Horses Sight
Horses, as prey animals, have evolved remarkable sensory adaptations that are crucial for their survival.
For this article, we are focusing on horses vision.
Their large eyes provide a wide field of vision, enabling them to detect movement and potential threats from various angles.
However, this keen sensitivity can also make them easily startled by sudden movements or unfamiliar objects.
Our Research Findings
Horses have some of the largest eyes among land mammals, with a visual range of around 350°, approximately 65° of which is binocular vision and the remaining 285° monocular vision.
They have a blind spot of anywhere from 90 to 120 cm directly ahead and need to lower their heads to focus on closer objects.
As prey animals, horses have evolved an acute sensitivity to motion, which serves as their primary early warning system against predators.
Their peripheral vision, while having lower visual acuity, is strategically designed to detect even subtle movements.
When an unexpected motion enters this peripheral field, horses typically respond with an immediate defensive reaction, often choosing to flee as a survival instinct.
This heightened motion detection mechanism is a critical evolutionary adaptation that has ensured the species’ survival in open, vulnerable environments.
Colour Vision
Research indicates that horses’ colour vision is somewhat like red-green colour blindness in humans; certain colours, especially red and related hues, appear greener to them.
Studies have shown that horses are less likely to knock down a rail when the jump is painted with two or more contrasting colours rather than one single colour.
Bright Lights
Horses have difficulty adjusting to sudden changes in light and they struggle to distinguish between yellows and greens.
Horses do not require the same brightness of lights as humans, but they benefit from specific lighting conditions crucial for their health and well-being.
Ideally, the horse area should have a minimum light level of 150 to 200 lux, while typical indoor lighting for humans is around 300 lux!
Horses possess a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer in their eyes that enhances their ability to see in low-light conditions. This allows them to navigate well in the dark, but they can struggle with sudden brightness.
When exposed to bright lights, their pupils constrict slowly, making it challenging for them to adjust quickly from dark to light environments.
Designing the horse area in our horseboxes
In designing the horse area, we focused extensively on lighting to create a more soothing environment for the horses.
One of the key changes we implemented across our models was switching the internal running lights to a calming green, which are activated with the sidelights.
This adjustment was based on research showing that green light has a soothing effect on horses, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.
Horses tend to respond positively to green light, which is believed to have sedative properties that contribute to emotional balance and overall well-being.
By incorporating this calming green light, we aim to reduce stress and enhance the comfort of the horses.
To minimise stimuli in the horse area, we decided to simplify the colour palette to white, black, and silver.
Coat-X
Initially, we considered using a green variant of our Coat-X protective coating for the ramp and horse area floor to enhance the loading experience.
The green colour looked great, and our tests showed promising results in improving loading and traveling.
However, practical challenges arose as the colour faded when exposed to full sunlight.
Consequently, we chose black Coat-X to match other finishes and maintain a minimal colour scheme.
Loading
To enhance loading ease and safety, we have minimised step height transitions at two key points: from the ground onto the ramp and from the ramp into the horse area.
To clearly highlight these changes in surface and height for the horses, we use a contrasting stainless steel finish at the transition areas, which stands out against the black Coat-X flooring.
This visual cue allows horses to easily perceive the transitions, helping to prevent missteps during loading.
Reflections
Reflections when loading horses can be problematic, particularly if they appear in the peripheral field of vision.
To address this issue, we decided to replace all shiny finishes on the loading doors with a matte black Coat-X finish.
This black finish extends to all surfaces in the horse area below breast height.
This change operates seamlessly in the background, contributing significantly to loading safety!
LED lighting
By considering how horses visualise their surroundings and employing LED lighting, we have significantly enhanced visibility while also reducing stress.
A key consideration in this process was the placement of the main lighting; we strategically positioned it behind the horses to minimise glare.
This adjustment has not only decreased their stress levels but also reduced the likelihood of them becoming startled or spooked.
Positive feedback from customers underscores the success of these changes, creating a calmer atmosphere that benefits horses and ponies.
We’ve observed that it’s quite common for spotlights to illuminate ramps leading into horse areas.
Horses hesitate when stepping onto brightly lit ramps after being in darker surroundings, as their eyes take time to adjust from the dimness outside to the brightness inside.
To address this issue and enhance safety during loading, we have implemented subdued lighting that gently shines down onto our ramps.
This not only eases the transition for horses but also promotes a calmer loading experience..
Ongoing Research
We are currently exploring unanswered questions regarding horse behaviour, particularly their tendency to spook when something unexpectedly appears in their peripheral vision.
Rather than simply following trends, we are highlighting important considerations for window placement within their environment.
Given that horses can be easily startled by sudden movements, it is essential to carefully consider the positioning of windows and visual stimuli.
If windows are situated directly in front of a horse, their blind spot and limited depth perception may impede clear visibility, resulting in unexpected encounters with objects outside their focus and potential spooking behaviour.
Food for thought…..
In conclusion, the topic of what horses actually see is often overlooked, yet it is one of their most vital characteristics alongside their sense of hearing.
By taking the time to consider all aspects of horse vision, we have been able to improve our designs.
This deeper understanding not only enhances our approach but also enriches the experience for both customers and their horses.
As always, safety—primarily horse safety—is at the forefront of everything we do.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
We would greatly appreciate your thoughts on this blog post.
If there’s anything we might have overlooked or if you have additional insights to share, we would love to hear from you.
Please feel free to send your feedback to kevin@kphltd.co.uk
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