WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN HORSELIGHT
Modern management methods mean that horses can spend a large proportion of the twenty four hour period in their stable with no exposure to daylight and many are disrupted by illumination at night. This system negatively impacts the horse’s circadian rhythm (body clock) and can result in lack of appetite and poor performance, impaired growth and diminished immune response.
DairyLight, the sister company to HorseLight, has had over a decade of success in the dairy and beef industry. HorseLight has now been introduced to provide the equine industry with biologically effective light.
RESULTS
SEEN IN ALL
STABLED
HORSES
Better daytime alertness
improved rest and sleep pattern
Extends summer coat and body condition
encouraging the body to convert feed to
muscle mass, meaning less feed required
Studies show and owners report "happier' horses
that are stabled commenting that they appear more relaxed and with noticeably fewer stable vices such as box walking, cribbing, weaving etc
Reduced bacterial pathogens and fungal load
leading to improved respiratory function and reduced cases of
highly contagious fungal health threats
Owners in all disciplines report an increase in athletic performance,
improved growth rates in young horses and much fast recovery times
HORSELIGHT FOR
PERFORMANCE
Many performance horses spend more time in their stable than they do outside, perhaps even more during the summer due to competing and training. There are also many occasions when turnout just isn't an option due to illness, injury or lack of space
By installing HorseLight you can be assured that your horse will gain from the huge range of health benefits that this unique light offers
Improved food conversion leading to increased condition and muscle mass
Owners have reported having to feed less hard feed as the uptake in nutrients is significantly higher than that of horses stabled without HorseLight. A saving on feed bills
Improved vitamin D and Calcium absorption
Horses get their much-needed Vitamin D which is essential for calcium absorption through their skin. Stabled horses during the summer miss out on this vital sunshine ingredient which can lead to tying up, skin and coat conditions and many other health implications
Summer coat extending well into late autumn
A less dense winter coat, means less clipping is needed
HORSELIGHT
FOR BREEDING
Mares come into season earlier with stronger signals and have a more reliable ovulation pattern
Stallions display an earlier reproductive capacity
Competition mares who are embryo transfer candidates will benefit from an earlier breeding season
Can help with producing earlier foals
Red night light acts as an observation light during foaling
It has long been acknowledged and research has shown that the introduction of light into the breeding cycle of mares in the winter months would bring them into season earlier.
Horses are known as "long-day-breeders.' This means that their normal cyclic activity is primarily activated by an increase in the length of daylight in early spring.
With technology now enabling us to select specific light spectrums and intensity and at different times of the year, we can optimise biological performance
Natural Breeding
Horses have a natural breeding season that extends from April to September in the northern hemisphere, a time coinciding with longer day length, grass growth and milder weather. The northern hemisphere specifies a universal birthday for horses of 1st January. Breeders therefore desire foals born early in the year to produce more mature yearlings and ready to race 2-year-old horses.
Studies show that annual earnings are significantly higher for horses born in January–February than for those born in April–June. For breeders to maximize their horses potential in racing in particular, it is common place to manipulate the mares' reproductively active period, to meet the official start date of the breeding season on 15th February.
An artificial photoperiod of 16 hours light: 8 hours dark. This kind of Light Therapy can advance the breeding season (cycling of the mare) by as much as 3 months. This can be done by starting light therapy on 1st December. It is now commonplace to extend day length for 8–10 weeks from this date by exposing mares to artificial light for 16 hours, ending at 23.00 hours, followed by 8 hours of darkness or using non melatonin suppressing light (Red Light). A natural dawn can then occur during the most sensitive phase of the 24 hour cycle.
Natural Light
Research has shown that the hours of daylight are the major factor controlling the mare's reproductive function, the hormone melatonin is produced during the hours of darkness and is the primary regulator of the mare's breeding cycle. As the days lengthen in spring, melatonin production decreases signaling the approach of the breeding season. We know now that Blue light within the short-wavelength spectrum (465–485 nm) is most effective at inhibiting melatonin. Melanopsin is particularly sensitive to short wavelength, blue light. This is most effectively done with an optimized stable light.
A common side effect of early foaling is longer gestation periods and lower birth weights. Using light therapy has also shown to improve the birth weight and shorten the gestation period by up to 10 days in mares with early foaling dates. Gestation periods and foaling dates which are more regular can also shorten the period of time the mare has to be kept under supervision before foaling. This has a direct benefit to the breeder.
