Equestrian Bowen

10/01/2025

Have you ever been involved with a horse who has developed “behavioural” issues which seemingly cannot be resolved? Or bought a new horse whose behaviour seems vastly different than it was when you tried it ?
Below are some excerpts from a study on neurological pain in horses and the link to the full (lengthy) study. I’ve posted this because I often get asked to help with horses whose behaviour has changed/deteriorated. Or even some which have had “bad behaviour” since they have been with their owner. And there are also the ones I get told about but don’t get invited to help before the owner has them PTS😢.
It’s pretty common for me to consider that horses have some level of neuropathic pain when I am treating them. Fortunately in most cases the work I do combined with some changes to address the root cause will be sufficient to resolve or at least manage the problem. But it is likely to take multiple treatments and may not be a quick fix. I’m interested to find that my bioresonance/biofeedback system which is my latest addition to my skill set has reinforced that neurological pain is frequently identified. I’m encouraged that some of what it comes up with is very consistent with what I can feel when I’m treating the horses.

Here is some info from the study
“It is all too common that a rider purchases a new horse with excitement and high aspirations, but because of health or training issues, those expectations are never realized. These training limitations sometimes progress to dangerous behavior such as kicking out, refusing to go forward, bucking and rearing. The horse is then characterized as a problem horse, and training methods may become more punitive. Undesired behavior in horses most often stems from their attempt to avoid fear or pain (1, 2). Horses may develop undesirable traits that progress to dangerous behavior for a multitude of reasons that include lack of clear communications or use of aids, improper training, lameness (3), poor saddle fit (4), axial skeletal pain (5), and gastrointestinal or reproductive abnormalities (6). Some trainers acknowledge that the bad behavior may stem from undiscovered physical problems and they enlist the help of medical professionals. Routine therapies are often applied, and the horse is asked to go back to work; however, the behavioral concerns continue or are only alleviated for short periods of time. A therapeutic trial of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medication over several days followed by ridden exercise can be used to determine whether bad behavior may have an underlying inflammatory or pain component (7). Although a negative response (i.e., no improvement to NSAIDS) does not preclude the presence of pain (8), this response may reinforce the perception that the affected horse has behavioral issues and needs more aggressive training. Unfortunately, this approach may exacerbate the underlying pain behavior. The horse may become more dangerous until the owner or trainer eventually give up and sell the horse; only for the process to be repeated with a new trainer and veterinarian. After much expense, and long durations of frustrating diagnostics and trials of ineffective treatments, owners may finally opt to euthanize the horse; for the safety of the rider and the well-being of the horse. If these horses are euthanized, a routine necropsy (9) often fails to provide any additional insights as to the cause of the dangerous behavior. The owners are eventually left wondering whether euthanasia of their horse was justified due to the lack of clinically significant pathologic findings.

The cervicothoracic region (C7-T4) was the most common region identified as the site of pain and dysfunction, followed by the lumbosacral junction (L6-S1) and then cervical region (C2-C7). The neuroanatomical localization of neuropathic pain to the cervicothoracic region (C7-T4) and brachial plexus was based on the presence of forelimb lameness and ipsilateral reactivity to dorsal scapular mobilization combined with ipsilateral bending of the neck. Interestingly, brachial plexus injuries are highly associated with the presence of neuropathic pain in humans and include inflammatory brachial plexopathies and plexitis due to idiopathic, traumatic (39), viral, bacterial and immune-mediated mechanisms (40). Similar inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms need to be explored in horses.

Pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience” (49) and is categorized as nociceptive, inflammatory or pathological (50). Nociceptive pain is protective and serves to limit contact with noxious stimuli through the withdrawal reflex. Inflammatory pain, often as a result of injury or surgical intervention, is also protective and commonly managed with the administration of NSAIDs. Pathological pain is not protective and can be divided into neuropathic pain (i.e., structural neural lesion) or dysfunctional pain (i.e., neuropathologic functional disorder) (50, 51). Pathologic pain, without an inflammatory component, is unlikely to respond to NSAIDs. Hyperalgesia, defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), is “increased pain from a stimulus that normally provokes pain,” and allodynia is pain caused by stimulation that does not typically cause pain (52), both are frequently associated with neuropathic pain (53). Neuropathic pain in humans can be spontaneous, and does not need to be associated with ongoing tissue damage (54). This has been described in horses (37, 55) and may also be true in this series.

The purpose of this case series is to raise awareness and acknowledge that severe behavioral problems in horses may be due to lesions of the nervous system resulting in neuropathic pain.

This case series highlights the need for a more in-depth understanding of pain behavior and its clinical presentation and progression in severely affected horses that do not respond to traditional therapies used to treat musculoskeletal pain or lameness.

The overall objective is to develop an early diagnosis and effective treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes in horses so that they may live full, productive, and pain-free lives.”

Introduction: Dangerous behavior is considered an undesired trait, often attributed to poor training or bad-tempered horses. Unfortunately, horses with progressive signs of dangerous behavior are often euthanized due to concerns for rider safety and ...

29/12/2024

This is excellent but most people will not take time to read it !

A RECAP ON AACHEN 1995. THE BEGINING OF THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.
Susan’s Interview with Dr. Reiner Klimke At the Aachen CHIO
July 1995
Susan: I was watching you as you schooled Biotop in the indoor arena this morning, and it was wonderful. I noticed you were working him in a fat snaffle, and I wondered if you could talk about the importance of working in the snaffle for upper level horses.
Klimke: I ride at home only once a week on the double bridle.
Susan: Do you mean for most of your Grand Prix horses, or for this one especially?
Klimke: All. I want to have them very light in my hand. It is easier when they are really "through", and they take the bit and take your hands. Then they are not afraid to come out to the double bridle.
Susan: Biotop seems to be very "out" to the bridle--there is not a lot of overflexing. Klimke: And when he goes in extensions, the neck and frame extend too. And yet there are
horses who make their extensions with overflexed necks and they score just as well... Susan: Can you explain that?
Klimke: Well, when I tell you this, I don't want to sound jealous, but I live for classical riding. Classical riding means that the horse must go: that is, the energy must come through and the horse reaches forward. But the judges don't always mark accordingly. I don't mind; I know what is right. I have been in this sport for nearly 40 years.
Susan: I also saw today that you were doing a lot of work on the basic paces, and simple transitions.
Klimke: Yes. The horse must go forward and he must be happy. If the horse is happy and he trusts you, then you can teach him. If you punish him, that is wrong.
Susan: They never forget. Is there any place for punishment in riding?
Klimke: I hate to punish a horse. It must not be. It can happen to anybody. Sometimes you lose your patience, you try to make the horse a slave. But it is not right. Sometimes you see riders blowing up, even here, with top riders. I say to myself, "Poor horse, I wouldn't like to be in your stable."
Susan: Why does it happen? A lot of these riders will teach and talk about riding classically, and mean to do it, but then it is different here. Is it the pressure?
Klimke: I think everybody wants to win. Perhaps they think if they make a horse tired it will be submissive. Sometimes it may work, but if you really look you can see what is wrong. Some judges don't have a really good eye, and they judge by punishing mistakes, like too many or too few strides in a pirouette, for example.
Susan: Too much counting and not enough...
Klimke: Yes. The principle is: how is the walk, how is the trot, how is the canter, how is the acceptance of the bridle, how does the back work--all of these things. And in addition, the figures. But they deduct too much if a figure is not 100% okay. You see? If you make a pirouette and the horse really uses his hindquarters, and maybe the pirouette is a little big, you should not be given a 5.
Susan: That's a little extreme.
Klimke: Yes. It can be at least a 6, can also be a 7, when the horse really canters classically. Even if the circle was too large, remember that you must deduct from 10. The judge must be able to see the main achievement of a horse and rider, in a movement.
Susan: This brings up another question, and that is--there are some amazing equine athletes here, and some of them get a lot of points because of that. Where are the places in the Grand Prix test where the talent can't cover up the problems with the training?
Klimke: I look only at the way that the horse moves, in all three gaits. He must come from behind, with a swinging back. The head and neck must seek the bit. I hate it if the horse comes behind the vertical and stays there. When the horse is really "through", you must be able to open and close the frame, and keep him reaching into the bit. And right now, in the judging, in my opinion, this doesn't count for enough. But sooner or later, good riding will be rewarded. You must not lose your patience, you see. And don't give up.
Susan: I know that an international horse must have talent for piaffe and passage. At what point in a horse's life can you tell if that talent is there? Can you tell at the very beginning of training?
Klimke: No. But when you can easily do transitions with the horse--when he shows the ability to sit back--and the half halts go through, I like to see that. And there must be the desire to do the piaffe.
Susan: Whose riding do you admire? Klimke: Right now?
Susan: Past or present--anybody.
Klimke: Okay. Nicole in her best time was very good. Of course, now
her horse (Rembrant) is 18. But look back to Stockholm (World
Equestrian Games, 1990) or Barcelona (Olympics, 1992). It was just the
right, wonderful picture. Nice hands. Coming to nearly invisible aids.
There are some other riders who are very good in a test--it is fantastic.
And when you see the same person training...well if somebody else
would do this, then the vet would probably say, "Come on, not here."
But they laugh and say, "So what. We're winning." Riders who ride for medals must try to be an example for classical riding. It is their duty. You cannot talk one way and ride another. Either you talk as you ride, or you explain why you don't.
Susan: Do you allow people to watch you school your horses at home? Klimke: Absolutely. I have nothing to hide. I have seen riders make a fuss about spectators being allowed to watch the schooling at the World Cup Finals. This is wrong. The best thing for the horse is the open door.
Susan: What's wonderful is that you have demonstrated that classical riding can win. Klimke: And I will not stay away from it.

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy 2025 to all my clients, friends and family ###

08/12/2024

I thought I had shared this to my page previously but as I can’t find it I’m sharing it “again”.
This is basically a reminder that we should not be working horses too hard until they at least 6yo.
Misalignment of the p***c symphysis is also a problem in mares which have foaled. It’s almost certainly more of a risk in young/maiden mares and higher risk with big foals / difficult births

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04/12/2024

This is a great way to enhance your horse’s learning whilst reducing stress levels and improving longevity. It’s also completely aligned with the neurochemistry of learning.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀

𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘗𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺.

Effective training that prioritises horse welfare is crucial for Pony Club members. The study 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (Holcomb et al., 2021) shows that horses learn faster and perform better with short, repeated work-and-rest intervals.

This approach, called spaced training, offers significant advantages over traditional methods and has the potential to improve training efficiency while maintaining a positive experience for horses.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Spaced training involves breaking up a training session into alternating short periods of work and rest. In the study, horses trained under this method worked for two minutes, rested for two minutes, and repeated the cycle. In contrast, horses in the massed training group worked continuously for four minutes before resting.

Despite equal total training and rest times, the results strongly favoured the spaced training approach:

▪️ Higher Success Rates: 94% of horses in the spaced training group mastered the task, compared to only 39% in the massed training group.
▪️ Faster Task Acquisition: Horses in the spaced group initiated and completed their tasks more quickly than their massed training counterparts.

These findings demonstrate that short, spaced intervals of training promote better learning outcomes, a phenomenon consistent with findings across various species, including humans.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸?
Spaced training allows horses time to process new information during rest periods, enhancing their ability to retain and apply what they’ve learned. This approach aligns with horses' natural instincts and their capacity for incremental learning.

For prey animals like horses, which rely on quick decision-making, the paced structure reduces stress and confusion, making it easier for them to respond confidently to new challenges. The method also minimises frustration for riders and handlers, fostering a positive training experience.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Spaced training can be incorporated into your activities with a few simple adjustments:

▪️ Alternate Work and Rest: For every two minutes of active training, provide a two-minute rest. Use the rest periods for the horse to stand quietly or engage in a calm, low-stress activity.
▪️ Focus on One Task: Concentrate on teaching a specific skill, such as crossing an obstacle or loading into a float.
▪️ Keep Sessions Short: Shorter, more frequent sessions are more effective than prolonged, intensive ones.
▪️ Be Flexible: While regular training is important, spaced training accommodates interruptions, making it adaptable to real-life schedules.

𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
The study highlights how simple adjustments in training structure can lead to better outcomes for horses and their handlers. By integrating spaced training into your routine, you can help your horse learn more effectively, reduce stress, and build a stronger partnership.

This evidence-based approach aligns with Pony Club Australia’s commitment to promoting the welfare and education of horses and riders alike. Whether you’re preparing for competitions or teaching everyday riding skills, spaced training is a tool worth trying.

📸 The novel obstacle-crossing task. The experimental obstacle including ground component that needed to be stepped over as well as a hanging tarp that moved freely above the horses as they crossed. The horse with hypothesis-naïve rider is in the process of one crossing on the task where learning criterion for success was completing eight crossings in a single session.

31/10/2024

29/10/2024

If the horse is not allowed to use its head and neck correctly it cannot use its back correctly. IMO this is a big contributor to the KS epidemic but equally puts more pressure on the hind limbs - hocks, stifles, suspensories, “SI”. Anyway it will have a big effect on the long term soundness and performance of your horse

27/10/2024

23/10/2024

Thanks Russell MacKechnie-Guire for another excellent and very full day. Riders all inspired to go and practice their homework. The high speed video capture of me doing tempi changes was really useful.
Good to hear you made your flight on time !

Great biomechanics clinic in Wi******er, as always massive thanks to for organising and for hosting. Now arrived at LHR on route to Copenhagen to speak at the Danish Veterinary Congress, then on to Bilund for two days of biomechanical analysis plus hosting our webinar with Dr Rikke Shultz - exciting 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

18/10/2024

In grass, weeds and herbs photosynthesis from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight produce glucose and oxygen. Cellular respiration releases the glucose for cellular energy required for growing. When temperatures fall below 4 deg C the enzymes involved in cellular respiration are much less active and below zero they stop working which means that the glucose remains stored in the grass.

So in summary, it’s not the sunny day after the cold night that’s the problem, it’s the cold night after the sunny day that’s the issue. The problem is already in the grass the following morning before the sun ever comes up!

This is the cause of colics and laminitis in many horses. So as soon as the temperature is below 4 deg C for more than a few consecutive hours you should be considering switching your horses to hay for forage source instead of grass, even if they live out 24*7.

Pastures, nonstructural carbohydrates, and frost 🌱🍂❄️

Because it is that season, I want to discuss horse pastures and nonstructural carbohydrates, specifically as they relate to the beginning and end of a grazing season. Let’s begin by breaking this down by each topic before we add them all together:

Nonstructural carbohydrates, often abbreviated as NSCs, are comprised of water soluble carbohydrates (simple sugars and fructans) and starch. This class of carbohydrates is an important source of energy for the horse and they are digested and absorbed in the foregut, leading to an increase in blood glucose and insulin. As a result, high levels of NSCs in the diet can be an issue for horses with metabolic concerns specifically related to insulin dysregulation such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), Cushing’s (PPID), and laminitis/founder. While NSCs can be more consistent and documented in manufactured concentrates, more variation is observed in pasture or hay due to outside factors such as plant maturity, time of day, and weather conditions.

In pasture plants, NSCs are produced via photosynthesis, a process in which sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide generate glucose and oxygen. A separate but complementary process known as respiration is responsible for breaking down the glucose created during photosynthesis and releasing that energy for cellular use. As a result, increased photosynthesis leads to an accumulation of NSCs and increased cellular respiration leads to a decrease of NSCs. There are many weather conditions that can alter the balance between these processes in plants.

So how are these two factors connected to frost and the swing in temperatures observed in the spring and fall when horses are either being introduced to or removed from pasture? Well, when temperatures fall below 40°F, the enzymes involved in cellular respiration become significantly less active. And when temperatures fall below freezing, the enzymes can become denatured, stopping respiration altogether. This means low temperatures can lead to an accumulation of NSCs in the forage which can be problematic for grazing horses.

As a result, it is important to look at the nightly lows, and if these temperatures are sustained for more than a few hours, change your management practices accordingly, especially for glucose-sensitive horses. Furthermore, a hard frost occurs when temperatures drop below 28°F for more than four consecutive hours and will not only result in NSC accumulation but also marks the end of the growing season. While current recommendations allow grazing to resume 7 days following a hard frost, pastures require a minimum height of 3” to 4” going into the winter to support pasture productivity the following grazing season. Since grasses will no longer grow after a hard frost, continuing to graze can put undue stress on the pasture.

Additionally, sudden changes in the diet that would occur from removing horses from pasture abruptly, keeping horses on dried forage for 7 days, and then reintroducing horses to pasture, could lead to digestive upset or other health problems and the process will be time intensive for owners. When shifting the diet, even between different forages, it is critical to plan intentional transitions that allow the gut microbiota to sufficiently adapt. While the transition back to pasture can be accelerated in the fall compared to beginning grazing in the spring, it should still be done with care.

I hope this information is helpful as you make decisions on horse management and grazing this season!

- Dr. DeBoer

11/10/2024

I think the attached post is really important. None of my horses wear fly rugs. Only one has a fly mask as he has a sensitive eye but he wears it as little as I can get away with. They all live out 24*7. I’ve never been a fan of hiding them away from the sun. They have access to shelters if they do need to get out of the sun/flies. They are healthy, robust horses with good gut health 🤞

Could your horse’s fly mask be interfering with their gut function?

(Edited 11/11/24 to include studies to support my inquiry, and added information on the importance of sunlight)

This is a question I have been wondering about for a while now. Let me explain why.

The science of circadian rhythm is a newly emerging field. Although the cycle of the sun has been a large part of society’s well-being dating back to Egyptians most likely earlier. After all the sphinx does face towards the rising sun. And the culture at Sarmizegetusa in Romania has an entire village set up to reflect different times of day, winter and summer solstice, and even has a large sun dial in the center of their worship.

Circadian clocks in our brain and all around our body controls most (if not all) of our biological processes, which is governed by natural sunlight… or disrupted by artificial light or lack of natural sunlight. Research now proves that our light environment is as fundamental to our health as air, water, and food. Some would argue it is even more important than what we eat. [PMID: 32668607]

Light is one of the most powerful influencers on all mammalian physiology. Every cell in our body that forms every tissue, organ, skin, everything, relies on a circadian rhythm. And this comes from deep in our brain through our naked eyes.

All mammals have whats called a superchiasmotic nuclei (SCN) that goes from our eyes to our hypothalamus, and is considered our internal time clock. Taking in the light in our environment and interpreting it as to what time of day or night it is in order to synchronize millions of physiological tasks that have to happen inside every single cell at every moment.

Recognizing what blend of light (or darkness) that is happening in present time is crucial to the functioning of all the things that our body needs to accomplish at a cellular level. The back of our eyes captures all of these light frequencies.

When we are attuned to nature, and to natural light, every physiological process is not only synchronized in a circadian rhythm, but this also is how our mitochondria creates a coherent domain water that internally hydrates every surface of our body. This water gives our cells the negative charge needed for optimization. It acts not only as a protective barrier around every hydrophilic surface, but also is how every process in our body communicates with each other. Our internal exclusion zone water transmits signals, emits signals, gathers information around our body, and creates a protective coating so the lining of for example, our endothelial walls, are protected. The water we create is more important than the water we drink. And it is the light from the sun that is crucial for the creation of internal water from our mitochondria.

When we are attuned to artificial light, or even light coming through windows (all windows block out red and IR light), or light coming through sunglasses - the master clock in the brain is being told it is a different time of day and this disrupts the timing of all of our biological processes. This creates a circadian mismatch, or chaos within our body. This also creates cellular dehydration which then gives our cells a positive charge. This positive charge basically means we are loosing our health as we loose this protective coating of coherent domain water, and it looses it’s structure and is no longer able to communicate. [PMID: 36030088]

This got me wondering about fly masks as so many are advertised as “UV” blockers. And what this is doing to a horse’s circadian rhythm. And how their physiological processes effected when the sun entering their SCN is filtered through a mask that is blocking UV light coming from the sun.

The sun contains every color of the rainbow. Some we see, and some light frequencies we don’t see. When the sun rises it is super rich in red and infrared light, and as it continues to rise it starts to bring other colors in. At solar noon every color of the rainbow is present. Then as it starts to go towards the opposite horizon it gets more violet and green then red and IR again as it sets.

Natures light is always changing throughout the day. And our bodies, when attuned to this light are responding in unison transforming energies from the sun to our mitochondria. Creating liquid crystalline water that is the primordial quantum molecular machine resulting in 100% efficiency of cellular optimization. Synchronizing all processes in present time.

Not only does artificial light stay the exact same throughout the day, but filtering light through windows or sunglasses also causes a confusion our biology and the timing of when different processes need to happen.

So for example, when our eyes see the sunrise, this mix of red and IR light turns on our hypothalamus through the SCN which is responsible for communicating with our hormone pathways telling them to wake up and synchronize.

When our eyes and skin (skin has non visual photo receptors that support the light coming through the eye) see the rise of UVA, which is when the sun is about 10 degrees above the horizon, this stimulates a few very important processes.

The first pathway to start when our naked eyes see UVA rise from the sun, is serotonin. Serotonin actually comes from tryptophan. Tryptophan is an aromatic amino acid, means it is designed to interact with light and is essentially considered a time crystal. As soon as tryptophan captures UVA light in the back of our eyes, that catalyses tryptophan to become serotonin.

There is a large store of serotonin there found in mammal’s guts. The serotonin stores in the small bowel can be harvested to make pineal melatonin from the gut stores of serotonin. The stimulus of this complex program is UV and IR light during the day via the RPE of the eye, with no blue at night. When these factors are present we will get no peristalsis in the gut. This also shut down fat burning. Fat burning by the TCA cycle requires us to see the sunrise. Dr. Jack Kruse

Neuropsin is also stimulated by UVA rise which is involved in anchoring our circadian rhythm.

But then, the dark environment is just as important to this process. When our eyes capture the dark environment, this tells serotonin to convert into melatonin. Melatonin sensitizes the photoreceptors within the retina [PMID: 1582795].

So essentially being outside at UVA rise is what helps us get a restorative sleep. This is true for all mammals.
[PMID: 1582795]

So what do you think happens if the first light in the morning that your eyes see is an artificial light from a lamp, or a phone screen? This tells our brain through our SCN that it is later in the day. This process of tryptophan becoming serotonin is compromised, and you might consider yourself “not a morning person” taking a long time to wake up. Or, you might be tired all day, always exhausted. And you go to bed exhausted yet you might not sleep well since you are now lacking melatonin production.

What about horses who get UVA blocked? Or if the first light they see is a barn light, then goes to their turn out pasture with a fly mask on blocking all UV light? Think about how important serotonin is to the gut. And the gut is intimately connected to brain health, skin health, metabolic health, etc. From what I see, all of these issues seem to be chronic conditions among our equine family. A disruption in circadian rhythms has been directly linked to poor gut microbiota. [PMID: 32668369].

There are also other amino acids that trap UVA rise to become things like dopamine, norepinephrine, thyroid hormone, and most importantly the production of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). Which is a pro hormone that becomes a whole host of downstream molecules that do things like reduce anxiety, improve memory, support healthy immune, reduce compulsive behaviors, enhance dopamine, responsible for ACTH to lower inflammation, or beta endorphins to lower pain.

Anyone with a horse knows of ACTH as this is what is tested for cushings disease. Cushings is another chronic disease among our beloved horses. So is insulin resistance, which has direct links to lack of sunlight. Neurodegeneration has been associated with GI issues via the gut brain axis. Which can be a result when any of the above mentioned pathways are weakened.

UVA rise hitting our naked eyes and bare skin is what stimulates ALL of these neurotransmitters and neuropathways to begin.

When we block UVA, these processes suffer.

Then we have UVB rise, which comes after UVA. You can get the circadian app to see this timing for your location. UVB is crucial not only for for vitamin D synthesis, but also UVB directly modulates microbiome to increase microbial diversity. This happens more when UVB hits the skin, but when the eyes and skin are not in the same circadian timing these pathways can become compromised.

Vitamin D is responsible for anti-inflammatory responses, healthy immune function, among so many other things.

Sunglasses blocks or changes nature’s light coming through the eyes. Sunglasses tell our brain that it is twilight, so important functions start to slow down. We have a circadian mismatch between our eyes and the photo receptors on our skin. Important process like digestion, that slows down when the sun goes down, might always be slow. An indoor life, or an outdoor life in sunglasses, is like living in perpetual twilight. Does the same hold true for a horse who always wears a fly mask? If our digestion slows when the sun goes down, and sunglasses cause our body to think it is later in the day, can fly masks do the same thing?

All mammals have this physiology and in the last 15-20 years the sun has become demonized yet we still need it for our survival. As we move further away from nature, our furry 4-leggeds com along with us. We have forgotten how healing the sun is for our survival. Studies that demonize UV from the sun have been done in isolation, without balancing the red and IR and all of the other colors of the rainbow that harmonizes the light spectrums. And now we are covering up our horses with fly masks, fly sheets, blankets, even sprays. And they are also getting sicker and sicker.


Inflammatory problems in so many horses I see mostly with skin and gut. Insulin, cushings. Osteoarthritis, ulcers, microbiome issues, ligament tears, anxiety issues. Could these be a result of blocking their access to nature?This is a picture of my horse with a fly mask that he wore for the most part of his last 3 years. He died from an unexpected gut problem.