Red Light Therapy for Horses: How It Works, Benefits, and Usage

Your horse trains hard, recovers from an injury, or suffers from stiff joints after a busy competition period. You want the best for your horse. Red light therapy is a way to support your horse’s recovery without medication, without stress, and right from the stable. In this article, you’ll read how it works, what it can do for your horse, and how to use it.

What is red light therapy for horses?

Red Light Therapy uses a lamp that specifically emits red and near-infrared light. This light penetrates your horse’s skin and activates the cells from within. It stimulates the mitochondria, the tiny energy factories in every cell, to produce more energy. With that extra energy, the body can heal itself faster.

It may sound technical, but the core is simple: more cellular energy = faster recovery. The principle works for horses just as it does for humans. There are now more than 3,000 scientific publications on this subject, some specifically involving animals.

A red light lamp is not a heat lamp. A heat lamp relaxes muscles through warmth, but the effect disappears as soon as the lamp is turned off. Red light works at the cellular level and the effect builds up with regular use.

How does it work at the cellular level?

The light emitted by a red light therapy lamp falls within two wavelength ranges. Red light (630-700 nm) works on the skin and the tissue just beneath it. Near-infrared light (700-1,100 nm, invisible to the human eye) penetrates deeper and reaches muscles, tendons, and joints. For horses, with their thicker skin and larger muscle mass, those deeper wavelengths are especially relevant.

Once inside the cell, the light is absorbed by an enzyme in the mitochondria: cytochrome c oxidase. It sounds complicated, but it works like a key in a lock. The enzyme activates the cell’s energy production, producing more ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the fuel of every cell). With more fuel, the cell can repair faster, reduce inflammation, and create new tissue. More about this mechanism.

Proven benefits for horses

Faster recovery after training

After intense training or competition, waste products like lactic acid accumulate in the muscles. This causes tension and stiffness. Red light improves blood circulation, helping to clear these waste products faster and relax the muscles.

A study by Haussler et al. (2020) published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science examined light therapy for back pain and muscle tension in 61 actively competing Quarter Horses and found significant reductions in back pain, muscle hypertonicity, and trunk stiffness after treatment. Useful for sport horses that need to be ready to perform again quickly.

Less pain with joint complaints and osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is joint wear and tear and a common problem in older and heavily used horses. Near-infrared light penetrates into the joint itself and can help the cells there function better.

Many owners and veterinarians use light therapy as an adjunct for joint complaints because it is painless and works well alongside other treatments. It does not replace veterinary care but can be a valuable supplement.

Support for tendon and ligament injuries

Tendon injuries are notorious in equestrian sports: they heal slowly and often recur. Light therapy stimulates collagen production, the protein that makes up tendons and ligaments, and promotes cell renewal in connective tissue. This results in stronger and more flexible repair tissue, reducing the chance of the injury returning.

Research on laser therapy in horses shows promising results: a study by Pluim et al. (2018) followed 150 sport horses with tendon and ligament injuries and reported significant improvement in lameness, a low re-injury rate, and a rapid progression of the rehabilitation program. This concerns high-power laser therapy, but the underlying principle of light activation of cells is similar to that of Red Light Therapy.

Better wound healing

Red light stimulates the production of new tissue and improves blood circulation around a wound. This is especially relevant for horses because they are prone to "proud flesh" (excessive granulation tissue) in wounds on the lower legs.

Scientific research so far shows mixed results: a study by Michanek et al. (2021) in the Equine Veterinary Journal found no clinically relevant effect on wound healing in horses. In practice, light therapy is used as a supportive addition alongside regular wound care. Always consult your veterinarian for this.

Calmer and more relaxed

Many owners notice that their horse is calmer and more flexible after a treatment. This is probably related to less pain and muscle tension. Especially for horses that quickly get stressed by transport, competitions, or new environments, this can make a big difference.

For which complaints do you use it?

Red Light Therapy is widely applicable, both as a supplement for a complaint and preventively to avoid injuries:

• Muscle pain and tension after training or competition
• Joint complaints such as osteoarthritis, stiffness, or inflammation
• Tendon and ligament injuries to support the recovery process
• Wound healing after cuts, abrasions, or surgeries
• Hoof problems such as laminitis or abscesses (improved blood circulation in the hoof)
• Skin problems such as eczema, fungal infections, or allergic reactions
• Preventively as a fixed part of the training and recovery routine

Red light lamp or Infrared lamp?

You see both in the stable: a heat lamp and a Red Light Therapy lamp. They look similar but work very differently. Below is the difference summarized.

The two do not exclude each other. A heat lamp is nice for immediate relaxation before or after a treatment. Red Light Therapy works on the recovery itself, from within.

How do you use it in practice?

Start with a clean coat

Make sure the area you want to treat is clean and dry. Dirt or a wet coat blocks the light. Let your horse calmly get used to the sound and light of the device the first few times.

How far and how long?

Usually keep the lamp 5 to 25 cm from the area to be treated. A session lasts on average 10 to 20 minutes per zone. For an acute injury, use it daily; for regular maintenance, 3 to 5 times a week is sufficient. Always check the manual of your device for exact guidelines.

Where do you treat the most?

• Back and loins
• Shoulders and hindquarters
• Tendons and joints of the lower legs
• Each specific problem area based on the complaint

What should you watch out for?

• Eyes: never point the lamp directly at the eyes; keep the lamp away from the face or cover the eyes
• Open wounds: only treat after consulting a veterinarian
• Fever or infection: wait until the fever is gone and the infection is treated
• Tumor tissue: do not treat on or directly next to a tumor
• Young foals: be careful around the growth plates of a still growing horse

Sport horse, leisure horse, or rehabilitation?

Sport horses

Show jumpers, dressage horses, and eventers are heavily stressed. Many trainers incorporate light therapy into the weekly routine: before training to warm up the muscles and afterward to speed up recovery. The more frequently the horse trains, the more it benefits from regular treatment.

Recreational and older horses

Not every horse competes, but even the recreational horse benefits from light therapy. Especially older horses, who more often suffer from stiffness, osteoarthritis, or joint complaints, can experience a noticeable improvement in quality of life. Without heavy interventions, just from the stable.

Horses in rehabilitation

Is your horse recovering from an injury or surgery? Then light therapy can support the recovery process: it promotes tissue repair, maintains blood circulation, and reduces swelling. Always plan this in consultation with your veterinarian or a specialized equine physiotherapist.

Frequently Asked Questions