Like most herbivorous mammals, horses are not characterized by long periods of sleep, but the basis of their sleep and characteristics are the same as in the rest.Good rest is essential for the proper development and maintenance of the organism.A person deprived of the necessary rest hours will most likely get sick and die.
In this Animal Expert article we’ll explain how horses sleep, whether standing or lying, Keep reading!
- In the past.
- Sleep was considered a “state of consciousness”.
- Defined as a period of immobility during which individuals did not respond to stimuli and was therefore not treated as a behavior.
- Nor as part of the ethology of a species.
- Important not to confuse rest and sleep as an animal can rest without falling asleep.
In sleep studies in horses the same methodology is used as in humans, three parameters are considered, the electroencephalogram to measure brain activity, the electroculogram for eye movements and the electromyogram for muscle tension.
There are two types of sleep, slow or non-REM sleep and fast sleep or REM.Non-remy sleep is characterized by slow brain waves and has four phases that are interspersed at night:
Read on and see where and how the horse sleeps
Has the horse sleep upright or subject?It should be remembered that, like other animals, changes in routine or stress can disrupt the natural course of the horse’s sleep phases, with consequences on daily life.
A horse can sleep standing or lying but can only enter the REM phase in the decubitus position, because, as we said, this phase is characterized by a muscular atonia of the neck down, so that if a horse enters the REM phase standing, it would fall.
The horse, like other animals that sleep standing, is an animal of prey, that is, it has had to survive throughout its evolution to several predators, so sleep is a state in which the animal is helpless.horses sleep for a few hours, usually less than three.
The name of the place where the horses sleep is the stable and for a standard size horse should not be less than 3.5 x 3 meters, with a height greater than 2.3 meters.Sand material that should be used for the horse to rest properly and meet its needs is straw, although some equine hospitals prefer to use other non-edible, dust-free and more absorbent materials, as in some diseases the consumption of large amounts of straw can cause cramps.recommended for horses with breathing problems.
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If the physical condition and health of the horse permit, he should not spend many hours inside the stable; walking and raising the countryside greatly enriches the lives of these animals, reducing the possibility of undesirable behaviors, such as stereotypes.It promotes good digestive health, reducing the risk of problems arising from lack of movement.
Another way to enrich a horse’s rest area is to place toys, one of the most used is balls. If the stable is big enough, the ball can roll on the ground as the horse chases it. Otherwise, the ball can be hung from the ceiling, for the horse to hit, or, if the regime allows, fill up on some appetizing treats.
Obviously, a quiet environment, with the right temperature and without acoustic and visual stress is essential for the good rest of the horse.
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