In the fall, there was a lot of talk among horse enthusiasts about a new German study that said horses are particular about the conditions they prefer to sleep in. After all, the study wasn't such new information, as the result is easy to deduce using common sense alone: in a safe environment with enough space and bedding.
Because horses are flight animals, rest affects their defense mechanisms and they rest at various times during the day. Horses need 5-7 hours of sleep a day, although only a few of those hours are spent lying down. For young horses and foals, the time is longer. Usually, the actual rest begins after the evening feed and it has been studied that horses sleep between 2 and 5 am.
Adult horses mostly sleep standing up, and even non-horse people know that horses have a locking mechanism in their joints that prevents them from falling over while sleeping. Lying down puts a strain on the horse's body and, for example, excess gas builds up in the intestines, which can be a risk of flatulence.
Lack of sleep causes problems
In a herd, the first shift during rest is for the lower-ranking horses. That is why the whole herd rarely sleeps at the same time, because someone has to keep an eye on the surroundings. For this reason, the horse feels safe in its own pen and in a place where it can observe what is happening elsewhere. The previously mentioned German study from 2019 states that 90% of tired horses suffered injuries when they accidentally fell asleep.
The reason for these horses' lack of sleep was that their stalls were too cramped or that they had little sleeping space, they had physical problems or psychological changes, for example due to a change of stable. The horses that fell down when tired also had other disruptive behaviors, such as chewing wood.
The horse is precise about its location.
When a horse is in a deep sleep, it lies on its side, its full length, or alternatively more on its stomach, with its legs bent and its muzzle against the floor. It should come as no surprise that horses are less likely to want to lie on a hard surface with too little bedding. Especially in winter in northern conditions, the ground radiates cold, which, due to the lack of drainage, feels very uncomfortable to the horse. Who would want to sleep on a cold and damp surface?
If there is no proper sleeping surface, the horse will prefer to sleep in an open pasture or a barn. According to researchers, horse fatigue can be linked to poor stable conditions. Naturally, horses sleep more if there is a thick bedding mattress in the stall and therefore suffer fewer injuries when they are rested. The more the stable owner can afford to use plenty of bedding, the better. Of course, a large amount of bedding alone is not enough; the horse must also have space to lie down. A space that is too cramped will not encourage a horse to rest. The same applies to paddocks. If there are too many horses per square meter in the paddock or the paddock is not sufficiently sheltered and well drained, the horse will not feel comfortable resting there.
Everything is connected to everything.
Just like human athletes, horses need adequate rest to perform and prevent injuries. Previous studies in the equine industry have shown that the amount of bedding and the dryness of the stall floor are directly related to the well-being of the horse. A relaxed and rested horse performs better. In a wet stall, a horse sleeps less REM sleep. Chronic lack of REM sleep impairs cognitive performance and can trigger cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases to the extent that it can shorten lifespan or even cause death.
A horse's quality of life, well-being and health can be improved with a very small change - by ensuring sufficient drainage of the stall, which also keeps the floor dry and odor-free.
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Photos: Pixabay
Article sources:
Horse sleep needs | Horse Information Center
Horses are picky sleepers – saving bedding and too small spaces can lead to injuries - Horses - Maaseudun Tulevaisuus
Can Bedding Improve Your Horse's Performance? - Horses and People
