Hard ground and sleep deprivation

I’ve come across 2 client horses in the last couple of weeks who are presenting with symptoms of sleep deprivation which I am convinced is being caused by the hard ground so I thought it worth making a post about.

Many horses are turned out for the summer but with the lack of rain the ground is like concrete, couple that with very low grass coverage and your horse may not have a place he feels comfortable lying down to sleep.

I have noticed my own horses are not lying down or rolling outside at all at the moment, only choosing to roll and lay down to sleep in their bedding inside their shelter. If they didn’t have this soft place I don’t think they would be lying down to sleep at all.

If your horse is in a turnout space with hard ground and poor grass coverage please consider creating a softer space for them to lay, perhaps you could bed down your shelter or bring them into the stables during the day for a sleep. Other options could be to create a sand/woodchip area, or even roll out a bale of hay/straw for them to sleep on. In the past I have actually just laid a thick bed straight onto the ground and accepted the mess and waste it was going to make.

Sleep deprivation is really serious and not to be taken lightly. Making sure your horse has a place he feels comfortable and safe to sleep will ensure he is getting the rest he needs.

Rolling and lying down are 2 different things so just because you’ve seen your horse having a roll doesn’t mean he is lying down to sleep. Although we can look for signs like bedding in their tail and flattened patches.

Horses with sleep deprivation often stagger and look like they’re going to fall or their legs are going to buckle as they’re trying to sleep standing up. Of course there can be many other reasons your horse may not be lying down such as pain and not feeling safe enough in their environment, please consult your vet if you have any concerns. 🐴

Pictured is an image from my cameras last night, I know my horses' routines and habits so much better since I bought my cameras. They really help me to monitor their health and I recommend them to anyone who is able to use them. If I didn't have the cameras I wouldn't know if my horses were actually lying down as they rarely do it through the day when people are around.

Have you noticed changes in your horse's sleeping habits?