• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Science / Why do horses sleep standing up and can they sleep lying down?

Why do horses sleep standing up and can they sleep lying down?

June 6, 2020 by Karen Hill

Horses can doze standing up and spend more time upright than other animals, but get their deepest rest, the so-called REM sleep, only when lying down.

In total relaxation, which rapid eye movement or dream sleep involves, the system of tendons and ligaments that keeps horses’ legs extended does not work. If a horse goes into REM sleep while it is standing, it tends to fall on its knees.

Wild horses lie down less, a fact that some researchers attribute to the need to be ready to flee predators. But others suggest they lie down less because during certain times of the year, notably winter, they eat day and night because less feed is available.

In summer, wild horses lie down a fair amount. When they do lie down, one usually remains standing as a sort of guard.

Related Facts

  • How Did Dinosaurs Sleep and Did Prehistoric Dinosaurs Sleep Standing Up or Lying Down?
  • How Do Birds Sleep Without Falling Out of Trees and Do Birds Sleep Laying Down or Standing Up On Perches?
  • Why Do Dogs Make a Tight Little Circle Before Lying Down To Sleep and What Does it Mean?
  • Where did horses in North America come from and did Plains Indians always ride horses?
  • Where does the phrase "hold your horses" come from and What does "hold your horses" mean?
  • Why Do Dogs Walk Around In a Circle Several Times Before Lying Down and What Does the Behavior Mean?

Filed Under: Science

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.

Previous Post: « Do bears hibernate in the winter like other animals or do they just take a long nap?
Next Post: Are caribou the same as reindeer and what is the difference? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy