Equipping future equestrian professionals with cutting-edge technology and practical experience to set new industry standards.
December 16, 2024 (ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS) – Smart Horse technologies BV, a leading innovator in equine performance technology, and DCTerra, a prominent institution in agricultural and equine education, are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the education and training of equestrian professionals.
The collaboration introduces Equestic SaddleClip technology into DCTerra’s educational framework, enhancing learning opportunities for students, coaches, and educational staff alike.
Bringing Technology to Equine Education
This partnership marks a significant step in modernizing equestrian professional education. By integrating the Equestic platform, featuring the Equestic SaddleClip, DCTerra has embarked on a mission to provide students with a digital, data-driven approach to studying horse performance during training and competitions.
The SaddleClip, known for its precision and simplicity, allows users to monitor and measure horse movements in real-time. Through the Equestic Intelligence platform, students and staff gain access to actionable insights about the horse’s locomotion, symmetry, and training impact, enabling evidence-based decision-making. This blend of data-driven technology and equestrian expertise represents a leap forward in how future riders, coaches, managers, and stable staff are trained.
Elevating Standards for Equestrian Professionals
The partnership’s objective is clear: to elevate the capabilities of future equestrian professionals by equipping them with both new technology and practical, hands-on experience.
DCTerra sees this collaboration as a critical step in transforming education for riders, coaches, and stable managers, fostering a new generation of professionals who will set higher standards for welfare and performance in the equestrian sector.
Jan-Marc Nieuwenkamp, Manager for Equestrian Education stating, “We believe this partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for equine education.
By integrating Equestic’s platform into our curriculum, we’re giving our students the tools, knowledge, and practical experience to set higher standards in horse care and performance optimization. It’s a win for students, educators, and, most importantly, the horses.”
From Workshop to Workforce Impact
The collaboration kicked off with a half-day practical workshop at DCTerra, where Equestic’s team introduced the technology to education staff and the first group of students. Attendees engaged in hands-on learning, experiencing the process of collecting and analyzing real data from horses during live training sessions.
Students had the opportunity to work with Equestic’s technology during test rides, collecting their first set of personalized horse data through the Equestic Intelligence platform. These early results were transformative, providing students with new insights into horse biomechanics, performance, and welfare. The experience marked a significant shift from traditional training methods to a more comprehensive, data-driven approach.
Driving Positive Change for Horse Welfare
The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to improve horse welfare in sport and training. By equipping future professionals with a deeper understanding of horse biomechanics, DCTerra aims to shape a generation of equestrian professionals who can optimize training programs and competition scenarios.
The combination of expert opinion, traditional knowledge, and precise digital measurements opens up new opportunities to enhance the welfare of horses in the sporting environment.
“We’re excited to see how DCTerra will set new standards for equestrian education with the support of Equestic’s proven and accessible technology,” said Leon Rutten, Founder of Equestic.
“The goal is to ensure future equestrian professionals are better equipped to make decisions that benefit both horse welfare and athletic performance. Our technology’s precision, simplicity, and effectiveness make it the perfect tool for this transformation.”
Looking to the Future
Looking ahead, both Equestic and DCTerra aim to continue expanding the role of technology in equine education. The Equestic SaddleClip is only the beginning.
As technological adoption increases, the two partners envision a broader shift toward smarter, data-driven education practices in the equine sector.
About Equestic
Equestic is the consumer brand of Dutch company Smart Horse Technologies BV. Equestic has sold SaddleClips in 65 markets worldwide, recording more than 400,000 unique rides over the past five years with extremely precise AI-empowered solution for assessing rider and horse combinations.
The Equestic SaddleClip, a state-of-the-art motion sensor, delivers real-time data and Equine Motion Performance Indicators helping riders, coaches, and veterinarians optimize training, ensure horse health, and improve performance.
For more information about the company, please visit www.equestic.com.
About DCTerra
DCTerra was formed from a merger between Terra and Drenthe College. Terra is a renowned educational institution specializing in agricultural and equine education. With a commitment to innovation and industry excellence, DCTerra provides its students with modern tools, techniques, and knowledge to become future-ready professionals in the equine sector and beyond. For more information about the college, please visit www.terrambo.nl.
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For more info please contact: Info@equestic.com, info@mboterra.nl
