Horse owners set to hear the pitter-patter of tiny hooves

A PRODUCT that can be used to help advance the breeding season in thoroughbred mares has won the Enterprise Ireland One to Watch award 2012.

Dr Barbara Murphy, head of subject for Equine Science at University College Dublin, won the award in recognition of her work to develop a therapeutic light mask for horses into a marketable product.

The Equilume light mask is used to advance the breeding season in thoroughbred mares so that their foals are born closer to their universal birthday of January 1st.

This is good news for breeders as it will allow them to adjust the mares’ reproductive cycles.

The industry dictates that if a horse was born in August, it is called a yearling after five months even though it is too young to be sold.

The light mask works by providing low level light to a single eye. It limits the level of the hormone melatonin which is usually produced in darkness and inhibits the reproduction of mares during the winter.

The product can also be used to reduce gestation periods in mares, treat horse jet lag and allow competition horses to shed their winter coats earlier in preparation for the show circuit.

The new technology will allow breeders to keep their mares outdoors, which would save breeders up to €1,400 a season per animal on indoor maintenance costs – labour, bedding and artificial light.

Ireland is the world’s third-largest producer of thoroughbreds, currently producing around 10,000 foals a year in an industry worth €1 billion to the economy.

Dr Murphy is currently working with Enterprise Ireland to build a spin-out company around the technology, which will be called Equilume Ltd.

Seán Sherlock TD, Minister for Research and Innovation who presented the award said: “Barbara’s story is an inspiring example of how great ideas can be converted into valuable products with the potential to revolutionise an entire industry.”

Dr Murphy said: “I’m delighted to have received the award because it will allow my research to progress to that I can launch the product in 2013. We will be field testing the product in Kentucky in the states, Japan and in Ireland.”

A commercialisation grant from Enterprise Ireland of €200,000 “will help fund more studies and help me bring the product to market,” she said.