January 2010

Do Horses Dream?
5th January 2010

Unlike us humans who like a comfortable  warm bed and at least 8 hours uninterrupted sleep, the natural sleep pattern of a horse could hardly be more different.  Horses only need approxiamtely 3 hours sleep a day, far less than us humans.  The horse takes this in small burst, usually only about 5 minutes at a time.  Periods of sleep can be during the day or night, although they can rest upto 15 hours a day, but for most of it will be awake.  Sleep will usually occur during quite times in the field or stable.

Horses will usually do most of their sleeping standing up, thanks to a combination of ligaments and tendons in their fore and hind legs which enable the horse to remain standing up whilst in a relaxed mode and needing very little effort.  They are able to lock their knee cap (patella) and thus preventing the leg from bending. This is called slow wave sleep  (SWS). It is important, however, that a horse spends sometime sleeping lying down , which is when deep sleep occurs this is called rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and enables the legs to have a complete rest, this does however place more pressure on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

It is thought that horses on their own will sleep less than those who form part of a herd, because in the wild some would sleep whilst others stand guard in case of danger.  A horse on its own will not feel as safe having a deep sleep as those who have others keeping an eye out for danger.  If stabled a horse will choose, although subconsciously, to sleep facing the door, so that a quick exit may be made if required.

Do horses dream is the final big question - yes is the probable answer whene they are lying down, it is not uncommon to see movement in their ears or limbs, and it has been proven that brainwaves similar to those that are found in humans during a deep sleep (REM).  What they are dreaming about is anyones guess, whether they are dreaming about galloping along a beach or a big bucket of feed who knows!

Please contact our sales office for information on horse bedding including rubber matting, shavings and a wide selction of rugs alternatively  visit the equine section.