Horses really can sleep standing up!

Standing snoozers

Imagine taking a nap without even lying down!

Horses can get some of their sleep while standing on all four legs. Their bodies have a special system that helps their legs stay supported while they relax.

But standing isn't the whole story.

Cover artwork from Sleep, Nap, Snooze: The Bed Habits of Animals, shown while the horse spread artwork is added.

Now You Know!

Horses need to lie down for REM sleep!

During REM sleep their muscles relax too much for normal standing sleep, so even these talented standing snoozers need to get off their feet sometimes.

How does a horse sleep?

How long?
A few hours throughout the day and night
When?
Day and night
How?
Standing up AND lying down

From Sleep, Nap, Snooze

Gifted Horse

The horse shows off one of the animal kingdom's coolest sleeping tricks in Sleep, Nap, Snooze: The Bed Habits of Animals.

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Keep snoozing...

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For parents & teachers

Is this really true? Sources & further reading

Horses are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they sleep in multiple periods rather than one long block.

They can enter slow-wave sleep while standing, aided by their musculoskeletal “stay apparatus.” However, normal REM sleep requires horses to lie down because REM involves substantial loss of muscle tone.

Animal:: Horse
Scientific name:: Equus caballus

Source: Greening et al., review of equine sleep and sleep disorders.

Read the research