Page 81 - The Mini Horse Magazine 2023 No 1
P. 81
The mechanism consists of
tendons, ligaments, and
muscles. Working together
in harmony, they allow
animals to doze without
collapsing. The process
starts when knee caps
in horses get displaced
and lock hind legs in a
standing position. Once
the joints get secured, the
horse can nap and relax its
muscles.
As painful as it may sound, this
causes no issues for horses. Plus, the
apparatus will work in one hind limb only, while
the front and the second rear leg remain relaxed.
After some time, the horse will change its legs
until fully rested. To many, an upright resting
horse may seem as if it is leaning. Equines will
only lie flat when in a deep sleep. REM sleep
typically happens several times at night. More
so, a horse will only fall asleep while lying
down when provided with comfortable and safe
surroundings. Hence, it’s vital to arrange a dry
shelter (a stall or shed) and allow your horse to
stretch out peacefully.
Length of sleep
Healthy foals tend to sleep frequently because
they are very active when awake. As a result,
foals can spend half of the day to offset the
Mature equines can rest while standing, though energy lost. Hence, owners must provide
this position deprives them of REM or deep sleep. space for their foals to lie down and rest for
Hence, a horse must relax all skeletal muscles prolonged periods. As for adult horses, they
to achieve tight sleep. No such thing can happen need far less sleep. They require two to five
when the animal is up on its feet. If horses fall hours per day to get enough rest. Though most
asleep while standing, the stay apparatus in the of this time will be in slow-wave dozing, horses
hind limbs gets activated. You may wonder what also experience REM or Rapid Eye Movement Text written: Jarmila Podzemská, Photographs provided by: Viktor Král
this mechanism is and how an animal can nap in sleep. For this type, equines must lie down.
a vertical position. Everything started a long time The actual deep sleep will occur at night. Equines
when wild horses roamed vast plains in herds. need at least 30 minutes and a maximum of three
As prey animals, equines were frequent targets hours in 24 hours to meet their deep sleep needs.
of predators looking for abundant and delicious Besides, they must lie down for up to 45 minutes
meat. Thus, horses developed the so-called to fall into 20-minute REM sleep at a time.
stay apparatus, enabling them to remain alert Generally, sleep type and length depend on the
and wake up quickly. Thanks to their unique workload, diet, temperature, and gender. Plus,
anatomy, various equine species have survived the older the horse gets, the more often it will
for millennia. need to doze off to get refreshed.
Miniature Horse Magazine • Issue 1/2023 | 81
