Creating Sunrises For Our High-Tech Horses

Artificial daytimes, rug sensors and racing trainers were among the developments discussed at a tech conference

- Rachael Turner

A NEW lighting system which creates artificial sunrises and sunsets to boost equine performance is one of a range of high-tech advances making waves in the horse world.

Equilux Lighting, which replicates outdoor light to benefit equine development, alertness in daytime and rest at night, was presented at the Horse Tech Conference at the Royal Veterinary College on 18 October.

“My light is full spectrum and peaks in the same natural peak as daylight,” said creator Sam Murphy. “We create a sunrise and a sunset, so we lower and raise [horses’ level of] melatonin as it would in a natural environment.

“The light dims and turns red at night. We can manage horses under the red lights and don’t need to turn on [other] lights if we want to check them.”

The system can be adjusted to “extend a horse’s season of peak performance” by changing the hours of “daylight”.

In January last year a study on two-year-old racehorses explored the benefits of the system.

The horses were on the same training yard and were divided into two groups; half kept on the Equilux system and the other traditional lighting.

Both groups of horses had the same feed, bedding and staff caring for them.