Scientist wins ‘one to watch’ award for equine therapeutic light mask

UCD equine scientist Barbara Murphy has won the Enterprise Ireland ‘One to Watch’ Award 2012 for her therapeutic light mask for horses.

Dr Murphy’s invention, the Equilume light mask for horses, is used to advance the breeding season in thoroughbred mares so that their foals are born close to their universal birthday of Jan 1. If a horse was born in August, it is called a yearling just 5 months later but it is too immature for sale.

Other uses include reducing extended gestation lengths in mares due to foal early in the year, treating horse “jet-lag” and enabling competition horses to shed their winter coats earlier.