Horses typically spend anywhere from 4 to 15 hours a day in standing rest, and anywhere from minutes to several hours lying down. Only part of that time is actual sleep time, which is taken in brief naps that last a few minutes each. The daily total sleep time for an adult horse may range from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Foals and young horses, like other youngsters, sleep more, more deeply, and more often than adults.
Sue McDonnell, PhD, head of the Equine Behavior Lab at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, has studied equine behavior and sleep patterns. See her research in this area for more information.
