The 2014 breeding season saw the introduction of an innovative new breeding management tool, the Equilume Light Mask, across the Northern Hemisphere. Equilume Ltd, an Irish company based in Co Kildare, launched its award-winning mask as an alternative means of providing artificial lighting to horses.

The product has multiple applications but is most recognised for advancing the reproductively active season of mares to meet industry timelines and preventing long gestations in pregnant mares. Well, the results are in and the company has reported that feedback from clients suggest 90% are planning on reordering the product for the 2015 season, with many increasing their orders.

The mask consists of an individual headpiece that fits comfortably under the halter with a perforated blinker cup on one side that provides low-intensity blue light to the right eye, thus permitting outdoor maintenance of horses in their natural environment and avoiding the high costs associated with nightly stabling.

Similar to putting mares under lights in a stable, the light mask works on an automatic timer and once activated between November 15th and December 1st at 4pm, the light will turn on automatically each day when the sun sets and stays lighting until 11pm each night.

Breakthrough research conducted by company founder Dr Barbara Murphy at University College Dublin identified the optimum wavelength and intensity of blue LED light required to precisely influence the horse’s reproductive system when administered to a single eye.

“We were delighted by the uptake of the product last season by Irish and UK breeders who were willing to try this new technology. We overcame some early electronic hiccups and now have a much-improved product for the upcoming season thanks to the feedback received from breeders,”

Dr Murphy said while attending Goffs Orby Sale last week: “Farms who used the mask have reported pregnancy length reductions of on average 10-20 days in mares with histories of long gestations, which is terrific.”

Dermot Cantillon of Tinnakil House Stud has been a supporter of the product since its inception, “Equilume has allowed me to keep my mares in their natural environment and not sacrifice their reproductive activity. They cycle early, go in foal and the risk of colic is greatly reduced. Equilume has been a ‘shining light’ in tightening our average gestation lengths.”

Light, environmental temperature and nutrition all influence a mare’s reproductive activity. Of these, light is by far the most important. Evidence of this is clear in responses from Kentucky breeders that used Equilume during the record cold Spring of 2014.

Dr Steve Jackson of Bluegrass Equine Nutrition said: “We used Equilume Light Masks on our barren mares last season at Jackson Purchase Farm. I am happy to say that the masks worked great.

“All of the mares had breedable follicles by February 14th and we had zero issues with the mares being outside 24/7, often in sub-zero temperatures. I spent less on van and vet charges and had healthier mares. For me the economics were good and the mares simply did better outside. I am a believer!”

Detailed information on the product, the research, the trials and testimonials can be found online at www.equilume.com.