Why do horses sleep standing up

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SkyHilaryLove on June 9, 2008 at 6:00pm

Horses stand up when sleeping most likely because in the wild, lying down was a huge risk. A horse is very vonurable while lying down, so feral horses sleep standing incase danger ever struck and they had to bolt quickly, they had no time to get up they just had to run. At first they wouldn't lock their knee joints ether so they would be ready for anything at any given moment.

Permalink Reply by samantha on June 10, 2008 at 3:36pm

Thanks soooooooooooooo much SkyHilaryLove !!!!!!!


Samantha

Permalink Reply by SkyHilaryLove on June 11, 2008 at 6:14pm

No Problem. : ]

Permalink Reply by amy on June 28, 2008 at 7:27pm

Erin is right. But also, a horses can not lay down too long because their blood can not flow properly when there laying down. It is no problem for a horse to lay for a little bit, but 12 hours is too much. It's like locking your knees during a concert.

Permalink Reply by Natasha Sukorokoff on November 14, 2008 at 2:26pm

Horses sleep standing up because it takes too long to get up in the wild, so the horse laying down when a predator comes along gets eaten.
Also, horses can lock their knees so they can stay supported while they sleep standing up, and unlock them very easily. Sleeping standing up is way easier and safer!