(Be careful not to startle your horse if he’s catching a few zzzzz’s. This summer one of the horses at my barn broke one of his back legs in two places. They might even occasionally blink as they move in and out of alertness while dozing. (Source), It helps to think of the stay apparatus like a hammock that helps the horse “lock” his leg joints while simultaneously relaxing and recharging his muscles. Can horses sleep with their eyes open? They can doze and enter light sleep while standing, an adaptation from life as a prey animal in the wild. This is the prime indication that leg buckling may follow shortly. Horses spend most of their time either eating, resting, or sleeping; Approximately 5-7 hours of each day is committed to resting behavior, with actual sleep usually occurring after midnight in the dark hours; Horses can rest and achieve certain types of sleep (e.g., slow-wave sleep) while standing; however, the rapid eye movement (REM) phase cannot be entered without recumbency due to loss of … Get 7 Creative Ways to Lower Your Horse Expenses: You have successfully joined The Horse Rookie Herd! The sleep patterns of horses are all based on a quick getaway for the situations when a predator might attack by surprise. (Source), Watch for a “nod” where your horse’s head sinks slowly toward the ground. Many horse rookies may have the same initial reaction I did if they see a horse lying down. Can you blame them? If your horses is exhibiting signs of leg or foot soreness, he may be reluctant to lie down. That’s right, even horses can have sleep disorders. Initially, I was concerned that he might be sick. busy show atmosphere, after hours at the barn when everyone’s gone home), What time of day and season it is (e.g. From sleep deprivation to hypersomnia, narcolepsy to sleep crashing, you’re on the lookout for common symptoms of trouble. sunny, windy and rainy), What’s changed in your horse’s routine (e.g. When large bedded areas were available, low-ranking horses could lie down as much as high-ranking horses. We're also dipping our toes (hooves) into Working Equitation! (Source: Pixabay). It’s like leaving your car in drive while you’re stopped at a stoplight. (Yep, like your dog does! Monkey and his buddies showing slow wave sleep (top left), sternal recumbency (bottom left), and REM lateral recumbency (right) (Source: Horse Rookie), A few summers ago I attended an equine photography retreat here in Montana. Explain how this would help them keep warm. hard rubber mats vs. shavings or straw). foal, yearling, adult, senior), How familiar the surroundings are (e.g. In Kentucky Equine Review’s Sleep Requirements of Horses article, they recap a research study that compared the sleep habits of horses with different bedding materials (e.g. (Young foals have a bit more trouble because their legs are so darn long!) The stay apparatus is a nifty adaptation, but one small problem remains. But this fact surprises many non-horse people because they may have never seen one lying down. At the 2012 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 19-23 in Las Vegas, Nev., … As we’ve mentioned, horses can rest standing up or lying down in one of two positions. It also depends on if they feel secure where they are. ), One leg bends or cocks so the tip of the hoof rests on the ground. Generally, the younger the horses the more sleep he needs. Signs your horse may have a sleep disorder: If you suspect your horse may be having trouble sleeping, carefully document the behavior you witness so your vet will have more data to figure out what’s wrong. You’ve had a long week, you’re stressed, and you’re oh….so…tired. Wild horses also snooze while standing thanks to a special “passive stay apparatus” that helps their bodies conserve energy and doze safely while standing. But horses don’t only sleep at night! Horses Sleep. This is the most common question people ask about horses and sleep, and the answer is yes! Aside from sometimes “talking in their sleep” (i.e. A typical night as a horse will involve grazing, snoozing standing up, and short periods of lying flat out to get some serious shut eye. Getting Comfortable: What are common horse sleeping positions? Lack of sleep has an undesirable influence on the physical activity of humans and animals. Experts also agree that this REM sleep only occurs in short bursts, usually of 10-20 minutes at a time. Most importantly, you’re now convinced that sleep is a BIG deal for your horse’s overall health and happiness. If he suddenly changes his normal sleeping pattern, you may want to do a quick health check. (Whether you have a horse in the barn with sleep crashing tendencies or not, this is simply a wise safety choice.). Foals lie down for frequent naps and spend about half of … While we consider a healthy night's sleep of eight hours to be about right for us, how much sleep do our horses actually need? (Source). Rarely, a horse may lie or fall down from sheer boredom (e.g. Not only is it worrisome and dangerous, but these poor horses walk around all day miserable and exhausted.”. Horses will only lie down to get their deep REM sleep when they’re truly comfortable in their environment, secure in their herd dynamics (if not stabled alone), and feel other horses will stay “on guard” while they catch some zzz’s. ), you feel yourself drift off for just a second. Asleep on Their Feet: Do horses sleep standing up? Is it sick? Baby horses (like baby humans) spend more of their time sleeping. Injury is just one potential cause of sleep deprivation in horses. Who says science isn’t cool?! These types of products lubricate the joints and help decrease discomfort and inflammation associated with OA, potentially making it easier for horses to become recumbent and more easily stand after REM sleep,” advised Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER). The same applies to people; many are familiar with the discomfort and drowsiness which comes with sleep deprivation. Whether you’re a first-time horse owner like me or a pro who simply hasn’t considered this aspect of horse care, we’ve barely scratched the surface on how horses sleep. It’s a perfectly healthy sleeping position, though owners should be aware that stressed horses or those fighting disease or injury may also choose this position. Be sure to maintain your horses in appropriate body condition. Many horses are so regular you can set your watch to them, others vary their patterns for whatever reason - season, weather, light, how much food he has in front of him, you name it. During one of our free periods to shoot around the ranch, I was surprised to see my favorite horse Charlie flat-out in the field. Ensuring adequate room for all horses to lie comfortably for at least 30 minutes every day and addressing underlying medical causes for decreased recumbency, such as osteoarthritis (OA), improves the quality of life of group-managed horses and minimizes welfare issues. 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