For a horse rider, the bit is an important point of communication with their horse. Yet, this critical tool provides almost no objective feedback, leaving riders to rely on subjective guesswork to understand their horse’s reactions, comfort, or stress.
Meet Stefan Hadži-Longinović, the founder of Computerised Equine Bit, one of the ventures taking part in the Sprout Accelerator Spring25 Cohort. His venture, Computerised Equine Bit, is bridging the gap between sensor technology and animal welfare with a smart bit that provides objective, science-backed data for smarter communication, safer horse riding and training.
The idea for Computerised Equine Bit came from Stefan’s personal and professional experience as an equine dentist. Having worked in both human and equine dentistry, he noticed the lack of feedback riders received from the horse's mouth, a sensitive area where subtle changes often go unnoticed. Stefan realised he could combine sensor technology with a welfare-focused design to improve this “two-way” communication, ultimately enhancing the horse's well-being. This innovation, he says, is a "cherry on the top" of his already impressive career, which includes over a decade of equine dentistry practice in New Zealand.
The Computerised Equine Bit is a device that captures data on the position, motion, and pressure of the bit inside a horse's mouth. This information is translated into actionable insights for riders, trainers, and vets. This solution turns behavioural cues from a horse into clear, science-backed feedback, helping riders improve their riding, training and detect discomfort early.
Stefan discovered that while equine technology is a growing field, most products focus on the rider or overall horse movement, overlooking the welfare of the horse's mouth itself. This revealed a market gap for a high-value, niche product like his that balances welfare with performance data.
Through the nature of his work and numerous conversations with clients and veterinarians, who all expressed a strong desire for such a product, Stefan confirmed that the problem was real and had real market potential.
Stefan's immediate milestone is to build a proof-of-concept prototype to demonstrate the core technology. He is also working to secure commercial expertise. Stefan hopes Sprout's mentorship will help him identify the right funding pathways and help him develop his commercial knowledge and structures. His ultimate aspiration is to set a new standard for welfare-driven innovation in equine sports. He hopes to build a respected brand in equine tech that balances commercial value with welfare innovation, helping horses live healthier and more respected lives