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You are here: Home / Animals / Can a Horse Sleep Standing Up?

Can a Horse Sleep Standing Up?

April 24, 2020 by Karen Hill

It’s almost impossible for you to fall asleep while standing. The moment you began to doze, you’re likely to fall down. But horses often seem to sleep while they’re standing up, and they do!

When a horse stands perfectly still and relaxes, joints in his legs lock into position, holding the horse up even if he falls asleep.

Horses actually prefer to sleep standing up, as when they lie down, their weight presses them down heavily against the ground, which can make breathing difficult. So a horse rarely lies down to sleep, and can doze quite comfortably while standing in his stall.

Certain other big animals, like the elephant, can sleep while they’re standing up too!

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  • How Do Birds Sleep and Why Don't Birds Fall Off Their Perches When They Sleep?
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Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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