Smart textiles are extending the traditional functionality of textiles and making a significant impact within the medical and healthcare industries. However, the field of animal care has been slow to adopt the use of smart textiles. This research explores the use of this emerging technology within the field of animal care. A research through design approach has been used to utilise both theoretical and practical investigations to explore possibilities for the use of smart textile applications in the equine industry. A combination of knowledge in textile design and technology, aids in the creation of ?soft? textile electrodes through the construction of composite and conductive fabrics where textile structures, material properties and yarns are explored for their technical performance. The practice-based research results in the construction of a prototyped smart textile system for continuous monitoring of equine physiology.