The horse’s natural reproductive period coincides with the light-filled days of summer. The desire to breed mares early in the year means that many foals are born at a darker time of year than Nature intended. This has consequences for breeding efficiency. Often, early foaling mares experience longer gestations, have lower foal birth weights and can have trouble cycling post-foaling.
Scientifically developed, the biologically effective blue light in Equilume products mimics the wavelengths of light provided by the sun on a summer’s day. Both the quality of light and the duration of daily light delivered has important fertility benefits for mares. It is the powerful regulatory effect of blue light on production of the hormone melatonin that influence’s a mare’s reproductive system.
As seasonal breeders, the naturally lengthening days of spring suppress melatonin and in turn stimulate reproductive hormones that allow mares to commence breeding cycles.
Published scientific studies confirm that extending daylength for non-pregnant mares using blue light from Equilume Light Masks advances reproductive cycles as effectively as stable lighting, with the bonus that mares can be fitted with these masks while away at competition, on the road or while at pasture. Early reproductive activity means more cycles for embryo transfer and less disruption to competition schedules. Light masks should be fitted 70 days before desired ovulations.
For pregnant mares, the benefits of extending daily light using blue light from Equilume light masks are comprehensive. As well as hormones that control reproduction, lengthening days also stimulate important growth hormones in the mare that allow foals to mature optimally in utero and mares to produce more milk and good colostrum. Multiple published studies have shown that pregnant mares fitted with Equilume Light Masks for the last 100 days of gestation have reduced gestations (average 10-15 days), optimal foal birth weights, improved foal maturity, and greatly improved post-foaling fertility.
Daily delivery of consistent blue light wavelenghts by the light masks also ensures optimum health and well-being by naturally strengthening the horse’s body clock.
Mike Fleming, BHIMA, Hunter Valley, AUS has nothing but praise for Equilume Light Masks.
“We have been using the Equilume Light Masks for the last 8 years with great success. Our dry mares are all cycling and covered early, while reducing our management costs significantly. Our pregnant mares that wore the masks foaled on time with excellent post-foaling fertility, especially mares that had previously struggled to cycle with foal at foot. We would highly recommend Equilume to farms that want to reduce costs and improve breeding efficiency.”
