Thank you all
Horses can sleep standing up, but they don't sleep "deeply" then. They just lock their joints.
However, horses do need some deep sleep as well, and they do need to lay down for that. Granted, they don't do it for long periods of time, and they will ONLY do it if they feel safe somewhere. Some horses that do not feel safe enough in a location to lay down and get some deep sleep, will actually get exhausted in time.
Dymond usually only lays on her chest for a nap. She will eventually rest her chin on the ground and then her head will shake and jerk like those kids that fall asleep at the dinner table, LOL. Some horses will actually lay flat down and even snore, very funny !!!
On very cold days or after a cold night, they love to lay down in a sunny spot, too. Thats what she was doing today. She has enough trust in me to stay laying down while I sit down with her. Horses that lay down and sleep are vulnerable in the wild and being a prey animal, they have not lost those instincts of always being ready to run at perceived or real danger. Run first, ask questions later, usually
Horses don't stay laying down very long, because it is harder for them to breathe that way. Every time I see a horse laying down (esp. mine) it makes me nervous at first, because they will do it when they colic, too. But I could tell she was just enjoying a bit of sun, plus there were several other horses doing the same
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