Like most herbivorous mammals, horses are not characterized by spending long periods of time sleeping, but the basis of sleep and its characteristics are the same as the rest. A good rest is essential for the correct development and maintenance of the body A being deprived of the necessary hours of rest will fall ill and, most likely, die. In this article on our site, we'll find out how horses sleep, whether they stand up or lie down. Find out below!
How does a horse sleep?
In the past, sleep was considered a "state of consciousness", defined as a period of immobility in which individuals did not they responded to stimuli, so it was not treated as a behavior, nor part of the ethology of a species. Nor should we confuse resting with sleeping, since an animal can be resting without being asleep.
Sleep studies in horses use the same methodology as in humans. Three parameters are measured:
- Electroencephalogram: to measure brain activity.
- Electroculogram: for eye movement.
- Electromyogram: for muscle tension.
Also, there are two types of dreams, slow wave sleep or non-REM and sleep. fast waves or REM.
Non-REM sleep or slow wave sleep in horses
Non-REM sleep is characterized by slow brain waves and has 4 phases that intersperse throughout the night:
- Phase 1 or falling asleep: it is the first phase of sleep, it not only appears when an animal begins to fall asleep, but it can appear throughout the night, depending on the depth of sleep. It is characterized by waves called alpha in the brain. The slightest noise can wake the animal, there is a record of muscle activity and the eyes begin to turn down.
- Phase 2 or light sleep: sleep begins to be deep, brain and muscle activity decreases. Theta waves appear, slower than alphas, and the appearance of sleep spindles and K complexes. This set of waves causes deeper sleep. K complexes are like a kind of radar that our brain has to detect any movement around us while we sleep, and wake us up if it detects danger.
- Phase 3 and 4, delta or deep sleep: in these phases delta waves or slow waves that correspond to deep sleep predominate. Brain activity is greatly reduced but muscle tone increases. It is the phase where the body really rests. It's also where most sleep, night terrors, or sleepwalking occur.
REM or rapid wave sleep
In rapid wave sleep or REM sleep, the most characteristic of this phase are rapid eye movements, in English, which give the phase its name. In addition, muscle atony occurs from the neck down, that is, the skeletal muscles are totally relaxed and brain activity increases.
It is thought that this phase serves to consolidate memories and learning that occurred during the day, likewise, in growing animals it serves to good brain development.
Do horses sleep standing up or lying down?
Now that you know that how horses sleep is the same as humans, we are going to solve the question of whether horses sleep standing up or lying down. To begin with, as in other animals, changes in routine or stress can interrupt the natural course of the horse's sleep phases, having consequences on the day to day.
A horse can sleep standing up or lying down Now, what happens if a horse lies down? It can only enter REM phase when lying down, since, as we said, this phase is characterized by muscle atony from the neck down, so if a horse entered REM phase standing up, it would fall.
The horse, like other animals that sleep standing up, is a prey animal, that is, throughout their evolution they have had to survive multiple predators and, sleeping, is a state where the animal is defenseless. This is also why horses sleep very few hours, normally, less than three hours
Now that you know how many hours a horse sleeps, which are few, you may be interested in this other post on our site about Animals that do not sleep and Animals that sleep standing up.
What should a horse's stable be like?
Many people ask what is the name of the place where the horses sleep and the answer is that it is a stable. Now, how should it be? A stable for a standard size horse must not be less than 3.5 x 3 meters, with a height greater than 2.3 meters. The bedding material that should be used so that the horse rests properly and can satisfy its needs is straw
Although some equine hospitals prefer to use other non-edible, dust-free and more absorbent materials. Since, in certain ailments, consuming large amounts of straw can cause colic. On the other hand, straw is not desirable for horses with respiratory problems.
Environmental enrichment for resting horses
If the physical and he alth conditions of a horse allow it, it should not spend many hours inside the stable Walking and grazing through the field greatly enriches the lives of these animals, reducing the possibility of unwanted behaviors such as stereotypies appearing. In addition, good digestive he alth is favored, reducing the risk of suffering from digestive problems derived from lack of movement.
Another way to enrich a horse's resting area is place toys, one of the most used are balls. If the stable is big enough, the ball can roll on the ground as the horse chases it, otherwise the ball can be hung from the ceiling, for the horse to hit, or, if diet permits, stuffed with some appetizing treat
Of course, a quiet environment, with the right temperature, free from acoustic or visual stress, is crucial for the good rest of the horse.
Now that you know how horses sleep and the name of the place where horses sleep, you may be interested in this other article with other Curiosities of horses, here.
