If you’re on facebook, you’ve probably seen a little bit about Seaver and their new smart girth and girth sleeve. It was a project featured on Kickstarter (it ended a few days ago so if you didn’t get in on that, you’ll have to wait until full production/availability sometime next year) that quickly surpassed it’s original production goal. It’s really fancy and does all kinds of cool stuff, but short version: it’s a girth that takes metrics about your horse’s performance and sends it to an app so you can analyze it. It should surprise exactly no one that a) I backed their project b) I’m ridiculously excited about this.
Seaver isn’t the first wearable to hit the market – some of you may remember or have contributed to the Equisense/Balios Kickstarter. Their’s is a fairly small plastic sensor that attaches to the girth via a special strap. Similar concept that provides similar data. I wanted to back their Kickstarter but just never committed, since I really wanted heart rate and respiratory rate data too. I figured I’d wait for it to hit the market and see what the reviews were like, then consider it.
Then the Seaver campaign started, and I was drawn to the idea of an all-in-one piece plus the heart rate/respiratory rate data. So of course I caved and backed the Kickstarter while everything was still 50% off. All of the information about Seaver, the products, and the technology is still up on the Kickstarter page, for those who are interested in learning more. At the very least you should watch the first few minutes of the promo video, just because it’s cool:
Pretty incredible all the information that this thing can give you. Like the Balios, not only can you analyze your rides and track fitness, you could also potentially spot soreness or unevenness before it becomes apparent to the eye. The technology is cool, for sure, but the potential benefits of the data are even further-reaching. Here are just a few of the things it can do:
Since Seaver reached not only their original goal but also their stretch goal on Kickstarter (yaaaaay), they’ll now also be including a way to measure your horse’s stress level, too. How, I don’t really know. French magic? We’ll see.
Given how much just a decent heart rate monitor can cost, the prices on the girth sleeve (between $123 and $200, depending on when you backed) and the girth (between $270 and $370) were pretty reasonable in the Kickstarter. It’ll be interesting to see what the final retail will be, but I’m encouraged by those prices, all things considered. Pretty darn fancy gadget for that price. Hopefully it works.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF1NxZxouy1/?taken-by=seaverhorse
Did anyone else contribute to Seaver’s (or Equisense’s) Kickstarter campaign? Surely I’m not the only data loving nerd that is really interested to see how it works and what all it does. I can’t wait to start playing with it, and see how they do sales-wise when they come onto the regular market. I hope it does all the things they say it will… it could potentially be a really useful tool for me and Henry!
breedrideevent.com 
I did! Missed the super early bird girth sleeve so I bit the bullet and got the girth at the cheapest rate. Can’t wait!
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We have a similar love for cool tech. 😉
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I missed the kickstarter campaign, but this actually looks like the coolest thing ever!! I nerded out so hard when I got a fitbit last year… I can’t even imagine the horse equivalent (and more).
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Really hoping it lives up to the hype. How freaking useful would a tool like this be for eventers???
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This is wiiiicked. How cool!!
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I actually think fitbits are kinda creepy but I’d totally do this for a horse. Contradictory? My specialty. Can’t wait for your reviews!
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I have no real interest in Fitbits either. Who cares about MY data? Henry’s though… I care about that.
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Looks so super cool. I’d be interested in borrowing one for an afternoon of awareness (how much time do I really spend in each gait?), but I can’t quite stomach the full price right now. Awesome that you were an early backer!
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I think this is a really cool idea, and would love to try it… but I’m a skeptic at heart, so I’ll wait to hear from a real person whether or not it really works as advertised.
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I am too, so we shall see. I have hope. Reserved hope, but hope.
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I’m a data nerd for sure, but I am also a scientist who wants to see peer reviewed data before I commit to something. I love the idea of this, but won’t bite the bullet until I hear back from the masses about how functional it is. I’d LOVE to hear that it meets and exceeds all expectations. Knew you’d get one, so can’t wait to read more about what you think!
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The price difference was the deciding factor for me. For under $200 I can afford to buy it and play with it, but at $500+ I probably wouldn’t be able to justify the cost at all. But I’m hopeful that it’s a cool little gadget!
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I’m in a similar boat. If I’d known about the kickstarter with enough time and had a bit more disposable cash I probably would have donated just for kicks, but now I’m interested to see how well the girth and sleeve work outside of their structured testing scenarios. So I await your review, A-dawg!
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I came so close to getting this (and the other one) but I realized I worry enough and my horse is uneven and having the data to prove it will make me crazy and broke from the vet visits. So I opted not to get one in the end. But I can’t wait to see the data from yours because I heart data!
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I backed the Equisense. I should be receiving it soon. (Next few months) Production kind of took forever but I’m glad they worked to get it right. I’m a little jealous of the heart rate and respiratory stuff but I wanted something that could be mobile between horses, saddles, girths etc. And I’m pretty happy with everything else it “should” be able to do. Crossing my fingers.
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That one looks really cool too. They’re both really appealing, with slightly different features.
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I really liked the idea but didn’t have the funds to back at the time (damn gelding clumsiness and subsequent vet bills). They interviewed them on the Horses in the Morning podcast and apparently it’s going to be over $500/nearly $1000 for the girth. Yikes!
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Yikes! I get it, but still yikes.
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Can’t wait to see your full review on the product!
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It would basically make me a neurotic horse owner but I’d love one in the future
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I’m already a neurotic horse owner. Might as well give me an app and make it official! lol
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Sounds like a really neat concept. I’m sure like any of the human versions it will only be so accurate, but still useful information. Looking forward to hearing more when you get it!
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Interesting idea, I can see it taking off for those that event or show jumpers.
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That thing looks SO COOL.
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