b'rhythms get synchronized by not only7. We disrupt horses internal rhythmspollution at night helps the bodys circa-light and dark but also climate changeswhen we interact with them at night dian rhythms remain strong, she said.(especially temperature) and availableto toss hay, do night check, medicate,Circadian and circannual rhythms can nutrition throughout the year. or change bandages, for instance.affect nearly every equine physiologic, 2. When light enters the eye, the retinaAs soon as you flip that light switch,behavioral, and metabolic response. We sends a signal to the brain, which sendssaid Murphy, youve disturbed theirmust be cognizant of how our manage-a time-of-day message throughout thecircadian clocks, which can affect theirment practices might inhibit everything body. Not all types of light, however,sleep, cortisol (stress) levels, and evenfrom hormone levels to immune function. are created equal, said Murphy. Blueperformance. She recommends usingRelatively simple lighting changes can light, which is present in high amountsred lights rather than fluorescent orencourage horses to be alert during the in natural daylight, best stimulates theincandescent when doing nighttimeday, rest at night, and maintain healthy photoreceptors in the eye that regulatebarn chores. Eliminating white lightbody functions, said Murphy. hcircadian rhythms.3. Circannual rhythms dictate mare reproductive cycles. The natural breed-ing season runs from April to October to coincide with longer periods of daylight. Breeders have been using artificial light in the form of stable lighting and floodlights in paddocks to effectively manipulate mares cyclesTheraPlate Revolution for decades. New research shows that light maskswhich Murphy inventedTherapy Platformsand produces with her company,A Revolution inEquilumethat deliver low-intensityRehabilitation blue light to one eye are equallyPerformance effective. Conditioning 4. Theres also a correlation betweenRecoverycircadian rhythms and equine perfor- Used and recommended by top mance. Research has shown that ifprofessionals and amateurs worldwide!horses follow a daily exercise regimen, their muscle genes learn to peak at theContact us today for your free 3 week trial!time of exercise, Murphy said. By train- 800.920.3685ing a horse at the same time each day,Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back!Proudly Manufactured in the USAyoure essentially training his muscles to perform at their best at that time.5. Horsesparticularly equine athletes that fly to competitions around the worldcan suffer jet lag just like humans do. While theyre immediately on a new light schedule, their body rhythms, such as core body tempera-ture, do not align to the new time zone for up to 11 days, said Murphy.6. By stabling horses under fluorescent lights for much of the day (which of-fer very little if any blue wavelength light), were failing to stimulate normal circadian rhythms, she said. We need to mimic natural daylight in stables if we want to maintain good hair coats, musculature, immunity, etc. For stalled performance horses to be at their best, Murphy recommends putting them under blue-enriched light during the day and keeping them in darkness or under red light at night, with transition periods at dawn and dusk. TheHorse.com | The HorseOctober 201925'