Content
- animal sleep
- horse sleeps standing or lying down
- How do horses sleep in the stable?
- Environmental enrichment for horses
Like most herbivorous mammals, horses are not characterized by spending long periods of time sleeping, but the basis of their sleep and their characteristics are the same as in others. A good rest is essential for the proper development and maintenance of the body. A being deprived of the necessary hours of rest will become ill and most likely die.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain how horses sleep, whether they do it standing or lying down. Keep reading!
animal sleep
In the past, sleep was considered a "state of consciousness", defined as a immobility period in which individuals do not respond to stimuli and therefore it was not treated as a behavior, nor as part of the ethology of a species. It is also important not to confuse rest with sleep because an animal can rest without being asleep.
In studies of sleep in horses, the same methodology is used as in humans. Three parameters are considered, electroencephalogram for measuring brain activity, electroculogram for eye movement and electromyogram for muscle tension.
There are two types of sleep, the slow wave sleep, or not REM, and the fast wave sleep, or REM. Non-REM sleep is characterized by slow brain waves and has 4 phases that intersperse during the night:
- Phase 1 or falling asleep: it is the first stage of sleep and does not only appear when an animal begins to fall asleep, it can also 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 an animal at this stage, there is a record of muscle activity and the eyes begin to look down.
- Phase 2 or fast sleep: sleep begins to become deep, muscle and brain activities decrease. Theta waves appear, slower than alphas, and so do sleep axes and K-complexes. This set of waves makes sleep deeper. K-complexes are like a kind of radar the brain has to detect any movement around while animals sleep and wake up if it detects danger.
- Phases 3 and 4, delta or deep sleep: in these phases, delta or slow waves predominate, corresponding to deep sleep. Brain activity is greatly reduced but muscle tone increases. It is the phase when the body really rests. It is also where dreams, night terrors or sleepwalking occur most.
- Fast wave dream or REM sleep: the most characteristic of this phase are the rapid eye movements or, in English, rapid eye movements, which give the phase its name. In addition, muscle atony occurs from the neck down, meaning the skeletal muscles are completely relaxed and brain activity increases. It is believed that this phase serves to consolidate memories and lessons learned during the day. In growing animals, it also supports good brain development.
Keep reading and see where and how a horse sleeps.
horse sleeps standing or lying down
Horse sleeps standing or detained? Have you ever had this question? It is worth remembering that, like other animals, changes in routine or stress can interrupt the natural course of the horse's sleep phases, having consequences in the day-to-day.
A horse can sleep standing or lying down. but it can only enter the REM phase when it is lying down, because, as we said, this phase is characterized by muscular atony from the neck down, so that if a horse entered the REM phase while standing, it would fall.
The horse, like other animals that sleep standing up, is a prey animal, that is, throughout its evolution they had to survive several predators, so sleeping is a state in which the animal is helpless. Therefore, in addition, the horses sleep a few hours, usually less than three.
How do horses sleep in the stable?
O name of the place where the horses sleep it is the stable and for a standard size horse it should not be less than 3.5 x 3 meters with a height greater than 2.3 meters. The bedding material that should be used for the horse to rest properly and to meet its needs is the straw, although some equine hospitals prefer to use other non-edible, dust-free and more absorbent materials, as in some diseases consuming large amounts of straw can cause colic. On the other hand, straw is not recommended for horses with respiratory problems.
Have you ever wondered if there are animals that don't sleep? Check out the answer in this PeritoAnimal article.
Environmental enrichment for horses
If the horse's physical and health conditions allow it shouldn't spend many hours inside the stable. Walking and grazing in the countryside greatly enriches the lives of these animals, reducing the possibility of unwanted behaviors such as stereotypies. Furthermore, it promotes good digestive health, reducing the risk of problems resulting from lack of movement.
Another way to enrich a horse's rest area is by placing toys, one of the most used are the balls. If the stable is big enough, the ball can roll across the floor while the horse chases it. Otherwise, the ball can be hung from the ceiling for the horse to hit or, if diet permits, filled with some appetizing treats.
Obviously, a quiet environment with the right temperature and free from acoustic and visual stress is essential for the good rest of the horse.
If you want to read more articles similar to Horse sleeps standing up?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.