THE POWER OF LIGHT A Key Ingredient for Training Success Courtesy Equilume D id you know that environmental light is the most important cue
influencing a horse’s mental and physical well-being? Like humans, horses need light for more than just vision. Special cells at the back of the eye respond to blue wavelengths of light. As sunlight is naturally high in blue light, this serves to regulate internal rhythms throughout the horse’s body. This system, called the circadian system, controls the activity of nearly every cell in the body, ensuring the body clock stays in tune with the daily light-dark cycles. Exposure to the wrong
kind of lighting at different times of day plays havoc with an animal’s circadian system causing it to flatline. The consequences of circadian disruption are well-known in humans and include sleep disturbances, low alertness, impaired performance, immune suppression, illness and disease. The key to well-being is strong internal rhythms driven by consistent exposure to biologically effective blue light by day. For stabled performance horses, lighting is particularly important. The equine industry has made amazing advances in nutritional science, veterinary medicine and training technologies, but until recently little attention was given to the level or quality of daily light a horse receives or the role it plays in ensuring optimal health, condition and behaviour. Ground-breaking research conducted at University College Dublin
biologically effective blue light each day to ensure the horse receives the benefits of a long summer’s day throughout the year. By supporting the horse’s body clock, it helps to: • Maintain muscle tone • Ensure a sleek and shiny coat • Reduce the frequency of clipping
• Strengthen immunity • Encourage appetite
• Positively influence mood and behaviour • Extend the period of peak performance
Highly accomplished barrel racer, Maggie Poloncic, and renowned producers, Turner Performance Horses, have all experienced positive results using Equilume Performance Lighting: ”The Equilume Light Masks allow my mares to go about their normal routines in their normal environments all while preparing for the breeding season. I’ve seen several performance benefits as well: increased immunity, better eating and drinking habits during travel and weather changes, and better rest. My horses are happier, more focused, and ready to perform.” – Maggie Poloncic “We at Turner Performance Horses LLC have been using the Equilume Stable Lights in our barns in Arizona and Montana for the past 4 years. We believe that the research and technology behind the Equilume products has enabled us to keep our horses in better health and performing better than they ever have. The horses are more at ease in their stalls, they look and feel amazing with great coat condition and fantastic muscle development. We saw record breaking results at this year’s League of Legends Sales that we attribute to the installation of this new lighting system. We would
identified that low levels of blue light could regulate important hormone rhythms in the horse when delivered to only one eye. The subsequent development of the Equilume Cashel Light Mask has been a gamechanger for performance horses by allowing them to receive the optimum level of light whether they are stabled, out grazing or travelling to a competition. It is not just the quality but also the duration of daily light that impacts a horse’s body, the Cashel Mask delivers 15 hours of
18 WPRA NEWS JULY 2023
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