Abstract: Provided is a device for attachment to the head of a horse to enable recording of respiratory sounds in the intensely exercising animal, e.g., in a breezing Thoroughbred racehorse. Also provided are methods for predicting racing performance in a horse, e.g., a Thoroughbred race horse, comprising measuring expiratory and/or inspiratory times for a subject horse during exercise and relating such information to anatomy, front leg stance times and/or front leg stance distances and/or to speed (velocity) to determine the animal's potential to sustain a superior rate of ground coverage for a desired amount of time and identify a maximum comfortable velocity for the animal. A presently preferred embodiment of the methods of the invention comprises predicting performance via identification of expiratory time determined directly from the analysis of recorded respiratory sound from the exercising animal.

Abstract: Provided is a device for attachment to the head of a horse to enable recording of respiratory sounds in the intensely exercising animal, e.g., in a breezing Thoroughbred racehorse. Also provided are methods for predicting racing performance in a horse, e.g., a Thoroughbred race horse, comprising measuring expiratory and/or inspiratory times for a subject horse during exercise and relating such information to anatomy, front leg stance times and/or front leg stance distances and/or to speed (velocity) to determine the animal's potential to sustain a superior rate of ground coverage for a desired amount of time and identify a maximum comfortable velocity for the animal. A presently preferred embodiment of the methods of the invention comprises predicting performance via identification of expiratory time determined directly from the analysis of recorded respiratory sound from the exercising animal.