When and why - fitting the Equilume Light masks on your dry mares, pregnant mares and stallions?
The Equilume blue light technology mimics the duration and quality of sunlight on a summer’s day. It provides the lengthened days that regulate the horse’s reproductive cycle and controls the production of melatonin, stimulating physiological changes that drive fertility, while enhancing overall health, mood, and behaviour.
Equilume Light Masks facilitate flexible management and reduce costs associated with stabling horses for early season reproductive success. They permit pasture living within a natural herd environment, where horses are healthier and stress-free.
On Your Stallions, It is recommended that long-day light therapy for stallions is initiated 70 days prior to the time of peak reproductive activity. Equilume Performance Lighting advances and extends the season of optimum fertility for stallions, in addition to many other health and well-being benefits. Stallions are capable of breeding all year round, but fertility is highest during the longest days of the year. Studies have shown that semen volume, sperm concentration, libido and reproductive behaviour are all positively influenced by the duration of light.
On Your Non-Pregnant Mares (Dry and Maiden), to achieve earlier ovulations, increased fertility and regulated Estrous Cycles, blue light treatment should begin approximately 70 days in advance of desired breeding. This coincides with mid to late June for the Thoroughbred industry in the Southern Hemisphere.
On Your Pregnant Mares, Blue light treatment should begin approximately 90-100 days before foaling due date. BUT Regardless of foaling due date, light treatment should not commence before June 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. Natural light exposure is a major component in regulating your mare’s stress-free environment as it plays a significant role in the reproductive cycle. Extended daylight hours stimulate the production of reproductive hormones and growth hormones, ensuring the health of both mare and foal. It is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy, foal development in utero, and improving milk production and colostrum. Research has shown that mares exposed to Equilume's blue light technology in the final 100 days of gestation have major benefits for both mare and foal. Presented at the Equine Symposium of the British Society for Animal Science’s Conference, research showing pregnant mares who wear blue light masks during the final 100 days of gestation had shorter pregnancies, earlier post-foaling ovulations, and produced stronger foals at birth. Conducted by the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, this study also found that foals from mares using light masks were 15 minutes faster at getting to their feet after birth compared to those from mares without additional light exposure. The study, conducted over two years at the Brandenburg State Stud in Germany, showed that blue-light-stimulated mares developed larger follicles in late gestation and could be bred sooner after foaling.
“Every year, Wentwood Grange foals down mares for ourselves and clients. We strive to find the best tools available so we can do the best job we can to deliver exceptional results.
The Equilume Light Masks are an invaluable tool to help pregnant mares foal on time ensuring a better chance of returning the mare for service within the same season. Our experience with Equilume has been remarkably successful, and we are committed to continuing using the Light Masks.”
– Dean Hawkins, Wentwood Grange, New Zealand.
Embrace this new method to enhance your mare's pregnancy experience. For more information on how to effectively implement Equilume into your breeding program and choose to best Equilume products for your program, consult our team:
Amandine and Max: +1 800 754 0986 | amandine@equilume.com | max@equilume.com
