May 10, 2024—The American Association of Equine Practitioners is requesting the participation of Thoroughbred trainers and owners in an important research initiative. Assistance is needed with the testing of wearable biometric sensors to improve early detection of musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Invitations for proposals
In November 2023, the AAEP Racing Committee released a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting proposals from applicants for this joint project. Its mission: the development and application of wearable biometric sensor technologies that can be employed on all Thoroughbred racehorses for all races and recorded workouts in the U.S. These sensors have shown promise in the identification of sub-clinically affected racehorses or those at risk of musculoskeletal injury.
From 12 submissions received in response to the RFP, six companies have been invited to submit full-scale proposals. These will detail implementation plans for meeting the AAEP’s requirements for the validation phase of the initiative.
Six companies, 600 horses
Each company has been asked to recruit 100 2-year-old Thoroughbreds to wear its sensor from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Data will be collected on each horse during this period and analyzed to determine the accuracy of the sensor.
Due to the large number of horses required to successfully test six unique sensors, the AAEP encourages racing managers to consider participating in this effort as sensor manufacturers begin recruiting horses.
“We are very excited for the next phase as it brings the sport much closer to utilizing this emerging technology as another important tool in injury detection and prevention,” said AAEP Racing Committee Chair Dr. Sara Langsam. “This effort benefits the entire industry, and we hope trainers and owners will embrace the opportunity to participate.”
For more information, contact Sally Baker, AAEP director of marketing and public relations, at [email protected].
About the AAEP
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide. It is involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
