Whether you’re a human or an animal, sleep is very important even though the amount needed varies across different species. Sleep is still a bit of a mystery and there are lots of theories about why we need it, including the idea that it saves energy, it helps the brain to refresh and improve cognitive performance, and it helps the body to rid itself of harmful toxins.
But whatever the reason, anyone who has ever owned a horse, or even just passed a field with horses in it, will know that they don’t always lie down to sleep, often choosing to sleep standing up instead. So, this got us thinking; how comfortable is this? And why don’t they fall over?
Here’s our quick guide to how horses sleep.
DO HORSES SLEEP STANDING UP?
The short answer is yes, they do. Horses don’t need as much REM sleep as us humans (this is the stage of sleep associated with brain development, memory consolidation and dreaming) so they can have a light sleep while standing up. This is down to evolution and survival; horses evolved in plains, and as a prey species they needed to be one step ahead of predators. Horses are big animals – it takes valuable time and energy to get up off the ground – so if they’re already standing, they’ve got a better chance of escaping their predators, and a better chance of staying alive.
HOW DO HORSES SLEEP WHILE STANDING UP?
This is the interesting bit; horses have something called the ‘stay apparatus’ which lets them stand on three legs while they rest the other one, which is very important when you weigh over 500kg! The stay apparatus is a series of tendons and ligaments that run through the leg joints when a horse relaxes its muscles. The horse’s kneecap effectively comes out of place to lock the horse’s leg, which can make it look like the horse is leaning on one hip; and while it might sound painful to us, it doesn’t bother the horse, and it means they can remain standing with hardly any muscular effort. This happens naturally and shifts their weight between the hind legs and forelegs, and they often have the head and neck resting below the withers, the highest part of a horse’s back.
WHEN DO HORSES LIE DOWN TO SLEEP?
Horses still need to lie down for a more restorative sleep. While an adult horse can manage on less than five hours sleep per day, most of it while standing, they do still need at least 25 minutes of REM sleep, which they can only achieve when lying down. If they don’t get this, they risk sleep deprivation, which can have serious health repercussions.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN HORSES
If a horse doesn’t get enough REM sleep, the stay apparatus may not kick in when they fall asleep standing up, and they could collapse. This could result in severe injuries, particularly to the knees and fetlocks, and to the head. What’s worse is that often these collapses happen at night, so the owners may not realise it’s happened until the next morning.
Signs of sleep deprivation include:
- Recurring fetlock injuries
- More sleepy than usual through the day
- Unexpected weight loss
- Increased irritability
- Collapse
- Unexplained injuries to the face
It’s important to note that even if a horse has mud on their coat, it doesn’t mean they’ve been lying down to sleep, as even sleep deprived horses still roll. It’s also important not to confuse the signs of sleep deprivation – which is caused by a lack of adequate sleep – with narcolepsy, which is a recognised sleep disorder.
HOW TO HELP HORSES HAVE BETTER SLEEP
A horse will only sleep if it feels mentally and physically ready and is in a secure environment. Being prey animals, and used to being in a herd environment, it’s quite common for one horse to stay upright and alert while the rest of the herd lie down, so they need to feel safe enough to lie down and sleep. If herd dynamics change; for example, if established horses are removed, or new horses introduced, it could affect the amount of sleep the other horses get. Other factors affect the amount and quality of sleep too, including extreme temperatures, unfamiliar surroundings, inappropriate housing, lack of social contact and physical pain.
If you think your horse may be sleep deprived, it might help to keep a diary to help identify the cause/trigger, so the relevant changes can be made, and remember, always consult a vet if you have any concerns regarding your horse’s sleep and general wellbeing.
Horses are unique in many ways, after all, there are over 400 different types of horse breeds out there, and it’s interesting to learn how evolutionary instincts affect their habits in the modern world. Understanding these instincts will help owners/trainers better adapt their horses’ environment to make sure they get the right amount of sleep for their mental and physical wellbeing.
Another way to make sure you give your horse the best possible care is to look at horse and pony insurance. Our policies start with just one standard benefit – Death, Theft or Straying – and you choose which optional benefits to add. Meaning you get an insurance policy that suits you, your horse, and your budget, which is definitely worth staying awake for. Give us a call and get a free, no-strings quote today.
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