| These parts work together to keep the horse's legs in | | | | Sleeping by standing up only allows them a 'short |
| a standing, locked position. While your horse may | | | | wave sleep' designed to let them rest while enabling |
| appear to be awake, he is likely asleep enough to kick | | | | them to take off at a gallop if alerted to a predator. |
| out at you if you were to approach him unexpectedly. | | | | Horses also suffer from disturbed sleep cycles when |
| Horses will sleep about 3 hours out of the 24 hours in | | | | barn and yard lights are left on at night. This common |
| a day. They will sleep for brief periods at a time, either | | | | practice can alter coat growth in the fall, encourage |
| standing or flat out on the ground. During good | | | | early shedding, and interfere with the production of |
| weather conditions, you will often find them snoring | | | | growth hormone (a hormone secreted by the brain |
| (too much weight on the respiratory system) and | | | | after dark) that not only determines hair growth but |
| twitching. Each horse has his own schedule. Horses | | | | also has a positive effect on energy, metabolism, |
| that are confined and worked daily often take up time | | | | weight loss, strength, fertility, immunity, memory, |
| spent in drowsiness, where they appear awake, but | | | | behavior and sleep patterns. Marijke suggests you |
| are really 'off' in another world. Your horse may be in | | | | experience how this feels yourself by sleeping several |
| this state more than the others, or he may prefer to | | | | nights with a light on. (Her book, below, is a fabulous |
| sleep deeply when there is no activity around. | | | | study on horse behavior, feeds, nutrition and natural |
| Horses have several stages of sleep much like we do | | | | supplements and products for your horse). |
| -- drowsiness, Slow wave sleep (SWS) and Rapid | | | | A horse that suffers from serious sleep deprivation will |
| eye movement sleep (REM). | | | | often doze off while you are standing him in the arena, |
| Many horses are affected by the lack of sleep they | | | | talking with friends. (Narcolepsy) can be dangerous, as |
| receive, and often exhibit this need during their training | | | | the horse's knees can buckle while you are on him. |
| times. If you are having problems with your horse, you | | | | It's important that we recognize sleep problems in our |
| need to look at leadership as only one of the reasons | | | | horses when trying to diagnose another issue. Watch |
| for your horse's behavior. Feed may also be part of | | | | your horse during times when no one is around; when |
| your horse's attitude problems, or your horse may be | | | | it's quiet, and the lights are off. You may be surprised |
| suffering sleep deprivation. | | | | at how often he does sleep, or be alarmed at how |
| "Training alone is not a substitute nor a cure for all | | | | little he does. |
| behavior problems." | | | | Understanding the mysteries of how horses sleep |
| According to Marijke van de Water, horses need to lie | | | | may unlock clues to their behavior. |
| flat out in order to experience deep sleep with REM. | | | | |