Do Horses Sleep Standing Up? (Answered!)

The answer is yes, horses do sleep standing up. They have a special mechanism in their leg joints that allow them to create enough stability to be able to sleep standing up without falling over. Interestingly, horses do also lie down to sleep, and that is when they get most of their deep rest!

Suffice to say, I think the horses would be a little more comfortable on my camping trip than I will be!

Nevertheless, there are lots of interesting questions about how horses are able to sleep standing up, and for how long.

We will get into all these facts and more below.

Why do horses sleep standing up?

In some respects, horses sleep standing up for the most basic of reasons – because they can!

Ultimately, their size has a lot to do with it.

First, getting up off the ground for a horse is not an easy task.

It requires strength and agility, not to mention room.

The immense size and weight of a horse also introduces health concerns when lying down.

Putting too much weight on their joints and internal organs in a prone posture can restrict blood flow and cause other issues.

Their bodies just are not made to be on their side for very long.

Sleeping standing up means they can get enough rest without doing other damage.

Another important reason for horses to sleep standing up is that they are prey animals and have a very strong flight instinct when faced with danger.

Horses generally need to feel secure and safe to be able to take the risk of lying down and entering REM sleep.

Often, another horse in the herd will stand and keep watch while others lie down, taking turns.

How do horses sleep standing up?

Horses have a special function in their legs that allows them to lock the joints, letting them doze without falling over.

The horse’s stifle, which is essentially their knee joint if you are comparing them to a human body, has a kneecap much like ours.

However, the horse has special ligaments and tendons that can lock it into place, at which point they can take a rest without falling over.

This is called the “stay apparatus” of the horse, and this function of the stifles is also how horses can rest one leg for a long period of time.

They will lock out three legs, shift their weight, and give their fourth leg a rest.

Unfortunately, like most parts of a body, there can be dysfunction related to the stifles that causes them to lock when they are not meant to be.

This interferes with the horse’s walking and can cause pain.

Luckily, there are treatments which include corrective shoes and for extreme cases surgery may be considered.

Many horses have a good reaction to the available treatments, so seek out the advice of a veterinarian if your horse has this issue.

How long do horses sleep standing up?

Most of the time, horses only need to sleep for a few minutes at a time.

This makes it easier for them to get the sleep they need safely, whether it is lying down or standing.

On average, horses will sleep about three hours a day, broken up over the course of 24 hours.

Most of a horse’s sleep will be done standing up, even in short amounts of time.

You can assume most of that average three hours of sleep is spent standing up.

Do horses sleep at night?

Horses will take some of their short periods of sleep at night.

They are more likely to do their deep sleeping at night, lying down for a few minutes and entering REM sleep.

They will also continue to sleep standing up for part of the night as well.

Because horses don’t need a long, continuous stretch of sleep like humans do, they spend much of the night awake.

This time between naps is often spent grazing. Barn owners who install cameras often find that their horses are actually MORE active at night than during the day!

Is it bad for horses to lie down to sleep?

Overall, if a horse is lying down for fairly brief periods to rest and sleep, this is considered normal.

Although horses are able to sleep standing up, this does not mean that they have to sleep standing up, as long as they are not lying down long enough to cause damage or issues from having their weight on their side.

It is also important to remember that horses need to lie down to enter deep sleep and REM sleep, which they do need to get, even if just for a few minutes!

Horses that lie down for extended periods or exhibit other signs of distress do warrant closer attention.

Even just a change in pattern of how long they are lying down can tell you a lot about how they are feeling.

There are some illnesses and injuries that will prompt a horse to lie down, so it is important to be aware of them.

Colic, for example, can be a very serious problem that begins with digestive issues and often prompts a horse to lie down and exhibit signs of pain and not being hungry.

Quick attention is necessary in the case of colic, so it is always important to know your horse’s baseline and demeanor.

When you notice something is “off” you can seek out advice or attention for your horse promptly.