Prevalence and impact of lighting regimes on the circadian rhythms and behaviour of stabled horses in the UK

In total, 230 responses were gathered (Margin of error: ±6% at 95% CI for GB and Ireland equestrian sector); most respondents were from livery yards and private yards (Figure 1) and the most common type of lighting was Fluorescent tubes/bulbs (32%) followed by a mixture of lighting types (30%), and LED bulbs (28%) (Figure 2).
Most respondents (79%) managed lighting by switching on/off as needed (Figure 3) and during late night checks, 52% of respondents reported using white light (Figure 4).
41% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ and 46% ‘agreed’ with statement 1, but no statistically significant associations between type of yard and agreement score (χ(1) = 16.117, p = 0.991) was detected.
36% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ and 49% ‘agreed’ with statement 2, but no statistically significant association between type of yard and agreement score (χ(1) = 13.230, p = 0.999) was detected.
No statistically significant associations were found comparing agreement scores between yards conducting late-night checks and yards with no late-night checks for statement one (χ(1) = 8.615, p = 0.071), or statement two (χ(1) = 5.931, p = 0.204).