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We all know the importance of a good night's rest, but is your horse getting enough shut eye? Learning the symptoms of sleep deprivation in horses and how to help can let every horse owner ensure their horse is well-rested.
How Much Sleep Horses Need
Horses do not need the same amount of sleep humans do, but do need three different types of sleep – the slow drowsy period of initial relaxation, deeper slow wave sleep and rapid-eye-movement sleep. Depending on the horse's age and activity level, 3-5 hours of total sleep each day is sufficient, but they must have sleep in each stage, and if they are unable to reach each type of sleep, they can become sleep deprived. Because horses are migratory herd animals, they can often skip adequate sleep for several days – a defense mechanism they've adapted to – but will gradually suffer ill effects if they continue to go without sleep.
Symptoms of Equine Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation can be difficult to diagnose in horses, especially if the animals are boarded and may not be under constant supervision. Drowsy, sluggish behavior can be one symptom, and a horse that is on the edge of falling asleep may trip or completely collapse only to jerk awake suddenly. Unexplained scrapes or cuts on the horse's knees, nose and head may be signs of such collapses. Horse owners should also check the horse's coat for dirt or debris that can indicate the horse has lain down recently. If the horse is not lying down anymore, it may not be sleeping.
Helping Horses Sleep
There are different reasons why horses might not be sleeping well, but many problems can be overcome with simple solutions to help horses get rested.
Horses may not sleep well if…
No matter what the reason a horse may not be sleeping well, there are steps that can be taken to resolve problems and provide a safe, comfortable, refreshing night's sleep. If addressing these issues does not allow the horse to rest adequately, an experienced veterinarian should be consulted to check for other potential problems, including narcolepsy or other severe sleep disorders.
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