Garmin: New wearable measures heart rate and tracks activities, but it's not for humans

Garmin is a widely diversified company and offers more than regular smartwatches like the Garmin Fenix 8 which we have already reviewed and currently retails for $799 on Amazon. Garmin also makes devices for pilots, sailors and divers. With the Garmin Blaze, the company has now introduced a health tracker for animals, specifically for horses. Our first question was where this device could be attached, but the answer is fairly logical, as a cuff with two fasteners secures the Blaze to the horse tail. The sensor itself can be removed in order to wash said cuff that’s made of neoprene.

With that out of the way, the Garmin Blaze features optical sensors that can detect heart rate. The collected data can be displayed during an activity on a connected smartwatch. Riders can be alerted if the heart rate gets too high. Changes in skin temperature and other thermal values can also be determined. The activity and intensity can also be analyzed. In combination with a smartphone or smartwatch with GPS, the distance covered can be displayed as well. Furthermore, the collected sensor data can be sent to viewers via a broadcast function.

According to Garmin, the Blaze can also detect the gait, which can provide additional insights. The cuff and sensor weigh 2.6 oz in total. That being said, we do not know how comfortable or bothersome this device might be for horses. Either way, the Blaze health tracker for horses is now available for $599 directly at Garmin’s official online store. Shipping apparently takes 1 to 2 weeks.