How do horses sleep?

Question

How do horses sleep, cos i was told if they lay down they can't get back up and are put to sleep, is this true, if not do they lay down to sleep, otherwise they must have really aching legs?

Answer 1

Horses sleep standing up they will rest one leg at a time.kinda taking the weight off and you will never catch one sleeping! Horses can and do lay down but not for long periods they may lay in the sun abit after a cold night and they love a good roll in a sandy area..mostly after you wash them......(Go figure!) But if you ever see one down who keeps rolling and doesnt want to get up it generly has colic which is very serious and can twist their intestines killing them..You gotta get them up and walk them till the Vet gets there..Horses arent built to lay down long their body weight is too much..It just isnt meant to be!!!

Answer 2

As a horse owner and trainer, I can assure you that horses Can and do sleep lying down without any ill affects. I have a 9 year mare who prefers to sleep lying down and usually does over night. Most of our others sleep standing up by locking the front legs and resting the back ones in turn. Every horse is different, but most often sleep standing up do to their "prey instincts" in the wild they would have to be ready to flee at any given moment and can't do that if lying in a vulnerable position. Domestic horses tend to lay down more often than wild ones for that reason. Than CAN however get back up after laying down and sometimes really enjoy a snooze just laying the the sun or on a comfortable stretch of grass, and like I said I have a very healthy and happy trail horse that loves to lay down and be lazy any chance she gets. She is wonderful in all terrian and has stamina to burn while out and about but really loves her relax time. (she would probably love a day spa if they had them for horses! LOL).

Answer 3

if there are at least a few horses together, one will watch over the others while they sleep. horses can either sleep standing up or laying on their sides. you will always find at least three laying down while one is standing up to guard them and let them know if anything is amiss. yes, horses can sleep standing up; if their leg starts to ache, they trade places with another horse so they can sleep.

Answer 4

Horses nomally sleep standing up. A sleeping horse normally has three legs straight, but the fourth leg lifted slightly, with the knee bent, so that his hoof just touches the ground at one point.

Don't touch a horse if he is sleeping, as he may get a fright and kick out.

Answer 5

Horses can lay down, and do sometimes, but they are too heavy and the internal organs can't take it for long periods of time. Generally, they sleep standing.

Answer 6

It relies upon on the horse. some will lay down, yet maximum nevertheless have the wrestle or flight instinct and decide to sleep status up. both way they could lock their bodies up at the same time as they sleep. at the same time as they lay down, they don't lay down like you do. They tuck their legs lower than and their head continues to be up off the floor at the same time as they sleep. that is a similar at the same time as they are status up except their legs lock. Horses do not sleep for giant sessions of time.

Answer 7

My horse sleeps standing up and lying down. When he stands he locks the joints in his legs, therefore making them rock steady. When he sleeps lying down he has to have plenty of room to get up, so his stable has to be large enough

Answer 8

No most horses sleep standing up. Sometimes they do sleep laying down, but that dones't always mean something is wrong with them.

Answer 9

OH my of course they can lay down their just like cow's they can also nap standing up but when totally knackered they lie down so there leg's do not ache ..

Answer 10

They can sleep layed down without having to be destroyed mines's a right lazy twonk in the summer he's always spragged out sparko snoring in the sunshine,they also sleep stood up and will rest each hind (back) leg alternatively