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How and How Long Horses Sleep
The sleeping habits of horses are somewhat different than humans. Most humans have only one long stretch of sleep in a 24 hour day. Horses rest for short periods more frequently. Foals lie down for frequent naps and spend about half of their day sleeping until they are about three months old. As the foal gets older the frequency of the naps becomes less and they are more likely to stand rather than lie down.
The Adult Horse
Mature horses most frequently rest in a standing position. The 'stay apparatus' of the forelegs and 'check apparatus' (functions of the leg tendons and ligaments) of the hind legs allows them to rest and relax while not falling down. Lying down is actually more stressful for a horse than standing. Their own weight causes pressure on their internal organs.
But most horses will lie down for a brief rest every day if they have a comfortable place to do so.
Length and Amount of Sleep
Adult horses sleep for about 3 hours each 24 hour period. The length and type of sleep is affected by diet, temperature, workload, gestation and gender. The period of each sleep phase is very brief, lasting only a few minutes at a time.
Sleeping Positions
A sleeping horse will most carry it's weight on the two forelegs and one hind leg while one hind leg is relaxed with the hoof resting on the its toe. The rotation of the hips triggers the stay function of the hind legs. The head and neck droop and during deep sleep the ears are relaxed, the eyes close and the lips may droop. Some horses do sleep stretched flat out on the ground. I owned one Quarter Horse mare who would lay flat out, snoring, while her ears, legs and tail twitched leaving me to wonder what she was dreaming. This may have been equivalent to the REM phase of sleep in humans. Of course the snoring would have been caused by the increased weight on her respiratory system.
Habits
Horses will lie down to sun themselves and it is not unusual for several horses to lie down at the same time for a communal sun bath on a warm spring day. Horses tend to spend less time lying down in cold snowy conditions, although on a sunny day some will snooze stretched out in the snow. Each horse has its own sleeping habits. Some will sleep only at night while others sleep during the day as well.
The sleeping habits of horses are somewhat different than humans. Most humans have only one long stretch of sleep in a 24 hour day. Horses rest for short periods more frequently. Foals lie down for frequent naps and spend about half of their day sleeping until they are about three months old. As the foal gets older the frequency of the naps becomes less and they are more likely to stand rather than lie down.
The Adult Horse
Mature horses most frequently rest in a standing position. The 'stay apparatus' of the forelegs and 'check apparatus' (functions of the leg tendons and ligaments) of the hind legs allows them to rest and relax while not falling down. Lying down is actually more stressful for a horse than standing. Their own weight causes pressure on their internal organs.
But most horses will lie down for a brief rest every day if they have a comfortable place to do so.
Length and Amount of Sleep
Adult horses sleep for about 3 hours each 24 hour period. The length and type of sleep is affected by diet, temperature, workload, gestation and gender. The period of each sleep phase is very brief, lasting only a few minutes at a time.
Sleeping Positions
A sleeping horse will most carry it's weight on the two forelegs and one hind leg while one hind leg is relaxed with the hoof resting on the its toe. The rotation of the hips triggers the stay function of the hind legs. The head and neck droop and during deep sleep the ears are relaxed, the eyes close and the lips may droop. Some horses do sleep stretched flat out on the ground. I owned one Quarter Horse mare who would lay flat out, snoring, while her ears, legs and tail twitched leaving me to wonder what she was dreaming. This may have been equivalent to the REM phase of sleep in humans. Of course the snoring would have been caused by the increased weight on her respiratory system.
Habits
Horses will lie down to sun themselves and it is not unusual for several horses to lie down at the same time for a communal sun bath on a warm spring day. Horses tend to spend less time lying down in cold snowy conditions, although on a sunny day some will snooze stretched out in the snow. Each horse has its own sleeping habits. Some will sleep only at night while others sleep during the day as well.