Kurtsystems "Equine Training System" Means Faster Steeds, Fewer Injuries

And how long does it take to train the horses to not have the cr*p scared out of them by this monstrosity?

Race horses are pretty stout, but I think that they would generally find this gizmo intimidating.

It's not too hard to condition a horse to something like this. The fact that most of the machine is behind it is helpful. Horses have been pulling carts and carriages for centuries without being freaked out.

Your new car in the new green economy. Get used to it.

Those little dishes on the top aimed at the horse are a replacement for the old buggy whips. New electro-tech from the non lethal weapons research. Electro buggy whip, faster, BZZZ, faster, BZZZ.

so when the horse stumbles, you what? run it over?

Modern race horses are bred so frail for speed, that if one does trip, you might as well run over it, since it is going to break both legs and be put down anyways.

Horses are rather delicate animals to begin with, so the extra caution on such an investment is reasonable. I think horses, however, would be better served by horse racing and jumping (an artifact of horse-driven warfare and communication) be replaced by more reasonable purposes (as many horse shows do) of beauty in form or strength.

Oakspar. I'd like to know what background you are using to say that horses are so frail now. You generalize dozens of breeds down in a single category. The breed used for american track racing most notably the triple crown races are thoroughbreds. While you do see some horses being of a lighter build that in years past they are also drawing on a much larger stock of animals. Horses by and large are not delicate animals, in fact most are much hardier than even the best conditioned humans.

I do jumpers, yes one of the olympic equestrian sports. I have an off the track thoroughbred mare that carries 250lbs of person plus the weight of the tack over jumps ranging from 36inches to 60inches in height and up to 72inches in spread. The problems are how the horses are bred or what they do, its people forcing them to do things they aren't willing to do or aren't physically capable of doing.

A system like this makes me much happier for the poor horses that get stuck on the track. Its a horrible situation for most horses who are bred to race. At least a system like this will make training safer for all involved.

Its like they took the Ecto 1 and combined it with the 60s batmobile and then replaced the engine with a horse. Holy Bejesus Batman!

I have to agree with Havoc13 here, saying horses are frail is a sad understatment. Have you ever seen a Clydesdale or any other form of draft horse? Their leg bones are the size of your entire leg! Ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration but honestly tryin to say horses are frail when they used to ride miles with full dressed Nights on their back or pull wagon loads of lumber, you name it. They are a pretty hearty beast.

"so when the horse stumbles, you what? run it over?"

+1

Personally, I'd like to applaud Mr. Kurt's efforts. Clunky or not, if the car's sensors can warn trainers to back off before pushing their horses too hard, then at the very least, his method of training is less risky for the animals. It's nice to see somebody trying something new, and with a focus on the horses' well-being.