A horse lying down on its side can be a pretty disturbing site. From a distance, it may appear that the horse is dead or deathly ill. However, you should know that is rarely the case. Read below to find out the main reasons why horses lay down on their side.
Horse lying down on side
The main reason your horse is lying down on its side is because they are in a deep sleep. Horses usually require around 2 hours of deep REM sleep a day. While they can experience REM sleep while standing up, many horses feel more comfortable laying down when they are in deep sleep. Horses won’t always sleep 2 hours at a time. They may lay down on their side for a quick 15 minute nap. They lay on their side because that is the most comfortable position for them to sleep in.
There is no need to worry if your horse is lying down on their side sleeping. This is very common in horses and does not mean your horse is suffering. That being said, you should pay close attention to your horse’s sleep habits. If you notice that your horse is lying down on its side sleeping more often, this could be a cause for concern. If your horse goes from laying down sleeping 2 hours a day to 5 hours a day, this could mean your horse is in pain or has an illness.
There are many illnesses that cause weakness in horses. This can cause them to lay down on their side much more frequently since they don’t have the energy or power to stay standing. Some of the main horse diseases that cause them to lay down on their side include Equine Influenza (FLU), Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), and Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. If you suspect this could be the cause of your horse laying down, you should look for other symptoms. Some other symptoms include change in appetite, restlessness, and body weakness. If your horse displays any of these symptoms, you should contact a vet. The longer your horse goes untreated, the more severe the illness will be.
How do horses sleep standing up without falling?
Now you might be wondering how horses are able to sleep standing up. The answer is quite simple. Horses have developed a technique where their joints and muscles in their legs are able to firmly lock up and stand firm while the horse sleeps. Unlike humans, a horse’s knees will still allow blood to flow to their legs so that they don’t faint.
Why do horses sleep standing up in the wild
Horses in the wild are known more for sleeping standing up. Horses in the wild sleep standing up because it is a survival mechanism that lets them escape quicker from predators. This is because a horse can quickly wake up and run away if they are standing up, whereas it takes much longer for a horse to stand up and then run away.
This is not the only behavior unique to wild horses. Check out this article on why wild horses do not need shoes.
Domesticated horses are much more likely to spend their time sleeping while laying down. This is because horses in pastures feel much safer and know there is not a threat of a predator. Therefore it does not bother them that they are less mobile while laying down. It is important to note that since horses are such large animals, laying down for long periods of time can lead to pain as it does restrict blood flow.
