Effects of Equine Recumbent Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is essential for life. The quality and quantity of a horse’s sleep directly affects their health and well-being. However, sleep is rarely considered as part of a horse’s management plan. A new study presented at the 2018 International Equitation Science Conference in Rome, Italy, found that poor management or physical problems that discourage horses from lying down can lead to them becoming sleep deprived and at risk of serious injury. Full sleep cycles include periods of REM-sleep which horses can only achieve lying down in sternal or lateral recumbency. When horses fall into REM-sleep standing up they collapse, which can result in serious injuries. The videos were part of the study: Equine recumbent sleep deprivation: Effects on mental and physical health. By researchers: C. Fuchs1*, L.C. Kiefner1, S. Reese2, M. Erhard1 and A.C. Wöhr1 1. Institute for Animal Welfare, Ethology, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Science, Ludwig-Maximilian-