Equine light therapy device wins top innovation award

Every thoroughbred and sport horse has the same “official birthday” of January 1 — which is one of the reasons why the Equilume Light Mask has won another big innovation award for designer Dr Barbara Anne Murphy.

The New Year’s Day birthday makes horses born early in the year more valuable at the sales.

A January horse can run in a big race for three-year-olds, like the Epsom Derby in June, with a distinct disadvantage in terms of size, strength, and speed over three-year-olds born late in the year, which are up to 11 months younger.