{"id":46347,"date":"2022-09-29T06:58:53","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T10:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ehorses.com\/magazine\/?post_type=news&p=46347"},"modified":"2022-09-29T06:58:53","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T10:58:53","slug":"is-bed-thickness-affecting-horses-sleep","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.ehorses.com\/magazine\/news\/is-bed-thickness-affecting-horses-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Is bed thickness affecting horses\u2019 sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Horses sleep better and longer when they can settle on lush bedding. Research shows that bedding depth can have a significant influence on sleep behaviour and quality.<\/b><\/p>\n

Restful sleep<\/strong> is important for well-being, health and performance. This is true not only for humans, but also for horses. However, numerous research findings in recent years have shown that many horses get far less sleep<\/strong> than they need.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reasons for sleep deprivation<\/strong> in horses are diverse. They range from pain in the musculoskeletal system to an unfavourable herd setup, lack of space, as well as unsuitable bedding<\/strong>. The latter should not only be clean and dry<\/strong>, but the bedding depth<\/strong> can also have a significant influence on sleep behaviour<\/strong> and sleep quality<\/strong>, as a study from Wales (GBR) shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a five-week experiment, ten adult riding school horses were tested for six days on two types of bedding: a straw bed with a depth of 15 cm<\/strong> and with a depth of only 5 cm<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Less bedding, shorter resting time<\/b><\/h2>\n

The researchers found that sleep behaviou<\/strong>r was significantly influenced by the depth of bedding<\/strong>. In particular, dream sleep (REM sleep)<\/strong> in a lying flat position on the side was significantly lower<\/strong> in poorly bedded stalls<\/strong> compared to horses that had an opportunity to rest on a thick layer of straw. Non-REM sleep in the belly position<\/strong> with legs bent also occurred more frequently in the 15-cm-thick<\/strong> bed of straw. On a harder surface<\/strong>, the horses slept more often in a standing position.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Why sleeping in a lying position is crucial<\/b><\/h2>\n

Due to certain anatomical characteristics<\/strong>, horses hardly need any muscle tension to sleep in a standing position<\/strong>. Because of the so-called stay apparatus<\/strong>, consisting of muscles, tendons and ligaments on the legs, it is possible for them to even reach deep sleep<\/strong> in this posture. However, many regeneration processes<\/strong> in the horse’s body take place exclusively in dream sleep<\/strong> (REM sleep). And to achieve this, the horse must lie down<\/strong>. Either lying flat on its side, or in the position with its legs folded underneath it and its nose resting on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

At least 30 minutes of REM sleep<\/strong> are necessary every day<\/strong> for the horse to achieve a complete and sustainably restful sleep cycle. If the horse is deprived from this, negative effects<\/strong> will not be long in coming. Horses with REM sleep deficiency lack energy<\/strong> and\/or are particularly nervous<\/strong> and limited in their performance<\/strong>. Because the body demands REM sleep<\/strong>, it occurs in affected horses when they sleep standing up<\/strong>. Due to the sudden onset of complete muscle relaxation<\/strong>, the horses bend and fall<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who would like to make a restful sleep<\/strong> possible for its horse, should not save too much on the bedding<\/strong>. As the study has clearly shown, horses also prefer to dream on cosy soft bedding<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: Pferde Revue<\/a><\/p>\n


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