Who Knows Something About Horses?

KillarneyRose · #1 01-07-2002, 08:06 PM

This is totally random but...
My husband and I have a bet. He says horses sleep standing up and I say horses sleep laying down. Can anyone settle this for us?

Thanks!

DGPhoney · #2 01-07-2002, 08:54 PM

I am not 100% sure, but I believe they can sleep lying down.My friend works in a stable, so I can ask him to be sure. But I know for sure Cows sleep standing up

hope some of this helped

DGP~Honey~

purpleturtle · #3 01-07-2002, 09:50 PM

Okay guys,
I am not the foremost authority on this, but I have grown up on a working cattle and goat ranch.
1. Cows CAN sleep standing up, but most often choose to sleep lying down (especially show cattle)
2. Horses also CAN sleep standing up, but more often sleep lying down.
Also, cow-tipping is almost nearly impossible, b/c when cattle are asleep standing up, it is more like a cat nap, and not very deep, so they are easily awakened. When they choose to sleep for very long, they will lie down.

Like I said, everything I said is subject to mistake, because it is just from my experience raising and showing Shorthorn cattle and AQH horses.

Missy

aggieAXO · #4 01-08-2002, 01:17 AM

I am definitely not a horse expert but at the ICU (Intensive care unit for horses and cows-yes we had one) at A&M they did both, though many perferred standing most of the time. The foals perferred to lie down. As far as I know cow tipping is only in legends and most of the cows in ICU preferred to lie down.

queequek · #5 01-08-2002, 01:36 AM

LOL

Really an unexpected thread!

Tyler_PKT · #6 01-08-2002, 07:28 PM

I grew up raisng horses, and they didn't sleep standing up, so I would have to say very very rarely if at all do they sleep standing up.

LyonAZD · #7 01-09-2002, 05:45 PM

I would consider myself somewhat of an expert on horses as i have had them for all of my 22 years, and spent almost everyday of my life around them. I have also shown them competively.
Horses sleep lying down and standing up. However, they mostly sleep standing, unless unusually tired. It is actually dangerous for a horse to remain lying down for to long, because they do not digest their food unless they are standing. This is why when they break a leg horses are almost always put to sleep. They simply can't survive without standing.

Sorry it was so long...get me talking about horses and i can't shut up!