When Light Whispers, Horses Listen

[Randy Eady]

Blue-Green and IR Light Therapy Helping w/Equine Trauma  by Complete Elimination of Blindspots: Neutralizes Startle Reflex and Stress.

A horse's blind spots are small and located superior and perpendicular to the forehead, directly between the eyes & below the nose, in a small oval region in the superior visual field where light strikes the optic nerve itself, and the width of the animal’s head directly behind it.

(=

~§~

=)

Using feedback (as light reflection cues & rider-configured vestibulo-sympathetic reflex (VSR) signal modulation from these regions in the rider's electrome) the behavioral stress response of blinking and cortisol levels show marked decline with the use of these rider embellishment light therapy tools.

It's complex: cardiovascular adapting.  Influenced by various brainstem inputs especially from the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex (VSR).  A good VSR responds quickly to maintain adequate brain blood flow (as head position & posture shifts) the sympathetic flow works alongside our autonomic feedback system (as a gravity reflex) -- sending signals throughout the body -- and particularly between vision, hearing & smell ctrs.   And, heart responses to activation of the vestibular labyrinth (particularly related to startle reflex/cPTSD) are well-known.

[Randy Eady]

“Research is building to show socially, emotionally, and indeed cognitively, horses are more sophisticated than our cultural discourse often gives them credit for.  This knowledge is hugely important in terms of welfare – the more we discover that horses (and this extends to other species, too) are thinking, feeling, and socially engaged, the more likely we are to improve their welfare standards.”  -  Amy Smith    https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907?...