When I first wrote about Equilume as a management tool in 2019, it was a relatively new technology and somewhat misunderstood. Today Equilume Blue Light Therapy is widely used as a management tool in performance and breeding horses and many horse owners and horses in Australia are reaping the benefits of this technology.
If Blue Light Therapy masks are new to you here is some important information to know.
Blue Light does not harm the horse!
Did you know that natural daylight has a high amount of blue wavelength light? This blue light is biologically effective and regulates a horse’s circadian rythym (24 hour clock) through receptors in the horses eye. This is what happens in natural daylight for all horses.
In actual fact the lights that are commonly used in stables such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes are far more artificial to the horses because they contain very low levels of blue light and overall the wavelengths and intensity of them is far different to natural daylight.
The light sits behind one eye and does not shine directly in the eye as some people think. It is low level and not a “bright blue light” as I have also seen mentioned.
Why use blue light therapy?
There are two main reasons to use blue light therapy. These are to achieve earlier pregnancies in mares and to have a sleek summer competition coat at a time when a horse normally wouldn’t, however the benefits are not limited to these.
For a long time, it has been common practice to put horses under lights in a stable or yard to manipulate their hormonal response to the seasons (by inhibiting the hormone melatonin) in order to achieve early pregnancies or achieve a competition coat outside the summer months. Stabled horses receive insufficient and often erratic exposure to light, especially biologically effective blue light contained in natural daylight. The Equilume light therapy mask uses blue light (which you now know is natural for them) to achieve these aims whilst keeping the horse in a much more natural environment in the paddock and optimizing their exposure to the biologically effective blue light.
Keeping a horse in a more natural environment reduces stress and behavioral issues, it optimizes reproductive health, reduces costs in terms of labour cleaning stables and also in bedding costs.
The use of blue light therapy has also been shown to :
- Increase milk yields and give higher quality colostrum;
- Increase libido and fertility in stallions;
- Improve muscle tone, weight gain and performance.
- Improve mood and well-being through increasing prolactin and serotonin. An increase in Seratonin is one of the reasons many people feel happier in summer. If it has that effect on humans it can have the same effect on horses. I know it is certainly the case for me.
Which mask is right for my needs?
Many people don’t realise that there are in fact different models of Equilume Masks, the Belfield, the Curragh the Cashel and now the new Pro Mask. The Belfield is a one season only mask most commonly used by larger scale breeders to get mares cycling early. This mask retails for $517.00. The other masks vary in terms of cost, whether the cup is replaceable or rechargeable and in the hours in which the light is active. This in turn means that each model is more suitable for different purposes.
The Curragh Mask (Replaceable cup): Now available in Full size and Pony Size. Pony size suitable for up to 13.2hh.
- The light is active from 4pm – 11pm each day
- The cup is replaceable when battery runs out
- Battery lasts four months if used every day
- Generally recommended for breeding purposes but many of my clients do use for coat and performance purposes
- Cost $621 and replacement cup $357.50
The Cashel Mask (Rechargeable Cup): ** This mask has been replaced with the new Pro Mask for Full Size but is still available in Pony size (up to 13.2hh)
- The light is active from 8am – 11pm each day
- The cup is rechargeable and needs to be charged every 7 days
- The cup does not last forever – generally 18 months if used every day
- Recommended for coat maintenance and performance
- Cost $990 and replacement cup $550
The Equilume Pro Mask (Wirelessly rechargeable cup) – Full size only
- The light is active from 8am-11pm each day
- The cup is wirelessly rechargeable (an upgrade from the Cashel)
- The cup lasts 12 months if used every day
- Features a fleece-lined headpiece, padded lining around the cup and long adjustable Velcro straps to ensure a comfortable and secure fit for your horse
- Recommended for coat maintenance and performance
- Cost $841.50
There seems to be lots of questions surrounding which mask to use for coat maintenance. The Cashel (and now the new Pro) is recommended because it is active for 15 hours per day. This does not mean you need to leave it on for 15 hours. If the horse is in sufficient natural daylight during the day it can be taken off and put back on later in the day as it has access to natural light in the paddock. However what it does allow you to do is put it on when the horse is traveling, away at a competition when it is stabled with no lights, low light or you can’t control the lighting without risking the horse blowing a coat. It is also necessary if the horse is stabled full-time or for the majority of the day in a stable with poor lighting. It is also more beneficial if you are trying to get a horse to shed a coat early as at these times the natural daylight can be lower intensity and it is helpful to have the longer periods of active light. Having said that you can use the Curragh mask if you choose and I do have plenty of customers that choose the Curragh for coat maintenance and are very happy with the results. As of last week, the Cashel Mask has been replaced with the new Pro Mask in full size only. The Pro Mask has the great benefit of being charged wirelessly now which makes life very easy. It also has improved design features to increase comfort for the horse.
When using an Equilume for coat conditioning in Australia, to prevent a horse getting a winter coat, the Equilume needs to be on by the 21st of January. 21st of December is the summer solstice and you have a period of one month after that in order to get it on to prevent the coat growing. In terms of shedding a winter coat, they will generally complete shedding within 6-8 weeks of applying the mask. It is important to remember that all horses need a “winter” period of rest where the mask is not on for a period of 8 weeks, but you can choose when you do this according to your competition schedule. It is important to remember that the horse will still need to be kept warm so correct rugging is important. It does take time for the horse to respond to the light stimulus and interrupting the hair growth process by clipping or exposure to stress can influence how quickly this happens.
When using for reproductive purposes in Australia these are the important dates:
Dry mares and Stallions need to have the mask on by the 1st of July in order to reduce the production of melatonin and be effective.
Pregnant mares should commence 90 days prior to their due date to optimize foal birth weights and prevent prolonged gestations. It is important to note that they should not be applied prior to 15th of June regardless of due date.
Hopefully this has clarified some of the common misconceptions and questions that people have. When it is all said and done Equilume was developed and tested by scientists and horse people who have the best interest of the horse at heart. It is a management tool and if used correctly and appropriately has some fantastic benefits for all involved.
If you have any further questions please feel free to message me at info@proactiveanimalhealth.com.au or phone 0418179326.