Horses sleeping patterns

[Three Mares]

I was wondering today what my three mares do during the night (they live out 24/7) - do they carry on grazing or sleep?

Had a look on the internet and its says that most horses sleep during the day standing up for short periods, and apparently they only actually sleep for 3 hours max in a 24 hour period and are more likely to lay down in the day.

Has anyone else wondered this and is what I have read correct?

 

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Ive slept in the box with my mare before (she coliced and i refused to leave her incase she went down with it again) and she spent most of the time standing with her head down in the corner but when i woke up 6 slices of hay was gone and there was a big horse-shaped flat patch in the bedding!

 

[Stassy]

I know when horses do sleep its not for a long period and they probably take short naps throughout the day.

It could be going back to a survival instinct why horses may not sleep at night as that is when predators could be about and they feel vunerable.

I know my horse lies down at night (he is in at night) but whether he sleeps or not I'm not sure.

I remember walking in on my yearling filly a few years ago early one morning she was lying flat out snoring!

 

[Roofio]

i dont think j lies down when he's living out 24/7 but its difficult to tell. he definitely lies down in his box but ive never seen him.

 

[Three Mares]

Thanks for your comments. I did wonder how they actually fall sleep during the night in the wind and rain etc but I guess they probably dont and wait until daylight to have a kip.

 

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Im pretty sure my mare doesnt lay down when shes out in winter - her rugs are always immaculate.

 

[poniesrule]

My girls seem to have a bit of a routine going on! they are out 24/7. It seems to me that they take short snoozes during the day and the odd nibble of grass. Then at night...the feast begins...because by the time i poo pick the next morning...there are lots of piles to clear up..indicating that a mass overnight eating session has occured! and then as dawn breaks, it's chillout time again!.
would like to do a 24 hour 'horsewatch' and camp in the field; maybe not in this weather though

 

[KAB]

My boy lives out 24/7 and I have never seen him lie down, plus I dont think he would sleep much and feel relaxed because there are other horses in the field that pick on him.

I have heard however, that they sleep standing up, and their legs lock so they dont fall over.

 

[Pink's lady]

Horses sleep for about 4hours a day, but not in all one go - they sleep for short periods (about half an hour max).They need to be able to lie down for part (not sure if it's all) that sleep. They can only doze standing up.


They sleep mostly during the day - it's safer as the 'on guard' horse can see better. They alway lie down with at least one horse standing, keeping a look out, unles they live only in a pair. Horses who live on thier own usually have a disturbed sleep pattern.

Lots of people think they 'sleep' at night when they're stabled, but they rarely do - they spend most of the night eating or staring, bored, at the walls. They tend to sleep more if stabled as they have nothing better to do.

They can sleep lying flat out but often just lie on their chest, with their legs tucked up. Insecure horses rarely lie flatout.

This is Pink and Kalli just been disturbed from a kip. Kim is just behind me, watching over them.

 

[CurlyWurlyRach]

good point about the one horse on guard. Curly is out with one other mare (nobody else will have their horses out with her cos shes 'too much' ) and when one is down, the other is standing very close to them.

Curly lies down alot less than she did at my old yard - she was ALWAYS laid down then and now ive only seen her down twice in a year.

Here we go.

 

[KAB]

Pink Lady: That was a very interesting bit of information, thanks!