Tracking Devices

[Flo_Rider]

I am doing an investigative project at college on tracking devices for horses, my idea was to create a tracking device that can be inserted into the horse, similar to a microchip, the device could then be tracked by a signal to allow owners to know were there horse is at all times. I would really appreciate opinions on tracking devices, whether they are good or bad, this is only an investigation into the possibility of tracking devices so please be honest!.

 

[suze21]

id say yes....

as my first though woul dbe the possibiliy of tracking stolen horses

but my 2nd thought was if thieves knew about this - would they try and remove it?? (the length these scum goto these days)

also the cost etc//

sorry i'll shush now but they were my initial thoughts

 

[spike123]

If its possible to insert a tracking device that didn't cause the horse any side effects then I think it's a brilliant idea. Freezemarked horses are rarely stolen and if they are,then they are often dumped but a tracker would lead the police straight to the horse thieves and so would be a really good preventative measure as presumably like a microchip the theif wouldn't know it was there until caught.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Yes theoretically it could work if they were stolen, but also if someone fell off on a hack and the whereabouts of horse/rider were unknown- could help find both. Would be interested as to how it would be small enough and unobtrusive enough to work though?

 

[Natch]

Yes in theory. However horses are very sensitive to so many energies, I'm not sure there would be one you could use which wouldn't affect them, if you get me.

 

[BobbyMondeo]

If one could be made that was small enough and that didnt harm the horse then i would be all for it. But as nic87 said i would be worried about thieves trying to remove it so would probably have to be able to be put wherever you wanted so thieves wouldnt know where to look to remove it.

 

[Battyoldbint]

bloody good idea, id have it done, especialy if it was combined with microchip

 

[Tiffany]

Sounds like a good idea - will we see you on Dragons Den

 

[winterbottom]

Its a good idea but i think naturally has a point it would need some research into the affect it might have on horses.
As to the point that it could be removed i seem to remember in the early days of microchipping people were saying they could be removed but when you consider the size of a microchip and the fact that it can be read over an area of about3/4 inches on a horses neck,to try and remove it would leave one heck of a big hole in a horses neck.

 

[Peacelily]

There's quite a lot out there on horse tracking in terms of having a tag (look at wild animal studies looking at migration routes, herding behaviors etc....)and an under the skin route would be difficult as it would probably have to have a power supply (battery) and so wouldn't really be great as having it run for 25+ years might not be possible (i think even pacemakers need their battery changing...), and it's all invasive etc.. and thats got to pass loads of ethical considerations...

Then you have similar tracking chips to used in airports etc.. which is RFID but that needs a "reader" to detect it (like a micro chip) and the range isn't very long - so the field would have to be set up with loads of gates which the horse might pass through! lol! which is as much use as a chocolate fireguard - might as well just put loads of signs up saying that its chipped....

I think there is a device at the moment which is a GPS tracker (attached to headcollar/rug/equipment) which will then text you when you're horse leaves a specific zone that you've inputted....and if transmitted over the internet - you could effectively log on to watch your horse grazing in the field if you wanted. But then this is something a thief would take off straight away - but the act of taking it off could alert you that it's been taken off and that you're horse is being stolen and the last point it was registered- which is a lot more useful than turning up to your field finding your horse was stolen possibly hours ago and that they've been transported hundreds of miles away and already crossing the seas...........

 

[Flo_Rider]

Thanks for all your input guys! any more knowledge or ideas would be great

especially on how they could be marketed etc (presuming they could be made) this project is all based on 'ifs' and 'buts' so any theory's on the subject would be awesome!

O and naturally.. could you give me some more info on how they might affect a horses energies etc that would be really useful

Thanks : )