How your horse sleeps - find out more....
Today I wanted to share with you a little bit about how horses sleep 💤
They are very different to humans and other animal such as dogs and cats 🐕 🐈⬛
Most people know that horses can sleep standing up, thanks to a special combination of bones, tendons and ligaments in their body known as the ‘stay apparatus’
You can learn more about this in my previous posts/blogs 🤓
However when horses are sleeping standing up they are just in light sleep or ‘napping’
To get proper rest the horse also needs deep or ‘REM’ (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep each day too which must be taken lying down 😴
Horses need around 45 minutes of REM sleep per day, which is essential for resetting the brain
They can take this in a few short sessions though and will often get up and down to sleep this way a few times over a 24 hour period
The rest of the sleep they require (around 2-3 hours in 24) can be taken in light sleep (napping) standing, again in short bursts throughout the day
▪️How is this relevant to me as an Equine Massage Therapist❓
Firstly as a horse is only laying down to sleep for around 45 minutes in 24 hours this means they are on their feet for 23 hours a day‼️
Unlike humans that spend around 8 in 24 hours lay down to sleep and more time on top of that sitting, the horse’s body is active and engaged for many more hours meaning the horse’s soft tissue system is having to work to support the skeleton
Definitely a good reason to make sure the soft tissue is in good working order to support your horse not just in their work but in their day-to-day life ✅
A horse with a compromised musculoskeletal system may be reluctant to lay down to sleep in fear of either not being able to get up or feeling painful when trying to either lay down or get up 😕
This can be common in older horses but may also be seen in younger horses too
Not laying down for REM sleep causes the horse to suffer sleep deprivation which can also have knock on effects to your horse’s behaviour, ability to perform and can lead to collapse as the horse attempts to get their REM sleep standing and they fall as the muscles relax 😞
❗️If you notice your horse ‘wobble’ or loosing balance when sleeping standing up this can be a sign that they are not laying down for REM sleep❗️
If this is the case they should be seen by a vet in the first instance and then once approved by the vet you can think about booking them a session with a therapist
Assessing their living environment is also essential as horses will not lay down if they do not feel safe or do not have an appropriate area in which to do so
If all is well with your horse an Equine Massage Treatment may be just what they need in order to relax them, help them feel comfortable and get the rest their body and mind needs 😌