SYSTEM FOR MONITORING TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING SULKY FOR TROTTING HORSES

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a total system for training trotting horses. The system acquires relevant information, processing said information and producing input from training sessions. Such information may be the speed of the horse, related to time; the length of the training session, both in distance and time, possibly compared with the speed during the various parts of the training session; change up or down in altitudes with respect to the training session/distance run; data of the heart rates and blood pressure of the horse, linked in time to the various other parameters; and the breaking pressure acting on the wheels of the sulky, pulled by the horse during the training session.

Further, the present invention relates to a wagon for training trotting horses. More particularly, the wagon according to the present invention is provided with a frame, onto which the wheels are rotatably arranged on separate axels, the wheels preferably being arranged on each side of the frame. Further the wagon is preferably provided with a seat for the driver; and horse mounting shafts, rigidly fixed to the frame.

Background of the Invention

When training trotting horses it is a desire to be able to keep a high pace, more or less constant, during defined intervals, and at the same time controlling the speed, the strain on the horse, the heart beat rate, blood pressure etc.

At present, various types of training wagons or sulkies are used. Common for most of these training wagons

is the use of two wheels, one wheel ^' being arranged on each side of the training wagon or sulky. In order to dampen impacts on the training wagon, which may de detrimental both to the driver and the horse, it is known to install damping means, such as cushions, bumpers, plate springs etc., arranged in conjunction with the seat, or other type of resilient means. Common for the prior art training wagons is the dependency of plane surfaces in order to maintain the required speed. In order to maintain the required training intensity, the most common training wagon is the so called breaking wagon. Such breaking wagon is provided with hydraulic pumps associated with each wheel, so that the driver may adjust the resistance against rotation for the wheels, varying the friction acting on the wheels, dependent upon the ground conditions and/or upon the required strain in order to maintain a high training intensity, even if the speed have to be slow due to uneven ground surface. As a consequence, the wagon will be heavier to pull, whereby the horse also is trained at slow speed. It has proved, however, that some horses develop back problems as a consequence of the use of the breaking wagon, mainly since the wagon, when falling down into a hollow in the surface, will jump upwards when the wheel hits the plane surface against, the wheel still being more or less locked against rotation due to the hydraulic pump. The resulting effect is that the wagon will produce a pull in the harness, causing such damage on the horse.

Further, it has previously been known to arrange breaks on training sulkies. It should be appreciated, however, that such breaks cause a detrimental effect on the horse, since the sulky shafts will produce a force acting downwards on the horse back, tending to force the horse downwards, thereby causing detrimental strain on the

knees and the back of the horse.

WO 92/04221 describes a training sulky for trotting horses. The sulky comprises a control gear for loading the wheels of the sulky. The control gear is constructed, by means of step less variation at time intervals, to load the wheels through exact adjustment of the load. Further, by means of a fixed time delay, the control gear is constructed to release the load, thereby protecting the horse against injury. WO 85/04073 describes a treadmill for animals, such as horses, which includes a main fixed support frame, a movable support frame which carries the endless belt of the treadmill, and which is connected to the main frame for pivotable movement about a horizontal axis under the control of elevating rams. The speed of the endless belts or the elevation of the support frame is varied in accordance with the hart rate, sensed by a hart monitor associated with the animal.

GB 2434517 describes an equine heart rate monitor, provided with electrodes mounted to a saddle girth. When the girth is used to secure a saddle to a horse, the electrodes contact the skin of the horse above and below the level of its heart, while a main body of the monitor is located on an outer face of the girth away from horse. The electrodes detect the heart beat, and a short-range radio transmitter within the monitor transfers heart rate data to a display device wearable for example on a riders wrist. The rider thus has a continuous real-time display of the heart beat of the horse, and optionally calculated maximum, minimum and average heart, so that an exercise session may be tailored to provide maximum benefit to the horse fitness without exhausting the horse.

FR 2867055 describes a measuring unit for measuring heart rate of a horse during training sessions, and a

receiver receiving satellite based signals to determine the geographical position of the horse. A processing unit such as a computer, receives and stores the measurements and determines intensity of the exercise of the horse. The processing unit associates the heart rate with the intensity to determine physiological capacity of the horse, delivered to the trainer.

SE 8303194-8 describes a training course for training of trotting horses where rails are arranged along the course. A powered trolley to which the horse may be connected, runs along the rail. The horse is equipped with a heart rate measuring means and a transmitter. The signals are received by a receiver so that the heart rate may be monitored by a trainer. SE 8207070-7 shows a sulky provided with adjustable breaks, enabling the trainer to vary the breaking load, varying the strain on the horse.

WO 95/16598 describes a wagon for training trotting horses, the wagon being provided with a braking device and equipment for measuring the traction force of the horse. Further, the wagon is provided with two shafts for attachment to the horse. The wagon comprises a wheel- carried frame, provided with two axles, breaking devices that can be engaged and disengaged and that can be adjusted by means of an adjustment device. The shafts are activated to a drawbar which is connected with the wagon by way of a power sensing means which is in connection with a measuring means for reading of the traction force.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a training wagon performing as a conventional sulky and enabling the trainer to maintain or improve the training intensity or effect when training horses on more or less rugged or

difficult terrain

An object of the present invention is to provide a system securing storage of the complete training history of a trotting horse. A further object of the invention is to enable a trainer to train and monitor in parallel the progress of one or more horses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which improves the training effect and training session of one or more horses.

A still further object is to provide a wagon allowing a high speed for at least one horse, even on uneven and rough surfaces. A possible speed would be in the order of 50-60 km/h even if the surface is bumpy or full of holes, which will be in the range of the maximum possible speed for a horse.

Another object of the invention is to enable the trainer to control and monitor the real-time load on a horse during training. Another object is to provide a wagon, which in use is as gentle as possible both for the horse and the driver, even at a very high speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a training wagon which contributes to conditions preventing the horse from breaking into gallop, even if the training is performed on very rough and uneven surfaces at very high speed.

A still further object according to the invention is to provide a wagon which minimize or completely eliminate the possibility of causing injury to the horse or the driver, even if the equipage is driven hard.

According to the present invention, the objects are achieved by a system and a wagon as further defined in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the present

invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The system according to the invention is configured in such way that the system may be used for surveillance and control of the training intensity and the like simultaneously for more than one horse, such more than one horse being tied to the rear of the training sulky.

In order to acquire relevant information and data for example the speed of the horse at any time, the variation in altitude of the course and the travelled distance and the like, a GPS is used. Further, the breaking pressure on the wheel at any time may be registered by means of conventional pressure measuring devices, attached to the breaks of the sulky. For acquiring relevant information of the heartbeat, blood pressure, pulse and the like, prior art sensors are used.

According to the invention it is preferable to use an apparatus or a complete unit which is configured and comprises a GPS, a wireless receiver for heartbeat rates and blood pressure of the horse and a wireless receiver, receiving signals from the a unit reading the break pressure. The unit may further as an option also be provided with a transmitter sending said information to a unit controlling and regulating the breaking load.

Said parameters may be measured per time intervals and/or in real time, are registered and for example transmitted wireless to a processor or the like, carried for example by the trainer in a suitable pocket or the like. Alternatively, the results and _the various results and parameters may appear on a screen on a monitor arranged on the training sulky, enabling the trainer in a visual manner to permit surveillance and/or control of the development in the training and the development of the various parameters. This enables continuous surveillance and control of the training intensity compared with for

example with a predetermined and pre-programmed training programme .

After a training session, or in real time, the stored data may be loaded over to a central processing unit or a computer and incorporated into a predetermined training programme, where the data may be processed and adapted to a registration and/or follow-up system.

It is also possible to read the mean average speed; maximum speed and the length of the various periods; pressure or resistance from the training sulky, imposed on the horse; together with the heartbeat rate and blood pressure during the various intervals and periods. This information is of great importance for the trainer in order to assess the development of the horse and the response of the horse to the various training programmes. The training programmes may be tailor made to the type of horse in question, whether it is a warm blood or cold blood horse, etc.

The system may further be provided with a storage unit, storing all relevant information for each horse throughout the life of the horse. Such information may at any time be used as documentation of the training effects and development of the horse at a possible sale of a horse . The system may further be provided with means for warnings, such as for example light, vibrations, sound, or a combination of thereof, giving information to the trainer in real time when the horse is getting close to maximum heart beat rate, or when a desired distance or training time is reached. At maximum heart beat rate, the trainer may slow down the speed or reduce the breaking effect on the wheels. In such way, the trainer will avoid driving the horse unintentionally too hard, which is of great importance both for the development and the health

of the horse.

Further, it is possible to program the processor with predetermined parameters, such as for example five minutes with speed training, such as 30 km/h. When approaching the end of such five minutes period, the trainer may be informed for example by a voice from the processor, informing about the next stage of the training programme, specifying that the breaking power shall be adjusted to for example 75 Nm breaking pressure for a four minutes period.

The system may also be used for automatically or semi-automatically following-up of the training, the information from the processor giving signals to the breaking means so that the breaking effect is controlled automatically up or down.

In many cases the professional trainer may be responsible for training a large number of horses, such as for example 40-100. According to the present invention, the trainer may ensure that even his assistants may do the actual training thereby training the horse in complete accordance with the predetermined programme. In addition, the trainer may see a log later on, so that possible deviation from the intended programme may immediately be adjusted or detrimental development may be avoided. Another advantage of the present invention is the possibility to go many years back in time, if desired, to see how the horse has developed and to see how the horse responded to various speeds, strain, loads, etc. In this way, it is possible to avoid detrimental training, relatively quickly to take corrective action if a detrimental development is observed.

A further advantage of the present invention is the possibility of establishing a historical log, making it possible to place restrictions on the trainer or an

assistant, thus avoiding the tendencies of over-straining or being too harsh or hard on the horse during a training session. Since all training data are registered and stored, such tough tendencies may be prevented. An essential advantage of the invention is that it may be possible to drive the equipage at maximum speed even on low standard roads, gravelled, bumpy roads with large and/or small holes, or even on ploughed fields.

Another essential moment of the invention is that the wagon is made reasonably heavy, for example 120 kg without a driver. Since a wagon according to the present invention is equipped with pneumatic rubber tires it may also be possible to release some of the air pressure inside the tyre, if it is required or desired to dampen possible impact even further. For such solution, the training effect and intensity may be increased, since the wagon will become heavier to pull, while the comfort of the horse and the driver also will be improved.

Since the wagon will have a low centre of gravity during pulling by the horse, a further advantage of the present invention is that the relevant muscle groups needed for pulling the wagon and hence the effects of the training are achieved.

Another advantage of the wagon according to the present invention is that the wagon provides comfort both for the driver and the horse. Further, the wagon is both stable and robust. The effect is that the strain and loads both on the horse and the driver are reduced, and in particular on the back of driver and the horse, are substantially reduced, if not eliminated.

Due to the system established, the impacts are dampened in a positive manner both from a human and animal perspective, contributing to a more pleasant trotting. Yet another advantage of the system and the wagon

according to the present invention is that the wagon is very stable, enabling the rear end of the wagon to be used as an attachment point for attaching additional horses to the wagon. The wagon may for such purpose be provided with a rail or a hoop, for example made of a tube, for attachment of horses to run after the wagon, making it possible to train several horses simultaneously.

The suspension between the pivoted wheels and the wagon frame may preferably be made of a particularly designed self lubricating plastic material surface housing a support bolt. The wagon may be made of any suitable material, such as metal or to a substantial degree of a composite material, such as for example containing carbon or basalt fibres, embedded in a suitable matrix. According to one embodiment, the frame may be made of stainless steel, thereby providing a maintenance free wagon.

Yet another major advantage of the present invention is that the trainer may apply breaking loads on the wheels without imposing detrimental downwards acting strain on the horse back or the two front knees.

Yet another advantage according to the present invention is that the wagon behaves more or less exactly as a sulky, while still enabling the trainer to maintain high training intensity even in sloped, bumpy terrain or on ground full of holes.

Short Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention shall be described below in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a photo of an embodiment of a wagon according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a frame with wheel suspension, where parts such as a seat, the wheels etc. are not shown;

Figure 3A shows a pair of wheels at a stage where the front wheel is down into a hole in the surface;

Figure 3B shows the pair of wheels where the front wheel again is out of the hole, while the rear wheel now is down into the very same hole, and

Figure 4 shows schematically a professional automatic training system for horses (PATH), according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The system according to the invention comprises a unit, such as a water proof and shock absorbing GPS unit, provided with a transmitter, sending information via a satellite to a monitoring and control unit. The GPS is also provided with a receiver able to receive signals, for example via a blue tooth system from a heart rate sensor of the horse and the breaking load on the breaking system. The GPS is able to measure the difference in altitude and trotting speed via the satellite. Preferably, the GPS may also be able to read for example a chip, which are used on horses to day, in order to register the horse to be trained, such that relevant and intended training programme may be loaded into the GPS automatically.

Each horse may have its own pre-programmed training programme, tailor made to different type of training programme adapted to the various horses (cold blood, warm blood, or young horses) . In addition the trainer may be able to change the training parameters simply by manually or automatically making adjustment, for by adjusting the length of speed training, breaking pressure on the wheels, etc.

When the trainer for example has decided that the horse shall be trained by speed training during an interval of 10 minutes at a speed of 38 km/h, followed by

20 minutes with a breaking load of 75 Nm, the system shall provide information to the trainer, for example through ear phones, when the intended speed is reached and when it is time to change the training intensity. Further, the system may be configured in such way that it automatically may exert a breaking pressure on the wheel of 75 Nm. When a hill or a slope is reached the system provides information by means of an altitude measuring device that a slope is approaching and the breaking pressure on the wheels may be adjusted in order to compensate for the slope .

Figure 1 shows a view of a wagon 10 according to the invention. The wagon 10 comprises two pairs of wheels 11, i.e. front wheels 11' and rear wheels 11, a frame 12 formed of assembled channel profiles, a seat for the driver 12 and two shafts 14, intended to be attached to the harness on the horse. The seat 13 comprises a support 15 for the back of the driver. The seat 13 may also be provided with a foot support 15 for the driver. The pairs of wheel 11 and the frame 12 will be described in greater details below in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of the frame 12 and the wheel suspension 16. The frame 12 may have any suitable shape, provided it comprises elements for suspending the wheel, support on the seat 13 for the driver and mounting shafts 14 rigidly attached to the frame 12.

The invention is specifically related to the suspension 16 of the wheels 11. The suspension 16 for a pair of wheels 11', 11 may preferably be constructed as follows :

A vertical column 17, which preferably is sufficiently strengthened and braced with respect to the frame 12 so that the unit will be able to

withstand the maximum expected forces acting on the wagon 10. The column 17 may for example be braced by means of inclined braces 18 and transverse braces 19, inter-connecting and bracing the two columns 17. If desired, additional damping means, such as conventional dampers (not shown) , may be attached to the columns 17.

At the lower end of the columns 17, a pivotable suspension point may for example be arranged, such pivotal suspension point being in the form of a shaft 20, arranged perpendicular with respect to the column 17. A transverse arm 21 is pivotably arranged on the shaft 20, allowing the arm 21 to swing up and down in the vertical plane. This fact is indicated by means of the arrows in Figure 2. At each end of the arm 21 a hub 23 is arranged, the hub being provided with a shaft 22 for each of the wheels in the pair of 11 of wheels, allowing the wheels to rotate on the shafts 22 with respect to the hub 23.

As indicated in Figure 2, an additional frame is mounted on the frame 12, said additional frame 24 is attached to the frame 12, arranged perpendicular to the frame 12. The frame 24 is configured for rigidly attachment of the shafts 14 to the wagon, the shafts 14 and the frame forming a rigid structure, all in accordance with standard practice for sulkies. A frame 25 for supporting the driver seat is also attached to the frame 12, said frame 25 being provided with a foot rest 15 or support for the driver. The frame 24 for the shafts 14 are preferably made rigid with respect to the frame 12 by means of skewed stiffening means 26.

As set out above, the wagon may preferably be provided with breaks in order to vary the train load on

the horse .

According to the present invention the detrimental effects from breaks on the horse back and front knees are avoided according to the present invention by installing breaks only on the front wheel hub 23 of the wagon 10.

Such breaks (not shown) may be of the disc type, acing on a disc on the hub 23. When the trainer applies a breaking force on said front wheels, only the front wheels will because of the pivotable arms 21, tend to tilt downwards in the direction of motion, while the effects on the shafts will be negligible. It should be appreciated, however, that because of the arms 23, the effect of such breaking on the horse is substantially reduced, if not completely eliminated. Hence, the trainer may not be as cautious as for a conventional training sulky.

The breaks may be operated by means of a hydraulic system, using ventilated disc breaks. The breaking pressure may be adjusted by the trainer or the driver for example at a preset breaking pressure, using an adjustable valve or the like.

Referring to Figures 3A and 3B, the wagon according to the present invention functions in the following way:

Since pairs of wheels 11 are arranged on each side of the wagon, each wheel in a pair of wheels 11 on each side being interconnected by means of an arm 21, and since the arms 21 are rotatably arranged on the shaft 20, the arm 21 may pivot up and down in the vertical plane, whereby the wheels at all times will be in contact with the ground. The contact with the ground will, using a wagon according to the present invention, be secured even if the wagon is driven in a terrain which is sloped in one or the other direction, and even if the ground surface is bumpy, uneven of having holes. For example, when the front wheel on one side hit a hole in the ground, then the front wheel will,

because of the pivotable arm 21, be allowed to drop into the hole, while the rear wheel on the same side will be able to carry the weight of the wagon and the driver. Hence, the wagon will not to any significant degree be affected by the movement of the wheels. Such phase is indicated in Figure 3A.

Correspondingly, the same effect will occur when the front wheel has come out of the hole. The arm will then pivot the opposite way, ref. the arrows in Figures 3A and 3B. At such stage, the rear wheel on the same side will fall down into the hole. At this stage, the front wheel is substantially carrying the weight of the wagon and the driver. This stage is shown in Figure 3B.

If deemed necessary or required, it is possible to arrange additional damping means on the frame 11, connected to the pair of wheel 11. This may be achieved for example by arranging damping means (not shown) on each column 17. Such damping means may be of any known type, such as two concentrically arranged tubes, where one tube is slidably arranged inside the other tube and wherein an intermediate damping means, such as a helical spring, may be associated therewith. Alternatively, the damping means may for example be formed of a hydraulic cylinder or the like. Since both sides of the wagon is provided with such wheel suspension, the arms on each side, and hence also the wheels on each side, will pivot up and down in the vertical plane independent of each other.

Even though it is specified above that the wagon is used for training trotting horses, it should be appreciated that the wagon also may be suitable for other purposed, such as pleasure tours and the like.

Figure 4 shows schematically a flow diagram of a professional automatic training system for horses. As seen

in the Figure a wagon 10 as described in conjunction with Figures 1-3 is provided with hydraulic disc brakes 23 attached to the front wheels 11' of the wagon 10. As further indicated in the Figure, information of the heartbeat, blood pressure and pulse from the horse is sent to a processor 28 by means for example by means of a Bluetooth. Further, from a system of one or more satellites 33, the change in altitudes and the traveled distance are registered and fed to the processor 28. On this basis the processor calculates the speed of the horse. On the basis of this information the trainer may adjust the breaking pressure by means of an adjustment valve 29.

As seen in the Figure the breaking system comprises disc breaks 27 attached to the front wheels 11' ; lines 29 for supply of breaking fluid; a valve 29 for adjustment of the breaking pressure; a break fluid pump 31; and an expansion tank 32 for breaking fluid. The adjustment valve 29 may be controlled by the trainer from a remote position or alternatively automatically, based on information received from the processor 28, comparing the received values from the sensors on the horse with preset values, previously set by the trainer. Alternatively, the adjustment valve may be controlled by the trainer on the wagon, based on real time information received, for example from a monitor (not shown) on the wagon 10. The valve 29 may for this purpose be equipped with a transmitter and receiver.

The system according to the invention is configured in such way that the system may be used for surveillance and control of the training intensity and the like, simultaneously for more than one horse, such more than one horse being tied to the rear of the training sulky 10. In order to acquire relevant information and data,

for example the speed of the horse at any time, the variation in altitude of the course and the travelled distance and the like, a GPS unit in a processor 28 is used. Further, the breaking pressure on the wheel 11' at any time may be registered by means of conventional pressure measuring devices, attached to the breaks 27 of the sulky 10. For acquiring relevant information of the heartbeat, blood pressure, pulse and the like, prior art sensors 34 are used. According to the invention it is preferable to use an apparatus or a complete unit which is configured and which comprises a GPS, a wireless receiver for heartbeat rates and blood pressure of the horse and a wireless receiver, receiving signals from the a unit reading the break pressure. The unit 28 may further as an option also be provided with a transmitter sending said information to a remote unit controlling and regulating the breaking load.

Said parameters, which may be measured per time intervals and/or in real time, are registered and for example transmitted wireless to a processor 28 or the like, carried for example by the trainer in a suitable pocket or the like. Alternatively, the results and the various results and parameters may appear on a screen on a monitor (not shown) arranged on the training sulky 10, enabling the trainer in a visual manner to permit surveillance and/or control of the development in the training and the development of the various parameters . This enables continuous surveillance and control of the training intensity compared with for example with a predetermined training programme, stored in the processor 28.

After a training session, or in real time, the stored data may be loaded over to a remote, central processing unit or a computer and incorporated into a predetermined

training programme, where the data may be processed and adapted to a registration and/or follow-up system.

It is also possible to read the mean average speed; maximum speed and the length of the various periods; pressure or resistance from the training sulky 10, imposed on the horse; together with the heartbeat rate and blood pressure during the various intervals and periods. This information is of great importance for the trainer in order to assess the development of the horse and the response of the horse to the various training programmes. The training programmes may be tailor made to the type of horse in question, whether it is a warm blood or cold blood horse, etc.

The system may further be provided with a storage unit, storing all relevant information for each horse throughout the life of the horse. Such information may at any time be used as documentation of the training effects and development of the horse at a possible sale of a horse . The system may further be provided with means for warnings, such as for example light, vibrations, sound, or a combination of thereof, giving information to the trainer in real time of when the horse is getting close to maximum heart beat rate, or when a desired distance or training time is reached. At maximum heart beat rate, the trainer may slow down the speed or reduce the breaking effect on the wheels 11' . In such way, the trainer will avoid driving the horse unintentionally too hard, which is of great importance both for the development and the health of the horse.

Further, it is possible to program the processor with predetermined parameters, such as for example five minutes with speed training, such as 30 km/h. When approaching the end of such five minutes period, the trainer may be

informed for example by a voice, via a voice from the processor 28, informing about the next stage of the training programme, specifying that the breaking power shall be adjusted to for example 75 Nm breaking pressure for a four minutes period.

The system may also be used for automatically or semi-automatically following-up of the training, the information from the processor 28 giving signals to the breaking means 27 so that the breaking effect is controlled automatically up or down.

In many cases the professional trainer may be responsible for training a large number of horses, such as for example 40-100 horses. According to the present invention, the trainer may ensure that even his assistants may do the actual training thereby training the horse completely in accordance with the predetermined programme. In addition, the trainer may see a log later on, so that possible deviation from the intended programme may immediately be adjusted or detrimental development may be avoided.

Another advantage of the present invention is the possibility to go many years back in time, if desired, to see how the horse has developed and to see how the horse responded to various speeds, strains, loads, etc. In this way, it is possible to avoid detrimental training, by relatively quick take corrective action if a detrimental development is observed.

A further advantage of the present invention is the possibility of establishing a historical log, making it possible to place restrictions on the trainer or on an assistant, thus avoiding the tendencies of over-straining or being too harsh or hard on the horse during a training session. Since all training data are registered and stored, such tough tendencies may be restrained.

An essential advantage of the invention is that it may be possible to drive the equipage at maximum speed even on low standard roads, gravelled, bumpy roads with large and/or small holes, or even on ploughed fields. Another essential moment of the invention is that the wagon is made reasonably heavy, for example 120 kg without a driver. Since a wagon according to the present invention is equipped with pneumatic rubber tires it may also be possible to release some of the air pressure inside the tyre, if it is required or desired to dampen possible impact even further. For such solution, the training effect and intensity may be increased, since the wagon will become heavier top pull, while the comfort of the horse and the driver also will be improved.