LED lighting for horses

The importance of light for the horse
No matter how the horse is used by humans, a mutual trust is of great importance for a good cooperation. The horse is a flight animal by nature and constantly observes its surroundings.

A decisive aspect is, among other things, vision, for which suitable lighting conditions are important. But light does not only influence the horse's vision. The animals react to the number of hours of light, the intensity or even the colour of the light. For example, fertility or the change of coat depends on the availability of light. The vitality of horses also depends on this.

First and foremost, of course, this refers to the natural daylight of the sun. Artificial light, however, offers an additional source of light and can have a positive effect on the well-being of the animals if used appropriately.

Horses see differently

Light requirements
The natural habitat of horses is the steppe. Wide, tree-free areas are characteristic of steppes. Depending on the season, there is plenty of daylight under the open skies. In the course of evolution, horses adapted to their circumstances. This means that the animals have high light tolerance, but they have also developed high light requirements. This comes to the fore particularly when we compare their natural habitat with that of farm animals such as cattle and pigs.
Lichtbedarf beim Pferd
Lichtbedarf für Rinder
Lichtbedarf für Schweine
Primary habitat for horses:
Steppe
Lebensraum für Pferde ist die Steppe
Primary habitat for cows: 
Forest edge
Lebensraum für Rinder ist am Waldrand
Primary habitat for pigs: 
Forests
Lebensraum für Schweine ist der Wald
Light tolerance and light requirements for horses: large
Pferde haben grossen Lichtbedarf
Light tolerance and light requirement for cows: medium
Rinder haben mittleren Lichtbedarf
Light tolerance and light requirement for pigs: small
Schweine haben kleinen Lichtbedarf
The Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection set the target for illuminance in stables at a minimum of 80 lux for livestock over at
least 8 hours a day as part of humane farming. This level is also reflected in the recommendations of the German Equestrian Federation. The word “minimum” emphasises that this is the lower value. Higher illuminance levels meet the animals’ high light requirements
Source: inspired by Schnitzer, Prof. Ulrich, 1970: “Untersuchungen zur Planung von Reitanlagen“ [“Studies on the planning of equestrian facilities“], KTBL Bauschrift Heft 6, Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft, Frankfurt [KTBL Construction Paper 6, Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture, Frankfurt]