What is equine light therapy and how is it used at horse facilities?

Light therapy for horses uses controlled exposure to specific wavelengths of light to influence physiological processes, and it is used in horse facilities for two primary purposes — managing the reproductive cycle through artificial photoperiod manipulation, and supporting healing and tissue recovery through low-level laser or photobiomodulation therapy applied to specific areas of the body. Photoperiod management uses broad-spectrum artificial lighting in stalls to simulate the increasing day length of spring, which triggers the hormonal changes that bring mares into reproductive cycling earlier in the calendar year than they would cycle naturally. Because the equine breeding industry uses January first as a universal birth date for all horses born in a given year, there is economic incentive to breed mares as early in the calendar year as possible. Stall lighting programs that expose mares to artificial light for a specific number of hours beginning in early winter are widely used at breeding operations to advance the onset of the breeding season. Photobiomodulation therapy — commonly called low-level laser therapy or cold laser therapy — uses specific wavelengths of light applied directly to tissue to stimulate cellular energy production, reduce inflammation, and support healing. It is used on horses to treat soft tissue injuries, wounds, and areas of chronic pain or inflammation, and is applied through handheld devices or larger panel systems. Practitioners using it typically combine it with conventional veterinary care rather than using it as a standalone treatment. Both applications of light therapy require specific equipment, protocols, and in the case of photobiomodulation, appropriate training and often veterinary guidance to use effectively and safely.