Ep. 38 How Light Shapes Horse Health and Behaviour with Dr Barbara Murphy

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Murphy discusses equine chronobiology and the role of light in regulating the horse’s circadian rhythms and biological clock. We explore how light exposure influences sleep, behaviour, reproduction, and overall horse welfare, and how modern horse management can disrupt natural light cycles.

Barbara also explains how research into photoperiod and circadian biology has led to practical applications in equine management and breeding, including the development of lighting technologies used within the global horse industry.

This conversation highlights why understanding the relationship between light, physiology, and behaviour is important for improving horse welfare and evidence-based management.

Dr. Barbara Anne Murphy is Programme Director of the BAgrSc Animal Science – Equine programme and Head of Equine Science at University College Dublin. Her research focuses on equine chronobiology and how light regulates biological rhythms that influence horse health, reproduction, and performance. Her work led to the development of the award-winning Equilume Light Mask, and she also serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Equilume Ltd.

Read the paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326567