The Wireless Association for the commercialization of NIGHTWATCH, the world’s first smart halter, in the U.S. and Canada. “We are grateful to the governing bodies and our telecommunication partners for their guidance these past 18 months,” said Jeffrey R. Schab, Founder & CEO of Protequus. “This important milestone ushers in a new chapter for Protequus as we transition from an R&D organization to a commercial market leader.”
NIGHTWATCH is an equine distress and wellness monitor that acts as an early warning system for colic and other forms of distress in horses, such as being cast, foaling, etc. This revolutionary device contains cutting-edge sensor technology and multiple radio transmitters (ie, ultra-wide band radar, 3G/cellular, Wi-Fi/WLAN) for acquiring biometric & behavior data on horses and alerting caretakers to the first signs of potential danger/distress so they can intervene early. All technology is non-invasively embedded within the crown of a specially-designed breakaway halter or safety collar, making NIGHTWATCH safe and comfortable for long-term and overnight use.
Nearly 40% of The American Horse Council’s estimated 9.2 million horses in the US are used for performance (ie, racing and showing), which means more than 3.5 million horses are at increased risk for developing colic and other forms of distress. Unfortunately, signs of distress can be elusive and often occur overnight while horses are unsupervised, which results in delayed intervention and inferior survival and quality of life outcomes. “We believe the advent of NIGHTWATCH not only has the potential to save the lives of many horses, but also revolutionize how equine insurance companies assess risk, how veterinarians practice telemedicine, and how researchers design studies,” said Schab.
NIGHTWATCH received patent protection earlier this year from the US Patent and Trademark Office (US Pat # 9,629,340) and is under review in other countries as part of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
NIGHTWATCH (www.nightwatch24.com) is the World’s first smart halter (optional safety collar) designed to save a horse’s life by alerting caretakers via text, phone call, or email at the early signs of danger/distress, such as colic. This Internet-of-Things (IoT)-enabled device continuously monitors real-time data on a horse’s vital signs and behaviors, works across 3G/cellular and Wi-Fi networks, offers GPS tracking, and continuously adapts to each horse over time through machine learning to maximize precision and benefit. Insight to real-time and historical information, including a horse’s Equine Distress Index (EDI™) score, is available on-demand 24/7 via an intuitive smartphone application and web dashboard.
NIGHTWATCH is offered exclusively by Protequus and will be commercially available to horses domiciled within the U.S. and Canada in a few months, while future plans include expansion into Europe and other regions outside North America.
Protequus (www.protequus.com) is a biomedical engineering and data science firm in Austin, TX dedicated to equine health & safety. Founded in 2013 by Jeffrey R. Schab, Protequus is comprised of advanced-degree science & technology professionals who share a relentless commitment to excellence and a passion for horses. Their pursuit to find a solution to combat the devastating impact of equine colic, the leading natural cause of death in horses that is second only to old age, has put Protequus on the fast-track for success.
