Horses

[bkiseredward]

Why do horses lay down

[becks]

Cos they'd fall over if they fell asleep standing up? If it's the raining thing that you're thinking of that's cows, they lie down before it rains apparently so they have nice dry grass to sit on... or is that twaddle?

[natalie_1982]

Becks, I think that's true about cows. bkiseredward, why do you lay down? Horses need a rest too you know. They can't have sex with Catherine the great all day and expect to not sleep.

[andy hughes]

Horses' natrual state is standing, and that includes sleeping, horses are able to 'lock' their knee joints which enables them to sleep standing. Therefore, apart from a birthing mare, or a horse having a role in some sand, it's a fair bet that a lying horse which is still is unwell.

[New Forester]

Becks - horses can actually sleep standing up if they need to -- for instance if the ground is hard or wet, or if they are nervous. They don't sleep for long though -- too much eating to do (18 hours a day?). However, if they have somewhere comfortable and feel relaxed enough, they will lie down, either with their legs curled under them, or if really relaxed, out flat on their sides. When asleep they rest their head on the ground or on their flank. Young foals lie down a lot more. Our own cattle mainly lie down when they feel like it, and in fact if it's raining hard they are more likely to stand. They seem to doze standing up too, but they lie down a lot more than horses -- usually with their legs under them and hardly ever out flat. They often lie down to cud. They sleep curled with their head resting on their flank, or their chin on the ground. Cows lie down or stand when calving (usually alternating), but mares usually foal standing. Horses get up front legs first, cattle hind legs first. Natalie -- you mean that's really true about Catherine the Great...?

[Snappy]

That is not the case Andy! my horse lies down in the field all the time, especially in the summer+there's nothin wrong with her. If they are ill they will usually stand up or pace about!

[RogerK]

I agree - our horses all lie down, even in their stables. One even makes herself a 'nest' by scraping all the straw into the middle. They only do it when totally happy and confident that no 'preditors' are around. I used to frighten me to death when they first did it but you can tell if they are down because they're ill.

[andy hughes]

I stand corrected - not for the first time I am quoting information which has been passed on to me, and I've always taken to be true - I now know different - thankyou.

[pda]

maybe it's because they're tired?

[Vasquoy]

Just to back Andy up a bit, horses do prefer to sleep standing up as it is their natural instinct to be able to escape at short notice.  Horses will only really lie down if they feel secure.

 

Although a lot of horses lie down (mine included) it should be noted that if they lie down for too long then fluid can build up in their lungs and cause complications if the animal is already ill.  Their sheer weight is just to much.  So if a horse lies down for TOO long, then there is likely to be a problem. 

Going back to my security thing, horses normally will only lie down OUTSIDE on a day when they can hear properly (hot days and frosty days) - if your horse lies down for any great period on a wet day or a windy day, it might be worth checking on them.