hold the sensor system at a midline location extending from the lumbosacral joint of the horse forwards to the first lumbar vertebra of the horse and laterally a distance of 25.4 cm down both the left and right sides of the horse from the midline location.

5. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the sensor system is adapted to collect data at at least 200Hz (200 times per second) in all directions and does so throughout an entire stride of the horse.

6. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 5, further including a controller adapted to receive motion data from the sensor system generated when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground.

7. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 6, further including a GPS locator connected to the controller.

8. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 7, further including: a data memory device adapted to store the motion data received by the controller from the sensor system; and a power source adapted to power the sensor system, the controller, and the data memory device.

9. The horse movement monitoring system of claim 8, further including a transmitter to transmit motion data from the horse movement monitoring system to a remote location.

10. A method of monitoring physical welfare of a horse, comprising: positioning a horse movement monitoring system, including at least one motion sensor and a magnetometer, adjacent to a lumbar spine of the horse whereby force is measured in a forward direction, a rearward direction, an upward direction, a downward direction, a rightward direction, a leftward direction, along with yaw, pitch and roll; collecting, with the at least one motion sensor adjacent to the lumbar spine, motion data indicative of when (a) individual rear feet of the horse contact the ground, (b) the individual rear feet of the horse push off of the ground, (c) individual front feet of the horse contact the ground, (d) the individual front feet push off of the ground and (e) pelvis of the horse steers the horse when all the feet are off the ground; and analyzing the collected data, with a controller, to identify an anomaly indicative of an injury the horse.

11. The method of claim 10, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with motion sensor data previously collected for the horse.

12. The method of claim 11, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses.

13. The method of claim 12, further including providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profde of healthy horses.

14. The method of claim 10, further including comparing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor with a mean reference data profile of healthy horses.

15. The method of claim 14, further including providing, by the controller, an indication of potential horse injury when the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor is three standard deviations or greater away from the mean reference profile of healthy horses.

16. The method of claim 10, further including analyzing, by the controller, the motion sensor data collected by the at least one motion sensor and determining which leg or legs of the horse are injured.

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